The free press., 1894-01-18
HOUSE IN A TREE.
Peculiar Dwelling of a Resident Of
Washington.
It Contains Three Stories and a
Movable Kitchen.

urn WIFI me uOTuuWeStWhru, tOWuTu
the boundary of the city, says Wash
ington correspondent of the Balti-
more Herald, and after passing through
the pretty residences of Mount Pleas
ant we soon come to q grove of trees.
Entering the grove, the land now
| tends downward, and as we pick our
way along the path we notice evidences
of neglect on all sides, where well
trimmed and carefully laid out lawns
and flower beds once existed, and that
evidently not long ago. The visitor
has hardly time to speculate upon the
! reason for this before his attention is
attracted to curious sight up among
the tree tops-a collection of lumber
which puzzles one to tell what it is at
first.
A little scrutiny shows you that
| it is series of broad platforms,
one above the other, connected by
stairways, and with collection
| of rooms dotting the surfaces of the
platforms 1t is genuine dwelling,
peculiar in plan, like its conception,
but charmingly romantic in its posi-
bilities. Col. Allen b. Hayward was
it's clever designer and hospitable
owner. Ascending the stairway from
the ground to the first platform we
passed kitchen and storeroom. Still
ascending we passed up through trap
Aoor in the floor to the second plat
form, and found ourselves in recep-
ton room of considerable size, hand
somely carpeted and furnished, through
the floor of which rose the bole of an
oak tree, with gnarled bark, and some
smaller branches. They all disap-
peared through the ceiling, though one
or two branches struggled out through
| holes in the sides of the room, and
before they went served as supports
from which to hang some handsome
! pictures which adorned the wall. A
doorway from this room gave access to
another room, with more windows
than the first, used as a conservatory,
and filed with flowers, well cared for.
as one might expect, from the man
who could erect so romantic a home
in this prosaic age. Adjoining the
conservatory was still third apart
ment, used as q dining room, well fur
nished, and carpeted also, and with
other tree boles coming up through
the floor and passing through the cell
ing. All three of these rooms gave
out upon broad plaza, really the
part of the platform upon which they
rested, and which they did not cover.
This plaza was rallied all around, and
from it arose another pair of stairs,
which led through the floor of the
third platform.
AS we stepped out upon this third
and topmost platform we only then
fully grasped the beauties of the spot.
Here was where the bachelor lover of
nature really lived. The other rooms
were evidently to entertain his friends
in and for use in wintry and rainy
weather; but here was where he basked
aud rocked and read and enjoyed life,
far from the noise, dust, heat and ma
laria of the earth's surface.
When the colonel saw how intensely
interested l was in his dwelling, he
showed me all over it, Built on the
centre of this third platform was a sub
stantial octagonal room, 10Xl4 feet.
II had canvas "A"-shaped roof,
through which the sunlight percolated
in soft glow. The room contained
cot bed, rocking chair, dining
table, toilet stand, books, one or two
seats, and quantity of military ac-
coutrements ornamantally arranged
upon the walls.
Here the Colonel ate, slept, and
read. Where did he cook? The kiteh-
en-, was told, was smaller building
away at the other end of the platform.
Rather far from the dining room for
convenience sake, | thought Not SO,
however, for the Colonel, diyining my
thought from my looks, put his shoul-
der to the kitchen door aud gave it
shove that sent il sliding along the
the platform toward the dining room.
The whole thing was ON casters and
moved as freely as bicycle almost.
II could be shifted around in any di-
rection 10 suit the wind. and when not
wanted slowed almost out Of sight.
A comfortable hammock swung from