A Wonderful Tree

On the left bank of the Rtver Oder, at Ratibor, in Silesia, there grows a maple tree whieh is one of the most reraarkable works of nature in exietenee, Bincr it has been so trained and turiBteí nntll it has become more llke a. house than a tree. The maple is 100 ye&r old, and through the greater part tt thls period the work of training and twistlng it has been in progress. The tronk risee from the ground much iike that of any other maple, but a flight of steps leads to the first level, where the branches have been gradually woven together untll a firm floor has bsen made. Above thie is a second floor, smaller in diameter and formed In the same way. Around each floor tke branches have been woven into solld walls, making two circular rooms. Each of these rooms is llghted by eight Windows, which are cut through the WKH of branches and foliage. Below ihe floor at the ltvel of the second room, and at the top of the tree, the branches have been allowed to grow rat naturally, while the Intermedíate ■walls and the edges of the window openhigs have been kept closely trimmed. These tree-rooms are occaeionlly slept in during the summer. The old tre is in a healthy condition, and forma one of the curiositles of the illstrtt in which it grows.