The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-28

ceedingly skillful in the use of his left hand.
He writes neatly and rapidly. and manages to
do almost everything that other men do with
two arms, except to play baseball.
Two years ago he conceived the idea of lv
ing in a tree. He had grown weary of board
inghouse life and the close. hot air of the city
in Summer. After skirmishing about a little
he found place that seemed favorable for carry
ing out his scheme, just outside the city limits,
and half mile from his present location He
had no difficulty in securing from the owner of
the land permission to occupy little clump of
trees. An interview with carpenter resulted
in the building of platform among the
branches some Is feet from the ground. On
this he pitched a good-sized Il bell " tent and
lived for year. He ascended and descended
by means of ladder, which every night he
PULLED UP AFTER HIM.
He took his meals at house near by. He was
delighted with the result of his novel expert
ment He found his life in the air so pleasant
and healthful that he determined to enlarge
upon the plan. He bought four or five acres
of ground where he now is. 1t is the side of a
steep hill, studded with large oak trees, just
where pretty street Of Mount Pleasant loses
itself outside the village limits. Here. in the
embracing arms of three or four great oaks, So
feet from the ground, where the latter is low
est. looking from distance like an overgrown
birds nest, is Airy Castle"
Come right up!" cheerily called out the
lord of the castle the other evening, to the
writer and couple of lady friends, who had
gone out in response TO an invitation to visit
him. We assembled by long. Steep inclosed
stairway, and found ourselves on a firm, smooth
floor among the thick branches of the trees.
The air was fragrant with the sweet breath of
Spring. The buds had just fairly burst into
full foliage. The visitor, who but an hour be-
fore had left the busy hum of the great city,
could almost imagine himself transported to
70 hr
daily and said:
My dinner is just ready and / must ask
you to excuse me for few moments. / take
it for granted that you have dined, or / would
ask you TO join me. Make yourselves perfectly
at home, within or without the Castle and l
will soon be with you"
With this he lodged down little stairway
beside the trunk of a tree. like Santa Claus
down a chimney, into big box that seemed TO
be hung under the platform. This is his din
ing-room and kitchen. At this establishment
he runs a complete commissary department of
his own. colOred boy, whose face shone like
well-blacked boot, WAS bObbing around max
ing himself generally useful. The clatter of
dishes and the odor of good coffee gave evil
dence OF activity below. We wandered about
the platform, which is 80 feet long and 80 feet
wide, with a high railing around the edge
and seats at frequent intervals After taking
in the beautiful view Of village, hill, and for
est, we
ENTERED THE CASTLE.
1t is octagonal in form, longer one way than
the other. Its extreme dimensions are 13 by
feet The walls are of wood, neatly and
strongly built to the hight of four or FIVE feet.
From this point rises Ii double roof of canvas
securely fastened and firmly supported by poles.
The ridge-pole is 10 feet from the floor. The
interior is most charmingly cosy and attract
i've. Isn't this lovely?" was the duet uttered
by the feminine voices as We entered. Twi-
light was fast settling down. and in the deep
ening shadow or the thick boughs, above aud
around. it was already quite dark. A lamp
shone brightly upon the novel scene.
Everything within the Castle is in harmony
with the general air that peryades the place.
The walls are proiusely adorned with pictures
Cunningly-devised shelves and brackets here
and there contain many little articles of brio
a-brac. A comfortable looking bed stretches
across one end Three or four unique chairs
and hassock or two are disposed about the
room. Everything is arranged with the best
possible taste; closets built into the wall give
ample space for clothing and all the odds and
ends which tidy housekeepers hide from sight
Upon the small table is a register in which
visitors enter their names. glance over its
well-flled pages showed that a large number of
Congressman, Government officials and promi-
nent citizens of Washington had called TO enjoy
the hospitalitieS Of Airy Castle We were still
sdmiring the coZy dwelling when Mr.. Hayward
entered. his right sleeve hanging empty by his
side. His pleasant face beamed with smiles.
he seemed like oDe who had just had good
dinner and was at peace with all the world.
From the well-known character of most men
who choose these erratie modes Of life it might
be imagined that MIR. Hayward was something
of a =" crank" but any person who forms such
al opinion makes mistake. He is one of the
most genial men in the world, and in every re-
spect thorough gentleman.
He entertained US most pleasantly for half
an hour, telling us in reply 10 our qustions, all
about
HIS LIFE IN THE TREEToPs.
One of the ladies complimented him OH his
carpet, which is made up of 20 different pat
terms, of all shapes, figures and colors, put to-
gether after the style of the modern "crazy
quilt" 1t is grotesque enough, but very pretty,
and in perfect keeping with its surroundings
" 1t is odd" said he, but every body seems
to like my carpet. My getting such one Was
wholly accidental, too. i wanted one that
would be nice and good and not too expensive
and took notion TO go to carpet store and
get some remnants. / laid them together and
they pleased my eye so much that bought
them at once. / had them sewed together