The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-02-12

ton of the cave; because from it he receives his first
impression of its gigantic proportions The vasness,
the gloom, the impossblity of taking in the boundar-
les by the light of lamPs-niI these produce deep
impression of awe and wonder.
From the Rolunda, you pass into Audubons Ave-
nue., from 80 to 100 feet high, with galleries of rock
each side, jutting farther and further Ill, they
nearly meet ut the top. This avenue branches out
into half oval hall, called the church. This con-
tains several projecting galleries. one Of them reseu-
bling cathedral choir. There is gap in the galler-
y, and the point of Interruption Immediately above
is rostrum or pulpit, the rocky canopy oE which us
over. The guide leaps up from the adjoining CALLER
les, and places lamp each side of The pulpit, on
Sat rocks, which seem made Cor the purpose. There
has been preaching from this pulpit; but unless it
superior TO most theological teachings, il must
have been ptiuIly discordant with the sublmly of
the place. Five thousand people could stand in This
subleranenn temple with case.
So FAR, all is Irregular jnggedrock thrown togeth-
in fantastic masses, without any particular style;
hut now begins n series of limitations which grow
more and more perfect, in gradual progression. till
you arrive at the end. From the Church you may
pass into what is called the Gothic Gallery, from its
obvious resemblance to that style Of architecture.
Here is Mummy Hall; called because several
mummios have been fou"d seated in recesses of the
rock. Without any process Of embaIming, they were
III perfect state Of preservation the mummies Of
Fgypt Tor the air Of the is dry and unchange
able, and so strongly imPrcgnatcd with ni,re, that
decomposition cannot take place. A mummy found
here in 1913, the body of FIVE fee, ten
inches high, wrapped in half dressed deer skins on
- l. 4
Al the feet, lay pair of moccasins, and handsome
knnpsack mnde Of bark; containing strings of small
shining seeds: necklaces OF bear's teeth, eagles
claws md fawn's red boots; whistles made Of cane
two rattle snakes Skins having il fourteen
tles comets for the head made Of feathers 81
rocks and engles smooth needles of horn and bone,
some Of them crooked like sail needles; deer's sinews
for sewing, and parcel of three-corded thread re-
sembng Irvine. believe of these mummies is
in the British Museum,
From Mummy Hall, you pass into Gothic Avenue,
where the resemblance 10 Gothic architecture very
perceptbIy increases. The wall jus out in pointed
arches, and pillars, the sides Of which various
grotesque combinations of rock One is elephants
head The tusks and sleepy eyes are quite perfect;
the trunk, at first very distinct gradually recedes, and
is lost in the rock On another pillar is lions head;
on another, human head with wig called, Lord
Iyndhurst, from IFS resemblance to that dignitary.
From this gallery you step into side cave, in
which is an immense pit, called the Lovers Leap
A huge rock, fourteen or fifteen fee, long, like
Elongated sugar loaf running n sharp point, projects
half way this abyss. 1t makes shudder to
see the guide walk almost to the end of this proec-
tile BRIDGE over such an awful chasm.
As you pass along the Gothic Avenue narrows, un-
til you come TO porch composed Of the first sepa-
rue columns in the cave. The stalacle and staag
mite formations unite in these irregular Of
brownsh yellow, which, when the light shines thro'
them, look like transparent amber. They
clear toned bell. pendant mass called
the bell, has been unfortunately broken by being
struck too powerfully.
The porch of columns leads to the Gothic Chapel
which has the circular form appropriate TO true
church. number Of pure salact,e columns ill the
with arches, which, in many places form per.
feet Gothic roof The staacttes fall in rich estoons
strikingly similar to the highly ornamented chapel Of
Henry VII. -Four companies in the centre form
separate arch by themselves, like trees twisted into
grotto, in all irregular and grotesque shapes Under
this arch stand Wilkins Armchair, stalactite for
nation well adapted to the human figure. The cha
pei is the most beautiful specimen Of Gothic in the
cave. Two or three OF the columns have richly TO-
lated capitals, like the Corhthian
If you turn back to the main avenue, and strike
off in another direction, you enter vast room, with
several projecting galleries, called the Ball room;
here the proprietor intends to assemble brilliant
dancing party this season. In close vicinity. il ar
ranged by the severer sch DOL Of tbeooginns, is
large amphitheatre, called Satan's Council Chamber
From the centre rises mountain Of big stones, rude
" piled one above another, in gradual slope, nearly
one hundred feet high. On the top rests huge rock,
big as house, called Satans Throne. The vast
ness the gloom, partially Illuminated by the glare Of
lamps, forcbIy reminds Of Lucifer his throne,
as represented by Martin in his illustrations on Mil.
ton 1t requires little Imagination to transform to
couth rocks all around the throne, into attendant de-
MONS Indeed, throughout the cave, Martins pio,-
ures are continually brought to mind by the unearth
ly effect of intense light on black of shadow.
In this Council Chamber, the rocks with singular
appropriateness, change from an imitation of Gothic
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