AN INDIANA CURIOSITY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 310, 28 March 1879, Page 9

AN INDIANA CURIOSITY.

(From thc'Chicago Ti»>e#.) The lower of the Court House at Greeusburg, Indiaua, is 1 40 feet in height. One hundred and five feet from the ground is the water sheet of the tower, aud above that it is covered with dressed stone, made to fit closely, in slabs two by five, inclining an angle of about 30 degrees from upright. In the summer of 1870 a citizen of the Place was examining tbe tower with a glass, when he observed, springing from the third crevice above the water sheet, on the east side of the tower, 110 feet from the grouud, a little twig. But little was thought of it, and it was scarcely discernable with the naked eye. The third spring it put forth again with renewed life, vigour and size. Instead of dwindling and drooping from the effects of the winter's cold or the summer's heat and drought, the atmosphere of justice from below seemed to cause it to flourish extraordinarily. This season it was decided to be a sliver maple, sprung, no doubt, from a seed carried by a bird or whirlwind, and lodged in that exalted place. By this 'time the tree had became famous ; accounts of it appeared in the papers ; but the story was not generally believed. But, nevertheless, the tree lived and grew. It was there, and no mistake. And so it has coutiuued until this day. It is now more than twelve feet high, and is thought to be three inches in diameter. The top is quite bui-by, and, in the summer season, the leaves are numerous and luxuriant. It can be seen for many miles around, and the stranger first approaching sees the tower, and then this phenomenon. The rapid growth of the trees is forcing the stones apart. This can readily be seen with a glass. Ere long the ambitious maple will have to be brought lower, or damage to the building follow. The Sherifl.' has already had "several applications from expert climbers to take it down, but the people will not permit their tree to be -removed yet. An arti&fc representing a New York illustrated paper called to sketch the curiosity, but the leaves wen off, and lie postponed it until a more favourable time.