The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
FOR FEMININE READERS
A VACATION ROAD WAGON HAS AD-
yANTAGEs OVER A HoUsEBoAT.
II Women Cannot Solve Domestic
Problems Can They DO Better with
Public euestions-TaIk Of the Day.

ct think I may truthfully say that the
happIest holiday ever spent" said bright
woman the other day 10 a writer for the
New York Tribune. was passed in a house
wagon. and / often wonder why such de-
nghtful way OF summer living has not be-
come more popular. For couples of limited
means II Offers endless possibilities. My
husband whose lungs had been left some
what weak after an attack of pneumonia,
was told by the physician that he must take
a long rest from his business and literally
live in the open air. Try camping out
said the doctor. That Is just the life you
need and we were discussing the various
advantages Of different localities when sud-
denly a bright idea occurred TO me and
made y proposition.
Do you remember I said, the travel
ing photographer who came to the hotel
where we were stopping last summer and
how we said what fun il must be to live
like that, with no responsibility or appear
ances to keep up? The man had his wife
with him: the van was fitted up like the
cabin Of a small boat. Why should We not
try something of that kind? We could buy
a second-class wagon OF some kind and
good. strong. steady cart horse. The whole
thing would not cost any more than "A tent
and would be much more amusing and L
should think more healthful and drier, as
1t would be lifted UP from the ground
The proposition was received with great
favor by ny husband and we forthwith be-
gan TO make our preparations. 4 second
hand van which had been Used by a travel
ing Snowman for his family was purchased.
and. needless to say. completely renovated,
scraped reprinted and vanished. and new
Inside fittings provided These were too
funny and afforded Us no end OF amuse-
ment.
I'm the back part. which we could divide
of from the front by curtains, we had cur
cooking arrangements stove arranged
something like those III some of the old
fashioned street cars, together with shelves
and hooks TO hold our pans and provisions.
II is really astonishing how little space
lheSc tnlnSS require II properly adjusted.
and you would have been amazed to see how
many comforts We managed TO get into the
remaining space-our beds, which folded up
ana became seats in the daytime: a table
which served as eating table, a card
table and writing desk; lamps which of
course. were fixtures. and hung up; our
ciOthes and house linen, kept in little
closet made under the driving seat: and
actually rocking-chair Cor me. which took
my fancy more than anything else for /
never could weary Of the novelty of the
sensation OF sitting at a window in a rock
ing-chair, without my hat and quite at
the highway.
I'VE Travelled in this fashion for six weeks.
ana, as say, never had a more delightful
experience. Contrary 10 my expectations
and greatly to my relief. We attracted no
attention whatever, peddlerS' vans being so
common in our rural districts. If We liked
a place, and found good fishing, we would
sometimes stay several days there. We
would take our wagon into some sequestered
spot, tether the horse and take our chance
OF thieves, by whom we were never mo-
Tested.
With the introduction Of the bicycle. such
a trip might be made still more delightful
and often wonder why house wagons
should not be as much of q regular institu-
ton as houseboats or parlOr cars. Ii is GER
tafnly far less costly, and just as amusing
according to my way of thinking