The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 19

THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. NEW YORK. SUNDAY. AUGUST 2. 1908.

wMii im i IS II ft '1 1 II I if tl r.cL- i i rrr I I i III II I I 11 plW rtwW l2' s4 11 I Ml'l fNlf Jrf'l tw AvTT4 I TT 1 EfTOT JT" 'JMh fet A 1 Jf llBwi1 j. 'IW- Villjfy IJH ws bedroom jHwWI mm wn I ni -itWWM II I II 1 i 1 i IHPHIlW Ml ii 1.1 NH ot the most exclusive sum met oolonles of Long Island Is th houseboat colony on Sheepsbead Bay. As Independent as tbe light bouse keeper at sea, but much more attractive from a social standpoint, is the life of the members of this summer real dence section, which extends the length and breadth of the bay. The bay at this season of the year Is filled with almost every sort of water craft from the big yawls used by the fishermen from the city on their weekly excursions into the eea, to the tiny little boatB first propelled by (the American Indians, but a trifle different In finish from those orogi-Jial birch bark canoes. In the midst ot -this busy scene the stretch of houseboats anchored here and there, the length of (the bay, rivals the houseboat scene along Ehe English Thames In comfort and eu-oyment, even If some of them do not 'happen to be as luxurious as the float.

Ing palaces of the English boatmen. The handsomest houseboat in the bay 8 owned by an Englishman, who has furnished It with all the simple luxury and exquisite taste which make for the charm of the English country home life. Nothing has been neglected, even to the freshly painted green wire boxes arranged along the houseboat railing flowering with the red blooms of geranium end the green of fern and palm, One of the most attractive features this boat Is the roof with red and white awnings Sapping with the gentle sea breezes above tbe broad railing. The root is spacious and big enough to entertain a party of twenty or twenty-five persons. iJnvltingly arranged across the center 'stands a big davenport covered with a looking pattern of cretonne with plenty of sofa pillows to tempt one to quiet and rest in the hospitality of the Dragon.

This is the name ot the attract ive water home, which is told in the white letters on the red pennant flying from her bow. Japanese matting is the preferred covering for the floors of this houseboat, and is used in the rooms and sun porch as well as on the floor of the roof. Over this In the dinlngroom and sun parlor and sitting room are spread handsome imported rugs. All about the house and the roof there is a generous supply of big and comfortable wicker chairs and lounges, and again plenty of big cretonne-covered sofa pillows. While the colony members boast an absence of mosquitoes, most ot the houseboats are pretty thoroughly Inclosed In screens to prevent any stray fly or summer pest of the winged variety breaking In on their excluslveness and trouble their calm of quiet rest and enjoyment.

There ere no other Intruders upon the houseboat colony. The red and white striped awnings by which these boats are known afar flutter gayly In the breeze and wave, as it were, a defiance to any attempt upon their Independence. Bobbing up and down on the water close to their sides are rnwboats or motor boats, which ferry the houseboat members to and fro be tween home and shore. Nearly all of the owners of the house-boats are business men ot Brooklyn. Every week day morning, between 8 and 9 o'clock, the houseboat owner reluctantly takes leave of his water home and the cool breezes of the sea and steps Into his motor boat.

The families of these men are, of course, as fond of the water as they themselves are, and every day the owner of tbe boat is ferried to shore by his wife or one of the members of the family. About tbe time when he Is to return in tbe evening, his wife looks for his signal of an upraised flag on one ot the numer Uoolonles of Long Island Is th houseboat colon on Sheep.heJ. Em parlor to the dining room, which affords excellent ventilation and all sea breezes that waft that way. "This is our first summer here," said the housekeeper. "I never knew a water home could be so comfortable in so little space as we have here.

I think it is one of the finest ways to spend the summer that can be had. We never have a warm day here. There is always a fine breeze, and then we get the benefit of the Bea air, and I do not believe there is another place around Long Island that affords such real comfort and pleasure." One of tbe new houseboats in the bay is owned by Miller Koch. Henry Miller ot tbe firm Is a young man who was born in Sheepshead Bay, and knows more about water than most people do about land. Ho Is always somewherav handy about the shore and has figured in moro life saving episodes than a whole life saving station.

No matter how rough a storm is raging, ho is always willing to go to the roscue of an unfortunate swimmer or crew. Sometimes the siren whistle from the Manhattan Beach Hotel sounds a distress signal along the coast. Miller has good ears trained to these calls for help and never takes him long to get there. When the sloop, the Eva May, was pounding Us life out against the rocks, off Manhattan Beach, in a terrific storm, last August, Miller and a couple of assistants hustled over there as fast 1 their fastest boat could carry them took off the party, consisting of twenty persons. There are other volunteer life savers along the Sheepshead Bay coast, who am Just as brave and willing as Miller.

And while there Is no life saving statlun there at present, the Houseboat Colony know that they will be well taken of by these brave men on shore, should an emergency arise to demand such assistance, so fear never enters Into Hi serenity of this happy life on for they feel just as safe, and somu of them say they feel more protected than they do in their city homes. "For instance," said one boat think of our Independence here on th water. Isn't it something to ponder over? No fear of burglarB, no disagreeable neighbors, no shouting of hucksters to disturb your early morning rest; no' troubles of other people to listen to. Just think of the pure delight of It, be ing removed from ail the disturbing in fluences of city life, especially city IlfS' of the lovely summer time, when ne'igh-; nlnnnH nnfl nelffhhnrs' chatterinlE- and crying children turn your night rest Into a night of torture. No clang' of tho trolley cars, no roar of the elevated, nothing but the still, soft, lapping' of the water against the boat, the soft sea breeze floating In over Manhattan Beach; now isn't that a picture of contentment to make any man happy?" Another of the big houseboats is owned by Dr.

Minton of Williamsburg, whose two little children enjoy the summor on wnter as much as the grown-ups. His Is a big, corafortablo boat. The majority of the colony members open their summer homes about the first of June, and most of them remain open until the first of October. The cost, sizes and arrangement of these houseboats are as varied as the Ideas of their owners. Their cost Is all the way from $300 and $-110 to and $3,010.

In th: winter they are beached on the bay shore, with an attendant who looks carefully after the welfare of tho winter quarters of these homes. All of the homes are well built and have proved to bo as warm In winter as they havs proved cool and comfortable in summer. One party who owned one of the newer boats had an opportunity to rent, his last winter, and he thought It would be far better to have It taken care of this way. The occupants said they spent a most pleasant winter were as comfortable In this unique winter home as they were in a Brooklyn apartment, where they spent the winter previous. who had begun life In Insignificant piratical exploits and who had wound up his career as a blockade-runner during our Civil War.

He had narrow escapes of being hanged on three different occasions. So deciding that a tavern was preferable to the deck of a piratical craft, slaver or blockade-runner, with tho chanc" of being strung up, he hit upon the tavern as at least a safer money-getter than tho element on which he bad passed so many years. Between 8 ahd 9 on Wednesday night I wan Introduced to Dr. Byrne by Gyks. During the conversation, Alfred alluded to Dickens' Quilp.

It was then I saw the flesh-and-blood character of the delineation and how true the great novelist had drawn the natural characteristics ot the man Byrne as Quilp. In all my experiences and they havu been varied I had up to this never met a man with that basilisk expression of eye and quailing, savage humor of visage as this self-styled Irish doctor, Mr. Byrne. F.very feature: of Dickens' Qullp was there, and In my judgment the character was rather umlcr 'ban over drawn, by the novelist. I met Haley, next day.

In the edltoilal rooms of the Chronicle, and he asked mo what I thought of the doctor. "True to the life," I answered "Thero is no caricaturing at all about DanI Quilp. The real and the Imaginary are si two ptas in a pod GERALD CARLTON. ONE OfrHSBtST EQUIPPED HOUSEBOATS ON SHCcPSHEflO BM alone," repeated Mrs. Berger, after the question of a visitor.

"No, Indeed," she replied. "Why, you see, I have'' my housework to do. I am able to do considerable of my sewing down here. Then some days I have friends who come down from tbe city to call on me, so I always find plenty to keep me from ever getting lonesome, as you say. Of course, I love the water.

I am never so happy as when I am on the bay. This is the third season we have had our houseboat, and I am just as much Infatuated with It as when we nrst got it. No, I am never afraid, either. The storms are never bad here in the bay. Of course.

there are some high winds during the summer, but our boat is securely anchored, and there is little motion to it, even in these times. Besides, there are always so many boatmen along the shore, and they can readily see any danger that might happen to one of us, and they are always very kind to us, too, although there has never boen any real danger to any of the colony, with tbe exception of a time or two, when I believe one of tbe boats was not securely anchored, and during a high wind storm began to float and take on water. A crew from shore saw the plight of the boat and turned out and took the family off and saved the I the iflnON -S and tour large airy rooms. The sitting room Is done in dark red with pretty soft summer curtains, and hangings of old gold and sea green shades. Hammocks, which play a big part in tbe furnishings of these water homes, for tbe roof and sun parlor, are generously fur nished la this home with huge sofa pil lows and mosquito coverings.

"We have wanted such a home for a long time," said Mrs- Maxon, who is a pretty young matron and exceedingly fond of the water. "Early this spring we decided to build one. Part of the Ideas of the home are our own and part re those we took from other boats we visited here and abroad. Wo have only had It a fow weeks, you see." she said, "but I think It will bo a great pleasure for us and our friends who like to come out for a day or more to visit us." Mrs. Maxon is an expert swimmer, as most all the members of the houseboat colony are.

Most of them spend a fow hours every day in the water. It seems to be one of the unwritten rules of the houseboat colony in their dally routlno to take a plunge in the bay every morning the first thing upon arising. Some of the larger houseboats are fitted with handsomo hath rooms, but even their owners are addicted to the dally bathing in the bay. In the afternoon, when the tide compB In, some of the colony take their bathing suits and stroll over to Manhattan Beach for a change and enjoy the ocean bathing. When night begins to drop Its darkness over the bay it only leaves a temporary parting shadow over the houseboat colony.

Shortly after the thousands of electric lights from Coney Island loom up In the short distance away and II- lumlnnto the bay with the radiance of the rising sun. "Why." said one member of the houseboat colony, "I wrote a letter on my roof the other night wiih tho aid of no other light than the Coney Island Illumination. I think It is very kind of them to furnish us with this light. But perhaps you had not better say anything about it or they may send us a bill for light" One of the largest houseboats In the bay owned by M. LaSunr.

has been rented for the season to a family who have converted It Into what might be termed a highly comfortable apartment on water. It has a large sitting room, larger than many of the sitting rooms In apartments and fat houses, a handsome dining room which can conveniently accommodate a dozen or more persons, four bedrooms, a kitchen and large bath. A long hall runs the length of the boat from the sun Some very odd characters used to go there nmong the rest an occasional contributor to tho Brooklyn Eaglo In Mr. Klnsella's time Chief otherwise Laird Dundonachil, an ardent student of Hugh Miller, the geologist; Tom Gibson, a reputed nephew of the Bishop of London, a Greek scholar and a warm admirer of Trofessor John Stuart Illackie. one of the greatest Grecians of 'the century; David Murray Kmlth, a con-I trlbutor to tho Encyclopedia Drltannlca, and brother to James Smith, the author of The Life Drama," which created such a furore In literary circles five and thirty years ago.

Occasionally woma orop into tho "Bell," John Augustus O'Shea and Horace St. John of the Standard, war correspondent and editorial writer. George Augustus Snla and his friend Tom Hood of Fun have also been known as occasional visitors, and last but not least, an American colonel named Wadleigh a gentleman to his finger ends. I had already met Alfred Gyles, a clever writer of great executive ability, whoso weakness was his sociable, kindly heart, an. I who had found great favor with William Kwart Ola'ivone.

who liked the man for his sterling worth. A few more words about the Old Bell, and I will take up the. Qullp, or rather Byrne, part of it. The Old Btll was a low-celled tavern on lower Fleet street, of four rooms, conducted by a man do It was reported) ous plere. that line the Sbeepsbead side ot tbe bay, and In less than five minutes time she is again on the qhore to meet him.

Many of the colony are members ot the numerous clubs, Including the Sheeps-head Bay Yacht Club and the Sheeps- head Bay Rowing Club. Sometimes when their wives do not care to take the trip to shore the beads of these families are rowed home in one of the club boats. There are' also plenty of rented boats to be had in the bay, so, if a husband returns later In the afternoon to find that his wife has gone shopping with the family rowboat, he has no difficulty in getting home. Dangerous as It may seem to tempt small children with the lure of the water while making their summer outing on these houseboats, several children are to be found in the Shoepshead Bay boat colony. William H.

Dunn of Brooklyn, whose family has spent the past three seasons on the water, has two small children, the youngest less than 2 years old. Evidently the fresh air home in the bay is highly agreeable to the health of these youngsters, for they are as plump and rosy as the attractive pictures of children which are often seen in magazines advertising the merits of some baby foods. -The Dunns have a five room house boat, with a big sun parlor and roof. The kitchen screen door, which is always locked to prevent the- children from tumbling Into the water, it they were over so inclined, is directly opposite the circular shaped sun parlor. When the windows in the sun parlor are lowered, there is a direct breeze; sometimes it is more than a breeze, which flows stead- nouse ana a temperature that is seldom found in the city during the hot months.

The temperature seldom gets above seventy-five in these summer homes, and while the city lies sweltering in the midsummer heat, the house boat colony Is often compelled -to cast about for wraps to make themselves more comfortable. "We sleep between blankets almost all summer down here," said Mrs. George Berger who, with her husband, owns one of the little water homes. Their houseboat is composed of two rooms and a porch, and is as attractively cozy and comfortable al the most comfortable city apartment. "Do I get lonesome out here all day I I rary of the novelist, ,1 decided to question him relative to the matter.

"With respect to Daniel Quilp," said Mr. Haley, "I can give you the Information you are In search of. I may truthfully say that Qullp was no caricature in any sense, but a flesh and blood character, still living and still residing in London. I can point him out to you any day you wish. "As to his not having an existence only in the novelist's fancy that is all moon shine.

Of course, the man who sat for Qullp Is now advanced In years, though his hair and skin and stature are as they were then, with little change. The color of Qullp's hair was a dirty dark brown, his face swarthy, his eyes keenly penetrating and malicious. He had a manner of standing and bending over that made him appear dwarfish. 'Qullp' was also slightly bandy-legged and at times seemed to be cross-eyed. Dr.

Byrne, as he' calls himself, is that even to this day." "Did I understand you to fey that Quilp's real name was Byrne?" I asked, with some curiosity. "Yes." "An Irishman, of course?" said judg ing haphazard by the name. "That's what he claims to be, though Brooklyn business man. and his wife. Their handsomo houseboat, which was just completed this summer, has been afloat In the bay less than a month.

It Is painted a light sea green color with dark green trimmings, and Is most attractive, both as to exterior and interior. It has a large roof and sun parlor DICKENS' "DANIEL QUILP" IN "THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP" A REAL CHARACTER OF FLESH AND BLOOD "Is he so?" "That's a doubtful question; I don't know," answered Haley. "I should rather think not. though the man's English and breeding, whon he chooses, are perfect." "How did Charles Dickens come to take him as a character?" I pursued. "Well, the novelist had heard of Byrne's extraordinary personality from a reportorial friend, and having in mind 'Master Humphrey's later the 'Old Curiosity he commissioned me to interview him.

I did so. and the result was Quilp, in 'The Old Curiosity "Did Dickens see Byrne before he drew the character of Qullp?" boat from danger to herself. But there is really no danger here to us." Mrs. Berger is an export flsherwoman and has caught many of the fine strings of bass and flounders caught in the Inlet. The latest members the houseboat colony are David Maxon, a well-known "Yes.

He was over one hour In his company. Mr. Dickens' master mind saw Instantly the possibilities in such a personalityand we all know now how profound wore his views of such characterizations. But you'd better sea Byrne yourself, and judge," suggested Haley. "Even very clever people sometimes criticise without knowing what they criticise," Haley pursued; "and I'm not surprised at many critics dubbing a great master, such as Charles Dickens undoubtedly was, as an extravagant caricaturist.

Some find fault with his English a few of your own country novelists and essayists, I hear and his style also. But let them go and do one-tenth as well, and Stuck, As It Were "Js my son getting well grounded In the classics?" asked the anxious millionaire. "1 would put It even stronger than that," replied tho private tuter. "I may say he is actually stranded on them." Chicago Record-Herald. Human Forestry Mrs.

Nokker: Mrs Highsorae, I think It my duty to tell you that your Tommy whom you consider so well behaved a hoy, is a perfect litlle limb! Mrs. Highsome (with a majestic frown): He ought to be, madame; our family tree never yet has borne a crooked tick ot timber. Chicago Daily Tribune. i fhey may retlro on laurels well earned." "When can I see this Dr. Byrne?" "Any night this week at either the Old loll, the Temple forum or the Cog-ers' Hall.

I'm on tho outs now with Byrne, but I'll get Gyles to Introduce you. I'll mention it to Gyles to-day. at the Chronicle." Alfred Gyles was a well-known character In those days on Fleet street, editing the Morning Chronicle, after the retirement of his friend, J. F. RobinBon.

the novelist. The appointment to meet Byrne was for the following Wednesday night and tho plnce the Old Bell, a half and half literary and newspaper house. Rather Remarkable "What was there so remarkable about Hercules cleaning the Augean stable?" asked the professor. "Tiic fact," answered the student, after some thought, "that so large a Government contract could he fiillillcd without somebody's being charged with graft." Washington Star. Quite of Iler Opinion Gushing young lady (to famous actor): Oh', Mr.

Sinclair. I did so want to have a talk with you. I'm simply mad to go on the stage. Sinclair: Ych, I should think you would be, my dear young lady. rbiladelphia Inquirer.

HAVE heard It said very frequently I that the well-known character of I Daniel Qullp, In "The Old Curiosity Shop," was nothing more than a fancy sketch, or, at best, an overdrawn caricature. This has not only been said on the lecture platform, but in books and in newspapers. It Is not necessary to give names here, which I could readily do, heading my list with at least two distinguished Americans of international repute. Now, to probe to the bottom this unfounded, and, in one Instance which I shall name, harsh and unjust criticism. I happened to be in London, England, In 1874, doing some newspaper work.

During my stay in the capital I met many prominent newspaper men among them an Oxford University graduate named Haley. Mr. Haley had been on the staffs of several London newspapers, as editorial writer and special correspondent. When I first met Haley he was on the Morning Chronicle and Clerkenwell News, a newspaper In which Dickens' first sketches by "Boz" appeared. I had heard of the author being a cari-turist before leaving the States and thought there might be some truth In the charges made, particularly in regard to Mr.

Dan'l Quilp. Informed that Mr. Haity bad been a. friend and contempo- YOU'D BETTER ORDER ICE AND A FAN WITH THESE A Dilemma He: So your fother wanted to marry you for your money. What did you say? She: I persuaded him that you didn't, and then he said that if that was the case you didn't have any sense.

The Jewish Ledger. Awkward "I did not see you in chureh last Sunday." "I do not doubt It; I took up the collection." Bohemian. Curl Papers and All "Art must ever be ideal. Take the 'Good Morning' pictures, for instance." "Yes? Suppose girls were depicted as they actually look." Washington Herald. you'd never think it from his accent or bis looks.

Hs also claims to Trinity College man and an M.D." JtlTV. I 4-.