The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-04

you reach your place Of business. how
infinitely better prepared for the duties
Of the day do you feel than the man
who has spent the night in the city.
As contrasted with a country place or
a cottage on land. the hOUsebCat has the
advantage Of a changing scene to suit
conditions or inclinatiOus, with no taxes
10 pay. and little care or responsibility.
The novelty Of living in n boat may
wear of in time, but certainly a short
trip down the river or up the canal IS
always practicable. and an easy remedy
for ennui. Has anyone found a person
who has lived on a houseboat who has
become tired OF this mode Of living?
Nights on the Water.
There will be found many who will
lift their hands in horror at the thought
Of spending more than a hundred nights
on the water. The malaria turks there
as a deadly enemy, they tell you. To
live all summer I'm such a fever polluted
atmosphere and subject your family to
the danger OF wasting, If not fatal,
maladies, is the height Of folly. Let
US take a calm view Of the situation.
Are the waters Of the Potomac the
breeding place of more fever germs
than those Of Florida. where dozens. If
not hundreds, OF families from a north
ern climate spend the entire winter in
houseboats? There IS not n river I'm that
State that is not fed by streams that
have their source in cyprus swamps.
Yet where are the cases Of malaria that
have resulted from the houseboat life
on those waters? If the Potomac Is
unique in its fever-producing qualities.
why Is Il that those who are now. and
have for years. been living in, the local
houseboats. have persisted in a state
I Of good health?
1t Is a fact that can be demonstrated
/ by inquiry Of sailors and men who fol-
/ low the water that few people living on
board boat are known 10 have rheu-
matism. typhoid. bad colds, or the COM
/ mon Ills prevalent on land. The house
boat eliminates any possibility or bad
/ sewerage or drainage. one has all the
! advantages Of fresh air, as i'm camping
out without it's inConveniCrces, for in
/ the houseboat we can have good
kitchen with range or oil stove, ice box
la bathtub, and convenient washstands.
Season Of Cool BTeezes.
! A day may be ever so hot on shore
but the householder knows where nc
/ will find a cool spot out on the open
( water and under ample awnings a
/ few hundred yards away on shore his
/ less fortunate fcllow-mcn may be tan
taIized with mosquitoes, or they may
/ be unable 10 sleep I'm beds in their warm
rooms. but a short distance from them
out on the water where the solitary
] light shows the houseboat IS anchored
/ everyone is slumberiuG, cool and com
Portable. The slightest breeze is waite,
through the windows. and sometimes
! blankets have TO be used when at tho
very same moment the people on shOr,
/ arc rcstlcssly trying to sleep In a tenn
perature fifteen degrees hotter.
The number Of houseboats on IN,
/ Eastern Branch and the Potomac with
/ I'm q few miles Of Washington is hard
| 20 reckon The very small fry aboun,
I'm every favored anchorage. The better
! class Of this craft is not to he foun,
/ in the number the life deserves. Agains
! the dark background OF AnalOstan Isl
| and there is a string Of homes. bu
| many Of them are deserted and falling
| into decay. and not one averages UP {,
| the standard that one would expect +
| is true also that Of the few foatini
homes that consider Washington thei
base Of supplies, a large proportion ar,