The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-26
From the Kansas city Times.

From the Kansas City Times
HNO many summer traveller crossing
the Empire state by rail the for
h eignlize little colony of canal boats
which he sees creeping leisurely along the
waterway is a revelation.
Chickens scratch in the "dooryards,"
children let down tin cans on strings to
get water for their thirsty little gardens,
and thrifty housewives sit on the decks
at their mending-or Smelling peas, it
may be-
Where do they come from-these quaint
craft? And where are they going?
If ever. during the winter months or
before the ice breaks up In early spring
you had had business in the neighoor-
hood of the great Erie basin (of which,,
by the way, Brooklyn is. the back door,
you could answer these questions, for
through all this time 1.-THE basin" spells
safe harborage not only to brigantines and
schooners and square riggers Of the open
sea, but to a whole township of canal
boats, off duty for the season. Five hun
bred of them there must be, packed in,
as far as the eye can see, as closely as
herring in a keg-and each one, with
scarcely an exception. is an all the year
round home.
Packed In as closely as herring in a key,
did l say? Well, not always. There are
times when the boats have swung around
so that scrambllng from one TO another
is quite an achievement for the bpatwife
who wishes to call on her neighbor
block or so around the slip! There may
even be a strong wind rocking the I'M
wieldly craft, necessitating perilous feats
of Professionalism from landlubber's point
of view, but what cares she-milady of
the canal boat? 1.-THE basin" has no ter
rors for her, and away she goes. down
the side of her "house"-to the roof OF
her neighbor next door-on to the roof
beyond, and so on to her destination. In
fact a really level walk would seem mo-
notonous TO one grown accustomed TO such
daily acrobatic exploits. But imagine the
feminine apartment dweller running from
roof to roof-up and down fire escapes. in
and out of windows, when she wants to
visit a friend few blocks away!
1t Is not only III tilt PetsiH5 VI hCA6h-
borly calls. however, that the boat wife's
manner of living differs from that of a
mere landlady. Nothing could be more ro-
mantle than the four walls of her home.
say walls purposely. remembering the
mysterious panels that everywhere met
my view when, once I had cautiously de-
scended the companionway, / crossed the
threshold of her hospitable cabin.
A knob is turned and presto. Aladdin
like. a -four barrel energies from the wall.
Another knob is turned, and into the room
walks the store closet, revealing an array
of trunks, suitcases, flags. awnings and
other paraphernalia worthy of the pro-
verbal attic. Still a third knob Is
touched, and the hostess of this wonder
full houseboat proudly displays her ward
robe. where hat and shirtwaist boxes are
kept. Linen and china closets are SINH
larly concealed, and even a bed is built
in a jog of one wall, the decorative pieces
of moldng, when let down, turning out
ward to form the feet. II there are guests
there are couches which can be quickly
converted into more beds, and big green
shades that can be drawn down between
TO form partitions tan arrangement, by the
wav-like that of the -four barrel-well
worth any housekeeper's consideration, it
seemed to me, and so I pass it on').
The miniature kitchen is in the corner
nartially partitioned Off. as is usual in
these boats, where the majority of the
women are splendid housekeepers and
take as much pride in their ingenious ar
rangements and miniature Bookkeeping
as could any house or apartment dweller.
Everything shines! The kitchen walls are
lined with zinc. and in the better boats
there are sinks with hot and cold water
faucets, as well as convenient ventilators
over the stoves.
you see, | don't wipe my dishes.
Just rinse them in boiling water and set
them away to dry while l read my paper
or magazine explained one handsome.
white haired captains mate" who was
proudly showing me about. The hanging
lamp dangerous2 No. indeed. When we
go down the sound, and 1t gets to rolling
tie it to fiat iron on the table to hold
1t steady
| But the boat wife's. little cabin is not
only ingenious, it is picturesque. Bright