The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-02-12
Miscellaneous.
From Bcnlley's Miscellany.
Mann m OF h Cave.
MARIA CHILD OF NEW YORK

,,,b opnnes rocks aud hills whose heauS touch
FL heaven,
n iva, nv hint to speak,
IA Mammoth Cave is situated in the south west part
.,,,l, about n hundred miles from Louisville,
"a CIV miles from the famous llarrodsburg Springs.
m. mo,d tore is i'll calculated to impress the imagi-
40, with an idea of its surprising grandeur.
81 n,io fac, subterranean world; containing within
.yt ,,,,hcres extensive enough for half score Of
X. German municipalities, 1t should be named Tiian's
,Fs,,e or CyclOp's Groto.
IN nra. among tie Knobs, a range of hills. which
A,A, on Nh extent of country like highland prahies,
W .,r,a ,be B,rcns The surrounding scenery is love-
Fine woods of oak hickory and chestnut, clear
" u rrac,Nrush, with smooth vcrdant openings, like
<. lAs parks Of gish noblenen.
X Tina Cayevas purchased by DR. John CroShnn for
sO,OOO Topreyent disputed title, in case dis
,c oDsrng should be discovered, he has likewise
oegli wide circuit of I'D joining land Ills enthusi
\, ,m concerning il, is unhnunded. II is IN fact hls
&!''Turd and every newly discovered chamber fills him
ab pride and joy like that felt by Columbus, when
sfr.l kissed his hand the fair Queen Off Antilles
\ he has built a cOmmudous hotel near tho entrance,
a style suited tothc place. II ia made Of logs filled
with lime; with fine large porch, in front of which is
beautiful verdant lawn. Near by, is a funnel shaped
|plow Of 800 acres; probably cave fallen in, 1t
~ called Deer park, because when those animals run
nOh it, they cannot escape. There are troops Of wild
deer in the immediate vicinity Of the hotel; bear
N hunts ara frequent, and game Of all kinds abound.
"a WsGrg along the verge of this hollow, you come
~ ar'ae, leading to green river, whence you COM
+ uaRi view Of what is supposed to be the main en-
m7ra hsa huge cavernous arch, filled in with
immense stones, as il giants had piled them there to
y ErsOna conquered demon. No opening has ever
hn effected here nor it eusy to be imagined tina,
Aoadt done by the strength Of man.
1.-THE rear Of the hotel is a deep ravine, densely
Wooded and covered with luxuriant vegetable growth
'Iead' to green river, and was probably once wa
ter course narrow raSine, divcrging from this
leads by winding path, to The entrance of the cave
SS'lsh arch of rocks, rudely piled, ard richly COW
SHSRh ny and tangled vincs.-At the top is per-
gh%h bGnain of sweet and cold water, which trick
@d down continually from the centre arch, through
ne pendant foliage, and is caught in vessel below
lHe entrance Of this wide arch is somewhat obstruct.
\ "hy a@rge mound Of saItpetre, thrown up by work.
"'n engaged in its manufacture, during the last war;
s =" '"e course oil their excavation, they dug up the
""F' O' gigantic man; but, unfortunately, they
Y'0'u '0'n again without any memorial to malk
'" 'P" They have been sought for by the curious
ono scientific, but are not yet found
"yOu come opposite the entrance of,hc cave, in
'""e' The temperature changes instantaueously
''n % deg to below so deg and you feel chilled
~ =! "e presence Of an iceberg. In winter the
"''' "FeVersed.-Ihe scientific bave'indu lged in va
''' 'pecuIa'lons concerning the air Of the cave. 1t
''fF"sea 10 get completely filed with cold winds
s '"e long blasts of winter. and as there is no
.. ''' ""y remain pent up til, the atmosphere with
:, '''"''cs warmer than that within; when there is,
tn, 'Ou''e' continued effort toward equilibrium.
."' "' within the cave should be so fresh pure,
'"e all The year round, even in its deepest re-
.. ' 10 not so easily explained Some have sug-
ef,''O 'o' is continually modified by the presence
h, "s"''m agents. Whatever may be the cause,
and p; Sa'ubrty is noticed by every yisiter,
Ofihc lungs 'N' nearing p0"'' !" diseases
h,,,...', '"n' OF exertion which can be performed
,,,. fatigue, is astonishing The supernatural
,n,. N''ssn IN the atmosphere operates like mod
bD,r.. 'e' o' eNhlIerating gas The traveller feels
I nn ,'"' sensation, which tempts him to run and
uous, "P rom crug TO crag, and bound over the
ham,. III MS path, like IA fawn a; play.-The mind.
dsi,,c' 'uS'0'ns the body, being kept in stare of
,,rli.0 ''uV''y' by continual new discoveries and
,.. 'S revelations. This excitement continues of.
d,,.i s return to the hotel No one feels the need
Thu n po''cs' The conversation is all about
borrow, "'D "na' snaii we see To-
&,,h. '' entrance to the cavern soon contracts 80
h. ~ wo can pass abreast. AT this Mace c,lIed
ouss,.s, Tile air from dark depths beyond blows
&ere ;, '"S The spirits of the cave had mustered
Til. O,,, "' murders back to the realm of day
and sna' ''"''nues about fourteen or fifteen rods.
tie earh = ""o wider avenue, aoored with saltpe-
Tbs load, r ~ winch the stones have been removed.
rns '' directly into the Rosundo. vast hall, COM
loo fee, ~, Of eight acres, arched with a dome
It test, m o. "nnout single pillar to support it,
oval rD,, sa'ar ribs of dark grey rock, in massive
'ef and smaller, one seen within anoth-