Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23

water of the Potomac, joining others in
mid-stream, and, like multi-colored rib
There are dark green canoes and light
green canoes, and canoes Of red and brown
and purple. One, which may be seen most
any evening, is of spotless white AS this
novel pageant crosses the pathway of the
setting sun or rocks gently, profiled in the
moonlight, there is a contrast and withal a
harmony Of color, a weirdness and a pic
turesqueness which so fascinates the I'M
initiated that they soon join the clan and
have outfits Of their own.
How They Are Furnished.
The canoes are furnished, some plainly.
some deliberately. When ladies are guests
1t is usual to pile the little boats almost
full Of sofa pillows, supported by mahog-
any movable backs The ladies' one two
or three. as the case may be, climb in upon
Brussels carpet and make themselves
comfortable among the pillows. They may
sit up straight or recline, whichever they
prefer, and often these little parties will
take mandolins and guitars with them. to
make more complete the pleasure of the
evening A canoe will hold four persons
easily, and most of the parties are made up
of this number. &
When a stag party Of three or four
young men decide to paddle up the river
for a good bit Of exercise and a swim,
the canoes are usually stripped of all fur
nishing: the carpet il removed from the
floor and the pillows are safely tucked
away in the lockers in the boat house.
With two padding at a time. the trip up
the river Is made in Jiffy. Should a rain
storm come along Unexpectedly, or a for
getful wave wash over the gunwales,
nothing is harmed.
Contrary to the general impression, canoes
are not easy to capsize, and with any care
at all are as safe an ocean liner. They
are built with bulge SIDE or tumble
home" to use the boating vernacular.
pressure is brought to bear oioff the i'm
mediate center. One may shift from side,
or from end to end with no danger of an
tmpromDtu bath.
viduality. and it Is not difficult. consequent
ly. to distinguish one craft from another.
The assortment of names is most complete.
There is Mephisto and Pericles. The Flying
Elizabeth and Mary. Anne and Lilly and
Maud and Susie are not forgotten. and even
''Tootsie" has the courage to trail along
with her more dignified sisters. After
all, what's in a name? 1t is said that many
a fair heart has been won through this
medium of confession. John buys q new
canoe. He has no name for 1t. He takes
Mary out for cruise on the river. He
takes Mary out several times. Still the
canoe is unnamed. One evening Mary is
surprised to see her name. in big black
letters, on brass plate, r!veted to either
side of the bow of the little boat. Then,
as tHe larry StoiieS say they A"o HoppiiJ
ever afterward." Yes, there Is something
In a name.
The Half Way House.
The "half-way house" or rather the
halfway houseboat," a welcome oasis in
desert of water. is located about three
quarters of a mile above the Aqueduct
bridge. The 'old man.. the proprietor
Is affectionately known by all those who
have occasion to sample his wares. dis
penses pop and giner ale. and pink lem
onads and sandwiches, at regular city
prces." He Is a mariner, In a small way,
and like them is wont to sit upon the top
of empty beer keg, and through the
smoke from his sailors pipe watch the
ceasless vigil of the waves. while he waits
patiently for the arrival of the thirsty.