The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-03-17
MODERN NOAH'S ARKS.
Boou TO Men and Women with Moro
Time Than Money.

canal boat as described in the pages Of
his charming novel "Rudder Grange"
is after all practical one. In England
house-boats. as these floating domieiles
are called. have grown In favor among
certain classes. aud now when An art
ist or an aGthor wants 10 spend his va
cation in jolly. hoNlthy way out of
reach of duns he fits up house boat
and sails. or rather drifts. away for
pastures new.
The house-boat has many things In
its favor They can be built for =
very comfortable and home-like. There
is 40 fear Of being upset or 81 storms
and sca-sickness. and the voyager can
slumbcr rs peacefully as by his own
iireside. surrounded by his household
gods
Those who contemplate n cruise in =
house-boat next summer will be thank
ful To Mr.. Raymond Radcliffe, who de-
scribes how to furnish one. He says,
Every thing should be light and easily
mating. which is cool and clean; put
rags down IL YOU like. they are easily
rolled up and shaken, but avoid
carpets as out Of place; sofas and
couches are an abomination; they tako
up the room Of half dozen people,
make the saloon look small and arc
useless. Besides. il you are tired you
can lie down on cushions. Of which u
housc-boat can not have too many.
The deck should have staircase
leading up from the front. not an un-
comfortable ladder as so many use. but
good broad spiral wooden stops, they
take up no more room and look better.
Round the deck railing run stanchions
about two feet six inches high. II higher
than this they make the boat look top
heavy. Do not use either ropes or
chains. They are much trouble. and
you can not lean over loose rope or
put any weight upon IT, Let the deck
be covered with canvas painted white.
Kamptulicon or oilcloth will not lio
Hat. Once you get ridges or waves in
the covering every boat-hook will find
them out and your life will be one per-
petual mendng of rents The awnings
should be- hung upon framework of
one-inch ir'n poles about six feet apart
Light linen Is quito strong enough.
Awnings are intended 10 shade one
from the sun. nothing disc. anal hoavy
awning is m infinite trouble 10 fix. aud
IL no better when fixed than the light
est Let your deck project well over
the house, so that when washed II will
carry the water clear. With too mar
row deck your window curtains will bo
saturated every morning.
Most house-boats carry two anchors.
but four are much better. Throw
them two fore and two aft with tho
chains crossed let them have plenty II
chain TO prevent dragging. and your
boat will ride out the heaviest gallo
without swinging. II you only have
two anchors moor with ropes fore and
aft 10 the shore. and throw the anchors
out well into the stream. In pooring
always choose a place where the stream
runs strongly. The air OF the river de-
pends more upon the stream than any
thing else; bright, clear current gives
bright. sharp air II you anchor over
a dull, deep pool, you will bo pcstered
with midgcs and logged up every night
with mist
No one who has ever lived on n
house-boat will willingly desert IT, Tho
morning plunge into the stream, tho
perpetual life, movement and sunshine
Of the river. the keen air of morning
and the delicious calm at sunset. arc u
combination not 10 be matched other
than AT yachting; but while tho latter
is somewhat lonesome. In h. usc-bOat
ennui is unknown. There Is alwny, u
stream Of boats. tugs with their follow
ing Of picturesque bargcs and launches
with their holiday makers. To bo dull
on q house-boat j. an mpossibli,y.
while man who takes pride Ia his
boat can never bo idle. There Il al
ways something 10 be done. II il rains.
fsh. If it is windy, sail. II it Is too
hot 10 move. go on deck and lic IN =
deck chair under the awning ami
sleep. On the hottest days there is al
ways breeze on the deck Tmts