New-York tribune., 1909-05-02
A VILLAGE IN THE TREEToPs

So far as I know-and have travelled the
world over-there is but one place in civilization
where a whole village IS built high up in big
forest trees OF course. in savage lands. espe-
cially IN cannibal New Guinea. tree houses are
common enough, and SO are dwellings propped
on stills out In the shallow seas But then the
occupants are always terrified lest fierce raiders
come to burn and kill and kidnap; and while IN
their Ureetop huts OF sea-propped homes they
feel themselves secure and in position TO sspy
the stranger from afar and accost him from
safe distance
Vastly different however, Is the charming VII
Iage of Robinson. near Paris. You may call II
the Coney Island OF ths French metropolis: but
there IS no noise. no vu1garity, nothing but
quiet appreciation OF lovely scenery. and
wholesome resolve 10 spend few hours IN novs
surroundings. away from the fret and turmoil
of a vast city. Robinson was invented BY
Jacques Guesquin, humble RENTER. q man who
had made a little fortune in Paris. and then re-
tired into the suburb to plant cabbages. as ths
French say alluding 10 their ideal OF the coun-
try life,
But that was sixty years ago II. Guesquin
cast about for likely site for his retirement
and hit ar last upon the vicinity OF Sceaux and
Fontenay-aux-Roses. only seven miles from the
city A lovely spot. The quiet lane was hedgsd
with Wild roses and ran along the shoulder OF
the HILL hanked by immemorial elns and i'm
mense chestnuts. suTvivals Of the great forest
that once encircIed all Paris.
Here old Guesquin built a cottage. but soon
found he must occupy his mind with other
things besides planting cabbages. For his had
been an active life He therefore decided 10
open a little store. and thus keep his slender
capital from diminishing too quickly. He Won
dered why the weary brain workers of the CITY
close by had never found out this retreat rs
presently bought another plot OF land. higher
up the lane, and there built second cOttaSe
why. he hardly knew himself: he was eve"
wiser than he knew. -,
''Some one may come" he thought vagueE'
Then he had a fine idea. He began to nail ma -
sive beams TO the mighty limbs OF an elm on IIe M
tiny estate and on this novel platform ne oSt oSs-
a summer house. reached by staircase WInll- W
the followed trunk This afforded the ote Ie-'1 -
s. delightful panorama of the lovely Va4ieS
the Seine. as he sat and smoked his pipe 80
summers eve, looking down upon the city 49," -
he. too. had so recently borne the heat ana 0N
den Of the day. an.
One morning some young students from ", -
great Sorbonne university found Guesqum, -
his perch. and with merry laughter tnsiSIeI - -
Joining him. even at the risk OF perllous 90
crowding such might well have reSu!teu reSu - sssr
tumble into the wild rose brambles. tnlrS -
below These lively college boys were III W
the making of this novel resort Ard
What shall We call it?" they Wondereu- IoSrv
Immediately the utter loneliness ana ana !s.T7,ortaI s.T
lookout In the tree suggested DeToe ial,,,s s m
hero. Let's dub il Robinson crleo -, a. -an
a fash of inspiration. With that the a. la- .1ot
away to spread the fame Of the cnarlIlins ;i. or
Soon there was not tree within q l-.- S Or
so of Cuesquin's that had not a restsui -,-s ~
pleasure pavilion clasped within It's leAIy - ths
All Paris delighted with the ESt!eI. t5a-srs e..
country roads were fairly lined WIN sSteSt-s,1
all seeking the now familiar eIfSy or h11,-.--
CruSoe at the entrance to the mover 'i"-s
". G. Fitzgerald, in st. Nicholas-