The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-07
SUMMER HOUSEHOLDS.
Floating Villas That are Comfortable
inexpensive and Picturesque.

Floating Villas That Are Comfortable,
inexpensive and Picturesque.
The next best thing to building sum-
mer cottage is to build a houseboat. To
be sure the boat may cost almost as much
as the cottage. but then it has this great
advantage in its favor, that it can be moved
about at will.
SOME UNDENIABLE ADVANTAGES.
Aboard boat if you find yourself in the
neighborhood of malaria. mosquitoes and
unpleasant neighbors, you give the COM
mand to move on to another and more
desirable quarter, or you can spend the
winters in Florida waters, as the Lorillards
do on their houseboat, and the summers
on the st. Lawrence.
1t is among the Thousand Islands that
the houseboat fourishes in all the glory of
fresh paint, gay awnings, pretty cretonnes,
lace curtains, hammocks, rugs, banjos,
afternoon teas and moonlight fetes, to say
nothing of the boxes of brilliant flowers,
which make many of the decks a blaze OF
brilliant color, rivaling, one might think
the famous hanging gardens OF the Median
Princess at Babylon.
A CARE-FREE EXISTENCE.
Life on houseboat is essentially one of
pleasure, butterfly existence. in which
straw hats and yellow shoes, boating fan
nels and pretty gowns play not unimpor-
tanU part, and are, as it were, the outward
and visible sign that business and its at
tendant cares have been laid aside for the
time being.
In the evening there is always the boat
ing when, if fortunate enough to secure
the right companion, what can be more
charming than to pull upstream to where
the river flows, quietly singing its own
song, past green banks and under leafy
trees.
There are the luncheons, too, dove lunch
cons in sky blue or sea green, and the visits
to other households, the teas and the small
talk and the music, which has charms even
when squeezed from gaSplng concertlDa
or twanged from banjo.
REGULATING EXPENSES.
If one has not yet acquired houseboat,
nor had one thrust upon him, there are
two methods by which ''the long-felt want"
can be supplied.
A company has lately been formed for
building this craft, and for a consideration
$500 to $2000-one can become possessed
of houseboat all ones own, to have and
to hold for years or forever.
The other way to become possessed of a
boat-but only temporarily-which may be
more desirable on some accounts, is to rent
one, say for a month. For party of eight
or ten it is most inexpensive way of get
ting pleasant outing.
On the st. Lawrence households rent
for about $40 day; this, divided among
eight or ten people, amounts to a
mere trife, which one would willingly
give in exchange for the rare fun of house
boating.
The $40 pays for the boat, which is fully
furnished, and for the services of a master.
The housekeeping and other expenses are
not included.
The duty of the master is to look after
the boat and keep it clean and tidy and
wait on the party if he has any spare time.
In addition, a man or maid servant is quite
necessary.
THE BOAT AND FURNISHINGS.
The houseboat is a shallow Scow so far as
the shape of the hull goes, nearly square at
bow and stern and surmounted by a more
or less slightly structure in the nature of a
house. There is main deck which affords
living accommodations; above this is the
hurricane deck, generous in its proper
tons; it is covered overhead with an
awning, as it is the general reception and
living and lounging room.
The dimensions of the average house
boat are about 60 feet long by Is feet wide.
There is a saloon, dining-room, kitchen,
staterooms with double beds, store and
servants rooms, refrigerator and cooking
stove, in fact, all the comforts of home,
together with filter, which is absolutely
indispensable. An oil-stoVe, too, is great
convenience, and, of course, chahng-
dish.
The necessary accompaniment of house