Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-25

the city Still in the throcs of September
heat? How is one to endure the shut-in
feeling that comes from narrow walls
aud close quarters after miles Of open
space and sky?
The memories of days passed by lakes
and in the woods are 50 vivid one longs
To push aside the walls OF ones apart
mcnt and burst the shac<Ies that shut
out the sun and clouds and air 1t IS
vain to take trolley rides, for the tfeeleSs
thurouShforcs and the crowds. and even
the seaside with its amazing diversions.
are poor substitutes Tor the feelings of
tranquility which settled over one dur
ing the loug-hours spent in the heart of
nature
So inevitably have the dWcllers in city
apartments resigned themselves 10 fate
that it viii come rs a surprise To many
Ia know that they have ii within their
power to enjoy Il good alternative for
some of the departed joys If valley and
mountain. There are possibilities close
at hand of dclghtsswhch will make the
long autumn weeks in the citN serve as a
reminder of the open country left behind.
Within the dominion OF the roof there
IS sunshine air and space easy If access
anu WITHOUT money hl Ilht NUT IN
deed. are opportunities for tie weary.
wall-bound tenants What better place
to pass the leisure hours and IL cultivate
a growing appreciation of home bless
ings2
TO the skeptical it Will suffice to invite
Il personal inspection. If one goes up III
the evening a nice breeze will usually be
encountered. one is struck by the dit
ference in the atmosphere. as the air is
far purer than down stairs ar III the
street \ realization comes over one that
the crowds aud noises are far away. the
quiet soothes the nerves and invlgorates
the mind,
If ones acquaintance with roofs is linz
tied to what is offered on few OF the
larger metropolitan hotels. ones impress
sions on surveying the top Of the average
apartment house will be disappointing.
The tin roofing the lines used for drying
clothes and beating carpets combine To
make the outlook dismal aud nnprepos
sessing. Could anything be more hopeless
than the idea Of Transforming such a
desert" into a garden?
The responsibility for this condition be-
longs in part To the landlord. whose chief
concern has been To make all the noors
but one as up-to-date as possible Tile
papcring of the wallis and the finishing of
the woodwork may be in the most APP
proved form. but the hest floor Of all has
been neglected. through ignorance Of its
possibilities or indifference.
II the owners of apartments were alive
to the opportunity the roofs would not
be given over to the use of sparrows and
the weeks washing There IS perhaps
more comfort and pleasure for the ten
ants in a cultivated" roof than in amy
other feature of the house.
In some cases tile failure Ia utilize the
roof must be placed in part on the ten
ants The beginnings o. the garden that
is to be are In their hands. No landlord
would object to hammock swung in II
breezy corner or "A rocking chair placed in
the shade. This is an excellent start to-
ward the transformation of bare, I'M
pleasant roof and the Punishment of dry
ing clothes and dusty rugs. Through the
power of suggestion the cooperation Of
the landlord can be enlisted until veri-
table fairyland is installed.
1t is a comparatively simple matter To
reconstruct the roof of the average apart
ment house The expense is slight. First
Of all comes the flooring problem, and
the hest results are obtained by thing
This wears well and dries quickly after a
rain. An iron railing around the edge of
the roof brings a sense of security for
adults as well as children After these
improvements are in place the rest is
easy.
A practical Illustration of such devel-
Il. l,a n of
large apartment house near Central Park.
New York city. where an ingenious land
lord has transformed an area of one hun
tlred feet square into charming garden.
He was not content with a simple railing
around the edge of the roof but added
flower boxes and planted a hedge the
latter grows tall and close. 50 that the
unsightly house tops near by are shut out
of view
AS the blooming geranums on all sides
of the roof proved so successful addl-
tlonal boxes were placed around the
courts The awkward chimueys were
soon completely hidden by clingng vines
The skvIights were concealed by beds OF
daisies and purple and yellow pansles'
In short. the surface of the roof soon
took on the appearance of Il great, grow
ing conservatory, with ferns and plans
| banked so as to shut out the memories
of it's former empty state.
Here and there is rare blossom oil the
Lady Chatenay rose. Asters aud chrys-
anthernums vie with each other, and the
myrtle vine slips over the side OF the
walls. Morning glories and ivy cover the
arched trellis.
| But the flowers are only the setting Tor
reclining chairs, rockers and benches
! Hammocks are swung under movable
canopies. and there are portable double
| swings under a tentlike awning at one
end In another corner is the rustic
summer house, sheltered from sun anu
rain. The wooden floor, raised loot
above the tiled roof is covered with rugs,
and is ample for the accommodation oil
chairs and a small table, as well as the
piano. A sleeping balcony at the side
with its awnings completes the effect.
A few hundred dollars covers the or1gi-
nal outlay for lumber and carpenters,
while a small amount spent annually VIII
provide for needed additions, painting
and repairs The cultivated roof will
not require much attention after 1t is