The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-15
AROUND THE woRLDINA CART. .
Strange Journey of an Altoona Man and
His Family.

One Of the most novel expeditions ever
engaged in probably is that planned by
Jonathan Olson Of Altoona, Pa, who
with his family is going around the world
in cart. He starts this spring and ex-
poets to complete his journey by June /,
1899. His route, as planned, is south to
Texas, 40 ,oss Mexico to South America
thence ly steamer to Spain and so on.
His vehicle is home made,. twenty feet
long and seven wide, and consists of four
parts, braced together so as to endure any
strain. Olson has finished the inside in
polished maple and adorned it with hand
carvings of his own design. He is for
eigner, and in the course of an eccentric
life, has picked up many beautiful pieces
of bric-a-b rac which he now turns to the
adornment Of his wagon house. The in
terror besides having three rooms, is
charmingly conceived in point of conven-
fence. In one room they cook, and in
bad weather dine there also. But the din
ing room is out of doors when the wagon
can be pulled up in pleasant eating places.
Five days out Of the week it is planned
to halt where the cloth can be spread I'M
der the trees and good cool drink OBJ
tanned from spring.
The second room has a couch and small
table. The table can be used for a break
fast tray or can be cleared at mig ut and
used for parlor games. 1t also does duty
as writing table or for books and d smok-
ing set. On one side Of the room there is
dressing table that takes up the entire
wall 1t has twenty drawers, a broad
shelf and mirror, with shelves overhead.
Here the entire winter and summer. ward
ODE Is stored.
The third room is a trunk ROOM Here
chairs are stored, tables piled up and
hammocks kept for unpleasant weather
the plan is not to sleep in the house, but
in hammocks slung from trees.
Anything that is wanted can be
brought from the trunk room at a min
ute's notice. There is one chest devoted
and useful articles for wear and for fancy
work. The wagon can stop at a town
any time to replenish supplies, Tut the
owner plans it, SO carefully that, exceps
for food, there is no halt for month at
a time.
Provisions are to be purchased of the
farmers, so far as possible, who are ex-
pected to supply butter, eggs, vegetables
and chickens cheaply in return for the
privilege of looking through tho novel
house.
The kitchen is the most admired room
OF all. 1t Is arranged Sn1pSndpc. cups
are hung from hooks, and plates set in
little grooves. Pans are on the walls; all
is polished as bright as hands can make
it. so
The floors are plain boards, laid nicely
and o lied, so that the rooms look as neat
as those in any house. The cabin or liv-
ing room has much the appearance of
stateroom on night boat, and this effect
is heightened by some very clever wall
decorations made from simple pieces of
wood skilfully inlaid.
The most ingenious arrangement of all
is sliding door by which the whole side
of the sshouse' can be opened. The doors
slide to one side and finally come COM
pletely off and may be laid under the
cart or used for table under the trees.
Olson travels with three horses, often
resting one by hitching it to the back Of
the cart. When he wishes to make speed
he harnesses all three. His ordinary gait
is about twenty miles day, but when
the weather is fine and the roads good he
hopes to make thirty or forty miles. He
drfves-as he lives-exactly as pleases
him. When the wagon is closed it does
not look like any other wagon. 1t is
longer and broader, and there is an air
of mystery about its curtained windows
1t might be taken for circus wagon or
a house boat on wheels. An inscription
upon a door plata plain piece of pine
carved by hand-reads:
Jonathan Olson-Round the World