Roomer

Many years ago, while rummaging through cartons in our basement, I found a tattered, coverless copy of James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room. It had probably been left behind by one of the roomers with whom we shared our house.

Rents were to be $60 a month for a two-room flat, $90 for a three-roomer and $120 for a four-roomer.

The Captaine in a Shippe of warre, is a iollie fellowe, and thinketh himselfe a lyttle God, because hee speaketh prowdlie to the Souldiors, and maketh them quayle at the shaking of his lockes: […] If any be vnrulie, hee casteth him ouerboorde, or if any be fearefull, hee bindes him to the Maste: if hée crie aloofe, the Helmes man dares not goe roomer: and if hée bidde shoote, the gunner dares not but giue fyre.

1607, John Harington (translator), Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto, London: John Norton and Simon Waterson, Book 41, stanza 17, p. 343, Yet did the master by all meanes assay, To steare out roomer, or to keepe aloofe, Or at the least to strike sailes if they may, As in such danger was for their behoofe.