The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-07-26
THEY LIVE IN A CRAFT.
over Thirty Years In
Canal Boat.


In three small rooms beneath the
curving deck of an aged canal boat in
Erie basin Charles Rogers, septu-
agcnarian and capitalist. and his wife,
Mary. have lived for 80 years. They
cannot say how old the craft is. Even
the name on the stern is erased by
time and the action of sea water, but
the old people say it will be their home
as long as il will hold together. II is
moored inside the brealwater. They
are practical "Reminiscences two old
people-and they are contented with
the life and have no wish 10 change
il. They were both born on a canal
boat, met each other on a canal boat
and were married on one. They have
lived on canal boats all their lives and
they expect to die on one.
No more simple existence than theirs
could be conceived, and it is hard to
believe that in the midst of busy,
hustling Greater New York two per-
sons could live lives of such retirement
as this old man and his helpmate.
Three months ago they celebrated their
golden wedding, and Mrs. Rogers, a
placid old lady with snow-white hair
and hardly a wrinkle on her face, said
she expected to live to celebrate the
siXtieth anniversary.
Since her marriage, so years ago. she
has been ashore ~ times in all, she
said. and she has never yet been on the
Brooklyn bridge-much less crossed it
though she had been so near il all
these years.
Capt. Rogers, as the Erie basin labor
ers call him. is rs years old, but he
would easily pass for GO. He is stout
and short, with square shoulders, and
a shock of white hair which comes al
most TO his shoulders. His white beard
sweeps his waist. He is not a large
capitalist. and is worth perhaps $4,000
His brother is said TO be millionaire,
but Charles has not seen him in years.
The old man. wearing a blue yachting
cap, was smoking his pipc-an insep-
arabic companion-on the deck of his
home the other day. when reporter
happened along. Capt. Rogers proved
himself hospitable by inviting the Wis
itor aboard and into the modest cabin.
The sitting-room contained three
chairs. table and a small stove. There
was no carpet on the floor aud not even
n clock in the room.
Don't need one" said the captain;
''we can tell the time of day well
enough by the sun. It's the most nat
ural clock and as for telling time after
dark-well, we don't sit up long after
the birds go to roost. Long enough to
read the Bible spell.
Newspapers? No stree; we don't
read the newspapers at all. / did not
know the Spanish-American war was
over until some one told me about 1t.
We have no time to bother with news
papers. The Bible is about all the read
ing we need and il everyone followed its
precepis there wouldn't be SO many
wars.
Live ashore? Yes; know we could;
but we don't want to. What's the use?
We have been on a canal boat all our
lives and you can't learn old dogs new
tricks. I've got money enough to take
care of us and we could live ashore
in house, but we prefer to stay where
we are We own this house and try
TO keep it in fair repair.
Were both healthy as can be and
! could wrestle a pretty good man yet.
I'm rs and l see no reason why should
not live to be hundred. Wife, too, is
in the best of health. Doctors have no
call to come bothering us. lay our
good health to our careful way of liv-
ing. never drank liquor. young man,
and don't touch coffee. / smoke all the
time I'm awake. and don't believe 1t
hurts me a bit."-N. Y. World.