The Washington times., 1901-12-29
A FLOATING VILLAGE.
Hundreds of CRnnI Bonts Tied In
i'm New York Hnrbor.

Not only on the Chinese river Yanrtse
are floating villages found; Americans
have them nearer home. no farther than
within New York Harbor. Not ten min
utes' walk from the Battery. at the old
Coenties slip. hundreds Of families spend
the winter, listening to the swirling wa
ters OF the East River around and under
their homes until the incoming swell
rocks them to sleep o! nights. Here it is
that the canal boats are tied up for five
months Of the year. hundreds of them
moored together in rows after rows, form
ing small towns. with streets and yards.
in which children and dogs romp and
play.
picturesque sight it is. resembling in
many respects the sampan villages Of
China. The little cabins protrude Just
far enough above the decks of the huge,
clumsy barges to allow them a row Of
windows, screened by bits of lace curtains
and green plants. Along the decks are
stretched lines of washing. and tiny curls
OF smoke shoot up from miniature chin
neys on the cabin roofs
They are people by themselves these
boatmen and their families, and have
their own ideas of what makes a home.
through the curtained windows you catch
giimpses Of cozy parlors and kitchens.
Green plants in flower pots and birds in
cages are also visible. Here and there
cat shows itself in a doorway. as if It
thought of coming out to enquire into the
state of the weather, but never gets be-
yond; the fireside below is too strong an
attraction.
Most of the cabins are divided into
rooms, ihe parlors with carpeted floors.
and pictures decorating the walls. and
more than few have shelves OF books.
occasionally cabin presents not quite
SO cheerful an appearance as the others
through the bare windows lonely old
man is seen cooking his supper, an old
bachelor.
Most of the men are loafing about the |
decks. telling each other funny stories or |
discussing the prices which the potatoes !
or grains in the holds below will bring |
them. Now and then one takes a pull |
at mooring rope or gives the handle of |
pump few jerks. but on the whole they |
take 1t easy, for their work for the sum |
mer is over
Not so with the women. Here one is
hanging out clothes. another peeIs p1ta- /
toes. third is spanking a child-alI that
are visible are busy. The general air
or both men and women gives an i'm I
preston of prosperity and comfort; all
are plainly but well clothed. A stylish
young miss comes down one of the piers
with bundles under her arms. From the
wharf she trips lightly on to the first
boat, and disappears down the companion !
way OF the cabin. Ten minutes later she
emerges again in a loose woolen gown.
4 basket of clothes in her arms and some
in her mouth.
And so these families pass the winter.
IN November they come down. their
BOATS loaded with hay. grain, potatoes.
'nions. apples, or lumber. In April they
20 up again with coal. On the surplus
of the summer they live during
he cold season. If the summer has been
'ad the men work at times as longshore-
men, but that is only when in dire neces-
ity
or evenings they gather in each others
abins to talk, play cards, and some to
rink. \ few Of the men have been sail
rs. who. with the earnings OF cruise
T two on blue water, have invested in a
arge. settled down and become semi
The majority have been !
armers up the State. but life on the
anal has made them semi-nautical All j
( them together they form a happy {
York Tribune.