The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

How the Institution Is Conducted on
the Thames.
eW York Commercial Adyertiser.

why don't you have Households in this
country?' asked the broad-shouldered, rosy
faced man, who looks daggers at strangers,
but is usually all smiles when with people
he knows. I've been all over, this sum
mer, from that awful place you call Asbury
Park to heaven on earth in the Adirondack
woods, and I've seen but one houseboat. A
miserable affair 1t was, too, and tied up TO
wasn't a flower or a canary bird or a pretty
frock on board 10 remind one that the old
tub belonged to the same family as the float
ing gardens that adorn the Thames in sum-
mer."
The natives of "this b~enighted country
looked properly meek. and the stranger in
a strange land continued:
1T isn't ali delight. you know, on a house
boat. The houseboat hostess is always a
heroine, often a martyr. She has TO keep
up her reputation for hospitality in the face
of difficulties that would make a woman on
land quail. Such things have been known as
of responsibility incurred by culinary opera
tons. A poor hostess, with thirty hungry
guests on hand. seeing the tend'r wherein is
contained her kitchen and laTder slowly
sinking before her eyes is a pitiable sight.
OF course, such CHASTITY incidents as this are
not mmo But Henley week, with its
crowd and its festivities. is usually darkened
Henley week is at once the triumph and
despair of the houseboat hostess. She has
her opportunity TO show her taste and orig
inality in floral decorations. illumination
and amusements. On the other hand, she Is
expected to entertain all her dear friends
from town, and. of course, the bright, pleas
ant people pay flying visits and the bores
stick like burrs. Then the guests who have
acquaintance on other households go
around in small boats paying calls. and
from the hostess's point OF view this has
disadvantages. On the pretext OF rowing
over to the Blanks boat the brightest
girls and the most amusing men pair of
in punts and canoes and leave the hostess
guarding her ship like Casabianca, and nos
much more happy than was that valiant
youth. / shall never forget the dismay or
a pretty young woman who had a houseboat
last year and with whom / spent several
days of regatta week. She had decorated
her boat with ivy, pink geranium and White
marguerites, and the young women who
were supposed TO help her hold carnival
wore costumes of pink and white and green
straw hats trimmed with pink roses. The
poor hostess complained that after luncheon
her pink and white girls, with attendant
SWANS, left her pink and white boat for
another boat decorated In colors that didn't
match their clothes at all. When they had
gone some stupid people in browns and
blues came TO call and stayed TO tea. Her
crew came back b. twos and twos late in
the afternoon to prepare for the illumina-
ton OF the pink and green boat and the trip
up the course to see the illumination OF
other boats. The life of a houseb2at hos-
tess is nos a peaceful. restful existcuce If
she entertains much. But the life of a
guest on board a w-efl-managed houstboat
Is a thing OF JOY. That's why wonder you
don't have more Households In this couE-
try. Now. why don't you?"