The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-03-25
VIRGINIA. Fl : I AIR z4R :: -
75o17aE5sa 1000 - 555is as5 co., lLI2Al EIlG1n Quick
copyrighted, 1908. by Bobbs Nor rilI Col

The Hold was on the triple
peak of one of the ruggedest and
highest masses of the Catskills,
rising steep as wall, hundreds
OF feet in the air, to three sum-
mits, In the midst of which stood
the mansion. Soil from below had
been placed In the hollow between
the peaks, and gardens planted in
1t. The huge buildings had been
built; the animals had been intro
duced; the last luxury had been
supplied--and Shayne's Hold had
been sealed up. Down from the
mountain flowed three streams,
up which had run the precipitous
roads to the top; and when the
time came for closing the Hold
to those who had no way of navi-
eating the air, Mr.. Shayne had
built across them immense dams,
using materials blasted from the
mountain sides at such places as
to rdender quite unscalable every
place where ascent might have
been possible before. The Steep
ened precipices thus carried across
the ravines in masonry made a
lofty wall entirely around the
mountain. The water filled up
the abysses behind the dams; and
thus, where roads had been, were
now deep lakes, stocked with
fish, and cruised over by every
craft which sail or oar or motor
might fit for ministry to luxury
and pleasure.
The dams furnished electricity
to light and heat the Hold, and to
propel its vehicles. Every effect
that could be produced by lights,
white and colored, the electrician
artists had worked out for the IL
Elimination of this enchanted pal
ace hung on cliffs. Overlooking
the region, as its owner over
lorded his fellows, the Hold was
a place of mystery, holding no
neighborshfp with the people be-
low, who sometimes heard bursts
of sweet music, voice lifted high
in song, or the pealing of great
organ, descending as from Olym-
pus. Foresters and woodmen,
tramps and campers, rich and
poor. were shut out from this ter
restrial paradise, fenced from the
world like Eden of old by noun
tain walls, and by masonry as
firm as the hills. The huge aero
mats came in swarms, sometimes.
like fabulous birds congregating
for some mysterious purpose not
understood by those who looked
with upturned faces, and with
hating hearts-for the man below
always resents the Haunting and
domination of him above. For
this, however, Mr.. Shayne and his
guests, in the high attitudes of
GOODNESS and health, with every
thing that wealth could furnish
thing that wealth could furnish,
isolated in world of their own,
cared nothing. The sailing of the
seas of air had made this place
possible; and by no other means
could it be reached. 1t was a real
Uaputa--an island in the air; and
those only could reach 1t who
could fly.
Seen from above, it seemed a
precipitation in stone of the vi
sion of a Beckford. The cliffs
formed a circle so artificialized
as to impart the impression that
the mountain itself had been built
by man. Damned in the old ra-
vines, glimmered three triangular
lakes, swarming with pleasure
craft, and ornate With lighthouses
and pergolas. Skirting the cliff
ran a line of arc-light clusters,
patrolled by guard against in
truders from below-their long
vigil as yet unrewarded by a sin.
gle trespass. The lights-a fiery
wreath for the brow of a noun
tain acchus-made twilight in
the hollow where stood the beau
tiful house, so built as tn seem
already enwrapped in the ivy. and
drab with the weathering OF age
About the peak ran labyrinth Of
bridlepaths and carriage reads, all
outlined from above by winding
lines of lights, like the route of
an army of bewilderiag glnw-
worms. Hidden by spur o. cliff,
was the immense air-ship garage,
the most commodious in the
world, save those of the king of
England and the president of the
Russian Republic. There were
summer-houses and conservator-
les; cellarge for Lucullus; sta
bles and kennels; courts, alleys,
and halls for games; libraries;
galleries; observatories-an alter
orbis, immune to the airs, dis
eases, tumults. and unchosen COM
Partnerships of the lower earth
md fndnnd 10 uraak lA-aNo f..