The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-25
FROM A CAMPER on ONE OF THE THOUSAND
ISLANDS.

ISLANDS.
"The houseboat bids fair to become
distinctive feature of our see oery. -Four or
Ave wealthy Canadian families are sum-
nering IN these delightful floating cottages.
They are ranged close to the shore over
against two OF the prettiest Canadian
Islands and form quite a social colony,
where afternoon teas are given, visits made
in fast-hying canoes, with now and then a
moonlight concert, dance or a supper and
about all a sense Of romance and glorious
freedom When you get tired of the rocky
shores overhuug with trees about your
houseboat all you have to do is to up an
chors and shove yourself along with poles
to a fresh abiding place, or if a more am
bilious move is desired you call q launch
or a tug and steam away to another island.
Yesterday afternoon was fete day and we
were almost as gay as at Henley on the
Thames. Our Canadian friends enter with
the utmost heartiness into everything. The
houseboats were decorated with bright
flags and huge parasols of flowers There
were flowers everywhere. Huge earthen-
ware vases and blue china jars were ranged
along decas and golden rod and wild scarlet
hoyh0cks and cardinal flowers bloomed in
profusion, clematis vines with heir white
feathery seeds ciamberlrg from drawtridge
X
island to island and dozens of rowboats
danced on the waters. There were tennis
games and cricket on a convenient
meadow, and these northern girls
looked more blithesome even than
during the winter carnival in their silk
blouses Of lilac, pale yellow, scarlet and
blue, with white glazed sailor hats, baseball
and Elton caps, soft round felts and broad
brimmed head fxings of every description.
Sometimes, a whole bOatload wore the same
colors. A sx-oared barge was named by
half dozen daDsels in yellow and black
who made picturesque crew But if you
want to fall victim to the elUig UeibLiche
you should see handsome Canadian girl
paddle canoe. The houseboat in which
we are visiting is not by any means a mere
drifting raft. 1t is a regular two-storv
house built on a barge, with lace curtains
at Its windows and ten rooms inside. II
has flat roof where we strew rugs and
CUSHIONS and lie IN steamer chairs and ham
mocks under gay, striped awning. 1t
hasn't as many gables as a Queen Anne
cottage, Indeed, truth compeIs the admis-
sion chat 1t is rectangular in sh ne and
suggests packing box floating. bi1t IL is
painted in reds and cool greens and 5oks
very gay OF an evening with rows of Janan-
ese lanterns hanging from beam to beam.
~ las SOou e&OanSe OF deck fore and aft
"here are more awnings and hammocks and
easy chairs, aud where We have morning
glories and nasturtums and scarlet runners
growing in flower boxes. There is bath
room upstairs, but if you want a really
COED plunge of course YOU take a header
out Of the window. We haven't a piano.
out, out our next boat neighbor has, and the
music goes very well with our violin. Tbere
Is plenty Of room for entertaining ouaste
ana when the stars come out and the draw,
oIlage is pulled up we light fire ON the
open hearth, II the air is chilly, and feel as
nlucn cut on from the world as feudal
baron baron IN his castle. Next week we are
plalhing 10 tlet or even three houseboa. s
eogeIher and 90 off for weeks drifting in
company. The girls will wear Henlv shirts
ana the men broad striped flannels. and if
singing and sketching and boating do not
M up tne period, why, we will have a
naval battle of flowers " "-N H''0 "