Thames House-Boats 
of the water line. They rise easily to the 
wash from large steamers, but are best moored 
in streams and backwaters where there is a 
steady current, and that not too strong. 
Artificial lighting is a point which demands 
early settlement when a house-boat is decided 
upon, and this will perhaps dictate the situ¬ 
ation of mooring. Gas may be used if it 
is possible to obtain a supply, and this is the 
best way of settling the question, for then the 
cooking may all be done on a gas stove. 
Electricity is obtained on many Thames 
boats either by connection with the main on 
shore or by the use of a motor. Oil lamps of 
the type used in ships’cabins are perfectly sat¬ 
isfactory where no other 
method of lighting is to 
be had. In this case 
the kitchen range is fed 
with wood or coal in 
the ordinary way. 
I n the decoration of 
a boat there is room for 
any amount of origi¬ 
nality and ingenuity; 
but it should be borne 
in mind that although 
a good appearance from 
theriversideof the 
boat is mainly to be 
desired, the piling of 
heavy boxes and flower 
vases there may cause 
a slight dip of the craft 
in that direction. To 
avoid this, correspond¬ 
ing weight should be 
distributed on the 
shoreward side. Then 
at night, when the 
house-boat dweller sees 
most of the charm of 
the mysterious river; 
when the hard lines of 
the opposite shore are 
softened in gloom; 
when the stars faintly 
peep out, and the only 
sound is a musical rip¬ 
ple against the stern, 
tiny colored lights 
placed along the gun¬ 
wale and the front of 
the upper deck reveal the presence of the 
boat to other craft and make a fairy picture 
reflected in the still waters of the reach. 
Life on a house-boat gives a sense of repose 
and lazy enjoyment offered by no other form 
of holiday making. The sound of traffic is 
limited to an occasional launch puffing its 
way up stream, or the regular click in the 
rowlocks of some passing skiff. Early morn¬ 
ing is no less charming than night. The 
mists rising slowly off the stream, the de¬ 
licious coolness of the air, and the fresh 
smell of the dew-clustered flowers combine 
to make these first hours of the day among 
the most precious and enchanting. 
104 
