Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-16
LORILLARD's HOUsEBoAT.
The Comforts Of Home While Living
on the Water.

on the Water.
1t is well for the peace of womankind
that houseboats like the Caiman of Mr.
Pierre Lorillard are not to be met with
on every hand. Every woman who did not
preside over one would straightway be con-
sumed with envy of her sisters who did
So long, however. as this is the only one OF
its kind In the country. the breaking of the
tenth commandment is in a measure. pre-
vented
The first impression that a woman re-
ceives as she steps from the speedy little
raphtha launch, which, coming up close to
the swinging stairs at one side Of the boat,
permits easy access to the lower deck and
thence to the upper one, where are the
quarters Of the owner and his family, is
that IT is a pretty seaside cottage she is
entering. The boat effect is wanting The
vista of daintily furnished rooms with
growing plants. cushions piled on divans
silken curtains swaying in the breeze, an
open piano. the pretty litter OF needlework
all this does not suggest a floating home
but villa on the shore, immovable and
firmly established. As the Caiman rarely
moves I'm anything but smooth waters
things and belongings do not have to be
set In racks and chained down, a necessity
that always unpleasantly suggests tossing
about. Except In the buffers pantry,
where the glasses fit in slots overhead and
the dishes are piled on shelves protected by
doors with Y-shaped openings, after the
manner of yachts, there is almost nothing
which hints of unsteady travel. This, too,
In spite Of her very light draught Of 81
inches, which would seem to produce top
heaviness and consequent rocking in q
three-decked vessel 1I2 feet long. But she
Is as steady as ferry boat.
Parlor and Library.
The pretty sea parior In the bow is the
70 win
the lovely water perspective from every
point. Nothing can exceed the cheerful
coziness of the apartment, which is spa
cious, too, as its dimensions, l6 by 20 feet
will attest.
Mr.. Lorillards especial sitting room is
amidships. and is charming in its way
as the other larger room. An open writing
desk, with a shaded electric light. suggests
one occupation of the room, and books a |
smokers table. and general air of loung |
Ing comfort tell of further pleasant Qualifi-
cations of the place. Two large bed rooms |
open from this room, their doors concealed |
by portieres of swinging strands, closely |
strung with shells, which harmonize ad- |
mirably with the aquatic effect.
There are bath rooms off every one of |
me SIX state rooms and one splendid one |
stretches quite across the boat, and is fitted |
for both salt and fresh water baths. Every
bed room is an outside one, and doors and |
windows are screened with a very fine
weave of wire TO keep out not so much the /
mosquitoes as the tiny insects of the Flor
ida rivers. while securing all the air that is |
wished. The dining room is the most
gracefully shaped room in the boat 1t is IS |
by 20 feet, and. like all the rooms. high |
studded and spacious. 1t follows the easy
curve of the stern. its eight windows being |
set in slightly elongated semi-circle.
Next the dining room is a complete but |
iers pantry, with e. draw cupboard to the |
Kitchen just beneath
The Domestic Apartment.
Down stairs the housewife is at once in
terested in the colossal refrigerator, with a |
capacity of five tons of ice and a months
supplies. even in Florida temperature of |
fresh meat. butter, milk, and other perish
apies. The store room also appeals to the 4
provider of a home. amply stocked as IT is |
with all manner Of dry groceries and tin
ned relishes. The kitchen is big and roomy,
and fitted with every appliance for modern
cookery. and If 1t is not nautically des:g-
mated, its "coppers' are as bright and shiny
as that of any ships galley ahoat.
Doctors room on the first deck is the |
only intimation that this paradise is earth |
ly, but, like the big gilt alligators In relief
on the bow, 1t may be presumed that he |
ana his room are only aboard for the gen.
eral fitness Of the establishment and not
because he Is expected to be professionally |
Interviewed. The vessel moves by its own
power, being propelled by a twin screw and |
three triple-expansion engines of 100 horse
power each. Thus equipped, the Caiman |
can make as many as ten miles an hour in
the smooth waters of rivers, and do nearly |
as we'll when she takes short sea runs as
she is occasionally forced to do.
Altogether, the American houseboat ms
Illustrated by this famous specimen, is a
thing to be desired. and although tie
sumptuous fittings OF the one just described
make 1t an expensive affair." 1t is esti-
mated that very comfortable average
houseboat can be built at an expense Of |
about one-third Of the average yacht
To descend still further from the Caiman,
1t would be very enjoyable to own a boat
even that would need to be lowed from
place to place. thus insuring a still further
reduction Of outlay. With our innumerable
Waterways and water fronts an almost I'M
limited cruising would be possible within a
comparatively short distance. When one
thinks of the Thames. a narrow, insignif-
cant stream. lined at certain parts with
these long fotillas of houseboats, one
wonders that the resources of our splendid
Hudson are not similarly utilized The
summer outing has come to be ca absolute
necessity to even humble workers Every
year persons take IL more nationally. What |
vista OK blissful rest and aimless drifting |
from nowhere to anywhere is suggested by
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