El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-04
BUNGALOW High In. the Air
New York Man -UtiIizes Roof of sky
scraper For Home; Growth of
Roof Garden Popularity.
- Ay Frel eric ]. Hnslxin "
ASHINGTON, D. C., Aug.

been so remarkable during the past
decade that the roof garden has come
to play an important part in the sum
mer life of the jewellers in every large
American city. Instead of the street
cafes and open air restaurants scat
tered along the thOroughfares of Euro
pean cities, Americans are growing
more into the habit of climbing to the
roofs OF nigh buildings for their re-
freshment and entertainment. In most
cases, however. the climb is made an
easy one by the perfect working of
the modern elevator. A new use
planned for roofs of high buildings
is for homes to be built upon them.
A new York man already has built
bungalow on top of a skyscraper.
The first roof gardens of the world
are lost in antiquity Even before the
famous hanging gardens of Nebuchad-
nezZar in Babylon, the people used the
roofs Of their houses for sleeping and
recreation purposes in warm weather
/ In old oriental cities. flat roof houses
are still found which have stood for
centuries. Upon these roofs the women
of the family have always been accUs-
toned to take their airings since the
/ customs of their race did not permit
them to go into the street
New YOrk's First Roof Garden.
The first roof garden cafe opened
as an experiment on the top of the
( New York hotel. about ten years ago.
was a modest affair when COMPARED
with the present It contained a few
rustic tables and chairs and the re-
freshments provided were of the sim
plest kind Later in the season a little
music was introduced. The next year
the roof garden opened in a more pre-
, tentiOus way. 1t was enlarged more
deliberately decorated and meals were
served as sumptuously as in the dining
rooms below.
Informal at First.
At first these roof garden entertain
ments were informal and used only
&C n mi Tn ha
tons of the cafe. Now in some of the
larger gardens there is a complete pro-
gram, which the patrons may enjoy
amid cool outdoor breeZes while at
the same time approaching a view COW
ering miles of territory. The same
roof may provide several grades of en-
tertainment from the simple beer and
sandwiches served upon bare wooden
tables, to the elaborate champagne
supper served in a magnificently deco
rated Open-air dining room with heavy
napery, dazzling silver and cut glass
in abundance.
Dancing is also provided upon many
roof gardens. It is supposed to be
moonlight dancing, but when Luna's
rays are insufficient they are supple
mented by softly shaded electric lights
not less romantic in appearance.
Where AeroPlanes May Land.
The newest idea in roof garden de-
velOpment is TO equip them with a
landing place for aeroplanes. Such an
adjunct is being planned in connection
WIN dL AGdSL Two great american nos
telries. This can only be possible upon
a roof covering a large area of space
on building of exceptional strength
At least one large hotel has already
provided an incline and a huge eleva-
tor by means of which a large auto
mobile may be raised to the roof gar
den, giving its occupants an OppOrtu-
nifty to see the view and secure re-
fTeshments without getting out Of
their machine.
The use of the roof is not only for
H. H-n~ IL
the hotel is designed chiefly for the
wAll-to-dO. but the cool air of house
roof may be free to thousands of un-
fortunate in tenement districts, who
find their close rooms unbearable. Be
fore roof gardens were thought of as
a commercial institution tenement
women took their babies to the roofs.
No ARRANGEMENTS existed then for SAT-
ETY., and the death Of a child from roll
ing off a roof was not infrequent. Now
few houses having a flat roof which
left without some railing or protection
which would make such a fall impOs-
sible.
Lungers' Homes on Roofs.
The roof gardens have developed
other uses than mere pleasure. The
air at the top of a building from 10 to
20 stories high is purer and dryer than
the atmosphere of the street below.
The location Of a hospital in mid-air
for "lungerS," which Kipiing exploited
as a possible DEVELOPMENT of the air
ship, is made feasible now by utiliZ-
ing the roof. A young man in New
York developed symptoms of tubercu-
lOsis several years ago. He was or
dered to Arizona by his physician.
who said he could not live six months
unless he kept absolutely out Of doors.
Instead of going to Arizona, the young
man took careful account of his re-
sources He found that he could pro-
vide himself with necessities for a
year. A friend was in charge of one
Of the largest office buildings in the
city Arran gements were made for the
invalid to have the exclusive use Of
the roof He provided himself with a
small tent an oil stove, fuel and food
supplies for year His food included
q large portion of condensed milk.
esslcated eggs and other nutrients.
which could be preserved indefinitely.
Lives Half a Year on Roof.
He took up his residence on the roof
In september before the winter weather
set in. He carried out a regular rou-
tine of exercise each day, ate pre-
scribed foods, Of which he had as great
a variety as possible. and eked out his
existence with a few books and a
great deal of solitaire. He also had a
chess board, upon which he played
many tournaments with imaginary
partners The winter weather was Sc
we're, but he had sufficient warm cloth
ing. He shOveled snow and built snow
forts after the manner of a school
boy. In few months he found himself
gaming IN strength to a degree which
surprised his friend. who paid him an
occasional visit. In the spring he
planted seeds in boxes of soil which
had been provided and was then able
to treat himself to radishes and let
tuce- The result was an absolute cure
At the expiration of the year he was
able to resume his ordinary mode OF
life with no trace Of the malady which
had threatened to shorten his exist
ence.
Fairgrounds on Roofs.
Using the roof of a public school
building as a playground for children
created much comment when It was
first begun in New York and Philadel-
phia- 1t proved so satisfactory that
all objections were speedily overcome
1t made Fairgrounds possible in a To-
cation where ground was absolutely
unavailable. In a school accOmm odat-
ing 1000 children the recreation prob
lem is difficult The schoolground is
sufficient for only two or three hun
dred at time. Even by varying the
recreation period for the different
grades, it could not accommodate the
entire school In one school of this
kind the yard is reserved for the pri-
mary and oldest pupils. The interme-
date pupils take their recreation upon
the roof which is equipped with all
the features of a model playground.