The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
WOMEN ON THE CANAL
IN THE CABINS or THE BoAk THAT
NAVIGATE THE ERIE

NAVIGATE THE ERIE
Women who Feet that They Ard just as
Good AS their sisters on InH-Nenty
Furnished Cnbins-Hnw the Wtnen Pass
Their TIme-They Have rhtr Social
CireieS-A Girl Prodigy OF Nin Years.
From the ryog Press
There are few among the mnnygho watch
tho long lines OF canal boats cntcrlg the Erie
Canal locks at West Troy that have ho faintest
idea how the women aboard thosj boats live
and what class OF people they ard Tho pre-
the toughest OF women would or ctild live on
board such craft, and that tho lib and SUR
roundings must be Of the hardest SIT.
Bright and early this morning our artist
climbed aboard ono OF a long row I boats that
wcro awaiting their turn to pass trough the
weighing lock at Green Island, aud almost the
first step he took after getting abhld he mot
white apron, who smiled in n ,Gqlt way when
the visitors business was made kr,wn.
thcse boats, and DO told about /, too" she
said as she Led the way back t1Ird thH ea ,Id
you have come and that what yoi hear and SEQ
will DO printed, for | realize mop than you do
how great prejudice exists ap3nst, t US ga as
to our llto along the cana"
began the descent OF the cabinStalrs. ard tho
admonition came none too sop, ior the state.
spare. i'nt once. inside the chin it wa, quite
another matter for y considerable portion OF
LucSe Dlg DOhtS lS allotted 10 llNlnE QUARTERS.
This cab n was especially r5nmy and homes
like. for tho floor had been scrubbed Ind re-
scrubbed until 1t was ~ wnp rs STOW
In the centre OF the room u large Sulhre rug
left but little OF the ioor buugd@ to I've cen. lie
was OF pretty bright ra,tcru. and n litle white
big rcd roses that erarnI t." pattcn. over
this several other hayr or caru"t matshnd heen
placed at the foot OF tho stairs OF by ne lounge
that stood to the RICH, o tho uoor. Tiny cur
tains of some sort Of dAl@.r whit stun nut
terei With the morning breeze = swept
grew in little flower pot on the window ledge
lectures were everywhere abIt me ran-
gilded cage sang sweetly In th,window near
the pretty flower. The doors 81 the state"
turo OF snowy bed spreads al fancy pillow
shans. while tho Kitchen. Willis shining pots
and pans. was an Ideal place pr good cook:
we do most OF our cookiD up on deck dur
ing the warm weather, and le men nut avn
ings W t., shield US from th sun 1t Keeps the
smell Of the cooking awayr rom the cabin and
woman explained Us she indy offered cup
In the course Of la ten tinutes conversation
she succeeded In giving ne newspaper 81 aR man
most correct picture o tb ne h 81 dns average sSG
water by the side OF ather. brother, or hus-
band. During the winer months most OF the
New York city and thrugh all these long winter
days the women aboad the 200 or 800 boats go
tb and gvs ST a anG %hose
places have rathernore stability. Through
the summer OF coyse. mere eI is Tess opportu
on the move. but wen they tie up for orders
or to load Mt the. flncipal POINTS the women
or on pcncs ancsxcursons on land, the men
being busted in fading their cargoes.
When the arts boarded the second boat
tall, broad shouIered man. evidently the Can:
tain of the boat yeemed to be in especially good
hgmoT for he fShed oE beor the the
the women at tie other end Of the boat. which;
as the Captain eTPlaMi.np , was their especial
the news uaper nan suddenly, and after an in
quiry as 10 whetlbr he were married, explained
% he ho wod dsd0v tne
ing that his calllr was a single man, have to
eonsnt their mdher neI h ne would ia d run the
good-natured wa By calling down the hatch Of
the cabin: "Say.thsre jennie. here's ayounG
dude that wants to make pictures OF how ye
1--we; think It's safe o let him down there among
In answer his vie came up the companions
way and welcomed the reporter to the cabin
helm. with Instructions TO make himself TO
home" 1t would, have been most G b ash
verbose to I6e Init, His wife Insisted that her
girls. with thef pretty faces, came right npto
they knew about oanal-boat life, and how they
were treated ~ clerks in the stores when they
purchases be delivered on u canal boat.
. Why" explained the Youngest OF the two.
- those clehS were I'll LOO lice 10 US IOE
any use unfil they discovered. as we were pay
ing our Bills and giving orders for delivery OF
goods, tina: we were living on canal bout It
when they thought hoy nice they had been to
ordinary canal people
The gestures and tore Of voice which accom-
panied this little bit o. information were laugh
able Then the two dlme over to where the ar
list sat sketching tie cabin. and viii o they
watched the drawing grow they each In turn
gave him the full spry OF how they had spent
last winter in the Erie Basin-of the dances
and parties and weddings and the fun they had
Ind roaming over me 800 bouts And when no
over the side they called after him:
" Now mind and seld US each paper with the
pictures in, for, you know women on canal
At the entrance 70 the cabin OF the third boat
a sharp-eye1. sprn-featured matron stood
guard over tEYo petty girls that were peepin9
over from tie companiouway to get a look ae
the stranger Just then engaged in the rather
act of climbing over the side. A dog
at the mhrou's feet asserted his right to stop
the straSEers advance until tho stern faced
Cerbery! bade him " lie down" 1t was iron
ing day on board this boat. Here. as on the
other coats. everything was neat and clean.
to bring you down here. We are 30 UP.
set With spring cleaning" On another boat
thee was u good organ and a young woman.
VIII boosted that she was the Captains daughs
te, could steer a boat cook "A dinner and play
tie organ. and was only nine years DID,,
Altogether. the women OF the canal nave
dlite as nice q life and are Just "a nice people
IS tho average Of their sex who reside on land