92 



RECREATION. 



A STEEL MOTOR BOAT. 



"Where are you going?" 

 "Blessed if I know," was the laconic re- 

 ply with evidence of sublime indifference in 

 the answer. 



"When are you coming back?" 

 "Blessed if I know that, either." 

 The catboat swung away with nothing 

 but a gentle ripple of water to disturb the 

 ineffable beatitude of her amateur mariners ; 

 and I was envious. They had no ground 

 to buy, no rent to pay, no speculation as 

 to where they would sleep that night, no 

 mosquitoes ; nothing but healthful exer- 

 cise, wholesome fare, hardy adventure, ex- 

 citement for the mind and labor for the 

 muscles. I looked longingly after the cat- 

 boat and then at the rich men's fleet and I 

 could not help comparing the latter with 

 a boat I had heard of in song: 



" 'Twas the good fast yacht, the Mermaid, that 



went sailing down the bay 

 With a party predetermined to be jolly, one would 



say, 

 By the demijohns and boxes, by the lemons and 



the beer, 

 And the ice that went aboard her just before she 



left the pier." 



Let us glance at the yacht builders' and 

 agencies' circulars and catalogues to see 

 what we can get in the way of a cheap 

 pleasure craft. Perhaps we do not desire 

 the uncertainties of moving around in 

 fickle breezes along tranquil stretches of 

 water in the canvassed floating cottage 

 that so many like to own every summer ; 

 so we will turn our attention to a motor 

 boat that is sure, barring accident, to get 

 us to some desired haven alongshore 

 about the time the truant waves of sunlight 

 are being pursued by the shadows of the 

 dying dav. Let us see. No, that is too 

 costly. This one is too small. No sleep- 

 ing-accommodation on this one. Ah, -here 

 is one. 



"New double planked mahogany speed 

 launch, 52 feet long, 6.6 feet beam ; hull 

 designed by Henry J. Gielow. Engine, 30 

 horse power ; built by Gas Engine and 

 Power Co.; accommodation for 6; cost 

 $4,500. Will sell for $1,850. Howard 

 Howard, Yonkers." 



We are to have 5 in our party. That 

 will mean if we buy this boat that each 

 will have to pay $370. This boat is ready 

 for service except that we would have to 

 supply the berth linen, the rugs and cush- 

 ions, the provisions, ice, fuel for the oil 

 stove or alcohol for the chafing dish and a 

 few other inexpensive furnishings. Each 

 member of the party may furnish blankets 

 or rugs from his own home. We do not, 

 therefore, figure that item in the general 

 average. We would want one hired man, 

 to run the boat, and such a one may be 

 had for about $40 a month. We could live 

 well on $10 each a week. Counting the 

 hired man's fare at $5 a week would figure 

 out for each man : Original cost of boat, 

 $370. Provisions for month, $40. Wages 

 of crew, $8. Board of crew, $4. Bedding 

 for crew, $2. Incidentals, $15. 



The cost to each man during the first 



A 15 MILE CLI 



