The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-05-24
Our. @lip.
A House in The Tree-Tops.


for its beauty of construction which Is new
ertheless well worth seeing, as it is curl
osity in its way. A short distance north
of the city boundary, going out on Four
teenth-street, in small grove of trees on
the slope of Mount Pleasant, there is a
veritable house in tree, where a gentle
man named A. B. Hayward has lived since
last Summer. Mr.. Hayward occupies re-
sponsible position in the Pension Office,
and receives a salery of 81 800 year.
Learning from friend that there was
such a house, and DESTROYS of ascertaining
what could induce man in such circum-
stances to build himself residence in a
tree, we decided to visit him. We were
courteously received and kindly invited to
go INSIDE" Accepting the invitation, we
entered, seated ourselves, and fell into a
conversation with Mr.. Hayward.
His story, as we obtained it from him, is
as follows: He is native of New Hamp-
shire, and little over As years of age.
During the war he served in the Second
New-Hampshire Regiment, Col. Gilman.
He was in the army three years, and had
the misfortune, after his term of enlistment
had expired, to lose his right arm at the
battle of Cold Harbor. While in the army
Mr.. Hayward contracted from exposure a
painful disease and ever since the war he
has been subject to occasional attacks of
this disorder, more especially during the
heat of Summer. The fact that he has
felt compelled to take some extraordinary
measure to preserve his health during the
Summer ultimately led to his building and
occupying the nest in the tree-tops where
we found him. As he was obliged to re-
main in Washington last summer (1883)
he determined to swing a hammock in the
shade of some trees, or pitch tent at some
convenient place on the hills north of the
city where he could have plenty of air at
night, diyested of the unnatural heat of
brick walls, and free from the offensive
odors arising from the overheated asphalt
pavements. A hammock was not just the
thing, for sudden shower might come on
at night and interfere with the peaceful
ness of his dreams. Again, if he pitched
a tent on the ground, some thieving tramp
might enter it during the owners absence
and lug off ''the whole outfit as plains
man would say. But tent in tree? Yes
that would Just fill the bill: Shelter could
be secured as well as an immunity from
sneak thieves, and what was quite as much
to the purpose, plenty of shade and free
circulation of air Having once determin,
ed to ''build castle in the air. In the lit
eral sense, he looked around for location,
and finally hit upon site at Mount Pleas
ant secured the right to erect his camp,
and Immediately set about its construction.
The building began on June ID, and on
the night of the 14th Mr. Hayward slept
in it, though he says it was not quite fin
ished when he first took possession. Be-
ing unique in its way, we venture to give
description of its construction and inter-
nal arrangement.
Between two large trees is erected a
board palatform, that stands on five posts
about ID feet high. This platform is Il
by y feet, its width being that of an amy
A tent, and it is more firmly secured by
having its sills or cross-bars spiked to the
trees. On one end of the platform were
erected the walls Of the house, or what
may be termed the base of the structure
This base is about three feet high and the
size of an A tent Boards were nailed
inside instead of outside of studding, which
was four inches wide, while nothing was
put outside A railing was put around
the platform flush with the walls of the
hoqae, an opening being left, of course,
where the ladder comes UP, though in front
the railing is double az high as on the
sides, Two light A-shaped frames for the
ends, connected by ridge-pole, was secur-
ed to the lower part Of the house, and over
this was put an ordinary tent. The sides
of the tent come down outside Of all, pro-
jecting over the studding so as to form a
good watershed, rain being carried several
inches from the walls, In Summer an EXCEL.
lent circulation of air is obtained by hay
ing the tops of the walls on each side be-
tween the canvas and boarding open, but
in Winter this is covered to exclude the
cold at the rear end of the tent the canvas
comes down over the boarding little dis.
lance, but at the front this is modified by
the door, which is high enough to admit an
ordinary sized man. There are no windows,
sufficient light penetrating the canvas to
answer all ordinary purposes. Such is the
general construction. Theinterior arrange
ment is well planned, and is, in some re-
spect, quite tasteful, almost emitting this
this diminutive structure to the same place
among houses as it occupied in marine
affairs by the "Rob Roy Canoe" A
bright-cofored carpet lines the inside Of the
vans the floor is covered with Brussels,
on which are laid two small rugs of the
same materirl. A spring sofa-bed occupies
one side under the caves; a rough wooden
chest, which Is the general stofe=ho9se; a
Eashstand so arranged as to form a table
a rocking chair, one or two Stools an oil
stove, lantern to hang out of doors on
dark nights as guide to visiting friends /;
a lamp, looking-glass, and toilet articles,
about complete the first of actual necessa-
ries which any well-regulated camp of this
sort ought to contain. But this enumera-
ton by no means covers the many articles
for ornamentation or use that find lodging
place In siAiry Castle" For instance over
the door hang the Stars and Stripes, and
and just beneath there Is fine steel engray.
Ing Of Fen. Grant, of which Mr.. Hayward
is very proud.
At either end shelves are erected, on
which, among other things, were good
selection of books: the current literature OF
the day lay on the table, the Century MkqG-
aging being rather conspicuous in the col
lection. Extending from front to rear az
the top of the camp was wide board shelf
which answered the double purpose of sup
porting things on top, and by means Of
hooks other articles beneath. Hanging on
the rear end of the camp was finely noun;
ted piece Of oeean algsa gathered on the
Pacific coast. We were much struck with
its beauty, and upon close examination
noticed that in the corners Of the paper
which served as mounting for this stray
waif Of the sea were written two pretty