New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-28
Camp Sites on Home Roofs

ANYTHING else, and who is denied the
pleasure owing to lack OF time ana
money FOR the coveted vacation. can pitch
hc- tent on the roof and still sleep under
the stars. From this point she can watch
On. boats passing and rcpassing. the Day
Line. tho Night Line. tramp steamers,
canal boats. tugs, yachts. sail and motor
boats. in tact. water craft Of every kind.
FURTHERMORE. she IS sure of breeze on
the hottest nights, and the weary wall
hound creature s. rested and invgorated.
one family on upper Broadway have
olmpcI ~ the roof Of the apartment
house In which they dwell FOR three sea-
sons. Any family can secure simla .
privilege Tor "a camp site Their can
vas home. as they call II, consists of two
tents. each j. by IS feet made Of khaki,
with 2 9iz-foot ridge and ii2-toot side
walls The tents are placed end 10 end
facing the river. and they are covered
with two 1ies. One is used for sleeping
quarters, the other for living room. The
latter has been made attractive with a
comfortable couch covered with green
denim, and heaped with pillows, library
table on the mission order and several in
,lting chairs. The floor covering Is OF
khaki, also laid over builders paper. II IL
fastened to tho platform Of the roof with
grummcts and screw eyes.
The mother and children spend their
entire time on the roof, either In the civ
ing room" II the sun IL high. or In the
garden corner facing tho river. All the
family mending and sewing are done
while the mother is away" on this
unique vacation. AS II Is picked up At odd
moments when she IL In the mood for
work, her task IL never irksome. When
the father comes home at night dinner Is
quickly dispatched, after which they all
scamper Up TO the roof again. In fact,
they really live ''topside" with the ex-
ception of preparing for the meals, cook
lng and eating them. Sometimes the
children coax mother to have luncheon
served on the roof Nothing loath to eat
out OF doors, the mother acquiesces. and
such a Jolly time as they have picknick-
ing, They use paper napkins and plates
and paper drinking cups for the milk or
iced tea one ~ the older children car
ries the tray up to the roof, and when the
below.
The tents used BY the family are ox-
ccptionally large and they cost s27 each.
Tho dies were SIS 30 each. The extra alrge
ones were necessary for a family OF six,
but the average sized family can use the
smaller tents to advantage. Their prices
run about As follows: l2xli. s23 25 with fly
at sH Is; 7x9, 81, ny 49, eXl2. 81 co. ny
s. y. 4 surf tent is preferred by some
roof campers. II costs SIS This tent has
centre pole and a canopy top, with
roofing Experienced roof campers de-
clare they suffer no III effects from the
glare of the sun in the carly morning
hours and at midday when they use the
surf tent. The fy costs 50.
The very latest fad of the roof campers
Is the portable house idea. A 9x12 Is the
size most used. The initial expense Is
rather prohibitive 10 the masses, but ono
family averred that an SIS portal bic house
was cheaper than vacation at the sea-
shore for family of four. Such "A house
consists OF one room only but II is all
screened and of dark wood so the glare
Of the sun cannot penetrate II readily.
IL is also fireprcof A blue print accom-
panies each house, 40 that tho purchaser
can easily follow the printed directions
and erect the house without the aid OF
a carpenter.
A back yard vacation sounds rather
prosaic, but II is not nearly. so common