Solaris Farm: A Story of the Twentieth CenturyEdson, Milan C. (Milan Chappel)
General
Solaris Farm: A Story of the Twentieth Century
Edson, Milan C. (Milan Chappel)
Agriculture, Cooperative; Cooperation; Utopias
"The wide roof, was in itself an ideal creation; it was thickly covered
with curving tiles of rough bark, in alternating layers of the varying
kinds, which formed a picturesque combination redolent with the spicy
resinous odors of birch, basswood, hemlock and fir.
"Completely encircling the building, with feet firmly planted on its
solid stone foundation, rising to the roof through the floor of the
veranda at its outer edge, were the thickly planted supporting pillars.
These pillars like a long line of watchful sentinels, were placed in
trios. The two outside pillars of each trio, were only separated from
the middle one by a few inches of space, and were as nearly as possible,
ten inches in diameter. The one in the center was much larger and held
the post of honor as the flag bearer of its triumvirate. By pushing its
way through the roof it became a huge flag pole, fifty feet from base to
tip, with a beautiful banner proudly waving from its ball crowned
summit. These pillars, both large and small, were bark-coated below the
roof. Each one had been carefully selected for its symmetrical
straightness, as a representative tree from the different forests of the
world. Altogether, they formed a most interesting collection, to which
might well be devoted, many hours of admiring inspection, by every lover
of trees.
"A wide lattice work of bark-laden tree limbs, of a uniform size
completed the charmingly rustic cornice, which, like some endless
curtain seemed to hang suspended from the caves of this bark-thatched
roof.
"Having sufficiently studied the exterior beauties of this remarkable
building, of such arborescent magnificence; let us mount the steps to
the broad, breezy veranda. Pausing a moment to inhale the refreshing
coolness of the crisp air; and to admire the wave curving sparkle of the
blue waters of Lake Michigan, we then pass to the shining portal of
richly colored, highly polished woods, which form the main entrance.
Here, covering the entire available floor-space, piled high in splendid
profusion; we behold the garnered riches from the forests of the world.
"I shall not attempt to describe my varying emotions of wonder and
delight, as I wandered for hours through a bewildering maze of the
wonderful exhibits, which formed this unrivalled collection of choice
woods. As I advanced, my admiration for its variety and extent continued
to grow. I began to perceive that, spread out before me, was the
opportunity of a life time, which, if properly utilized would prove for
me the permanent foundation of an education on the subject of timber,
trees and forestry products. With this realization came the resolve,
that I would devote time enough to each exhibit, to permit me to examine
it in detail, leisurely and carefully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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