Evening star., 1930-06-28
Along the Water Front
By Carol Klotzbach

7 Tow many of us recall our old
r school Biographies and their
i widely assorted pictures of
places and scenes from all over
the globe? If you can recall them at
all you will surely recall the picture of
the crowded Yangtze, covered with
junks, sampans, houseboats and what
not and the caption reading, 1.-The Chi
neSe have lived for centuries aboard
boats on the Yangtze." So there's
really nothing new about this thing of
living aboard, except that many have
not discovered it and when they do,
they, like most of the human race, like
to consider that what they have found
is new, unique and interesting.
But now that our advertisers are be-
Seeching us via the radio to Buy boat
| and live on it" and the roads being
crowded as they are, we may already
see the return to the water-aye, the
signs are in the sky. Sooner or later
our broad rivers and bay will soon, like
the Yangtze, contain their quotas of
| residents aboard.
It's really a lot of fun. OF course,
there are Inconvenience. And If one
Is sleep walker he need read no fur
ther. And II one is the type of chap
| who objects to a bit of exertion now
and then and likes everything done for
him, why, of course, living aboard is
out of the question. But for the fellow
whose delight is to tinker, who loves the
open air and isn't scared of drafts and
a bit of paint in his hair now and then
n VIftn NynirN
mountaineering ancestors, for that
fellow, living aboard is Just right. And
II he be so fortunate to possess a wife
who Is of the same mind, the thing is
ideal.
Also Has Advantages.
We mentioned inconvenience. We
failed to mention advantages. There's
lots of them. First, take the matter
Of keeping house. Floors are small and
rarely dusty. Refuse disposal is easy
| overheard. There are no great ex-
panses of wallpaper to clean and dust
and window washing is a moments
| work. Galleys are tiny and the equip
ment therefore kept of necessity at a
minimum, and fewer dishes means
fewer dishes to wash.
Week ends may be spent most any
where without all the usual fuss and
preparation and wherever one is he
may have home cooking, for his home
Is with him, UnWelcome guests may
easily be avoided by merely moving ones
anchorage for the night, and if one
wishes to retire early he may do so
without fear of drop-in callers and
phoned invitations.
Then in the hot Summer months the
evenings will be found to be cooler on
the water and a refreshing swim is at
ones backdoor, so to speak. Here, and
here alone, may the beauties of sunset
and full moon be enjoyed In their en-
tirety and here on quiet nights Is the
only place in the world where ones
carpet and ceiling both may be studded
with stars.
May we recommend, too, that the
fellow with jaded appetite. the tonic
taker, the fellow who says Il don't
know what's the matter with me. no
pep!"-all these may profit greatly b.
living aboard, though we warn them
that grocery bills will be higher once
old man river gets in his dirty work
The sun-lamp salesman will have to
change over to bathing suits or marine
equipment and no more will the ques-
ton arise, Where shall we go for the
evening?"-for living aboard means
staying aboard and really enjoying ones
| self without seeking.
We started this column with a ques-
ton. We must ask another. Or rather
| copy a few from those so frequent ads.
| Are you lonesome? Do you have diff
| Guilty in making friends? Are you a
| social failure? A wallflower? Will no
one tell you? Well we will, buy boat
a nice boat, and all these problems and
more will be solved. Live aboard!
| + &&
NUR crusade for the betterment Of
~ the waterfront Is having its effec
A eotemporary has voiced enthusi