New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-27
The Mammoth Caxn.
Of the Loui.viIle Jourr.l


MAMMOTH CAVE Ky Aug 7.lsi7.
But the Cave itself the most mag
niicent the most sublime. the most beautiful spec.
tacle in the world is here, here only and here then
should al those who love the sublime and the go-
rious most cOngregafe. There IS nothing magma
ton can conceive Of grand and wonderful bat the
Cave car surpass. Awful forms Of wondroas mag.
nifcence. dimy shown. fading away. bat half seen.
their presence felt as If by intuition, and lying in
silence deep beyond words 10 tell. surround you
from the moment You enter. You have come into
another world and there is nothing to remind you
Of the one you have let. Silence which seems 70
speak il Is so deep. so unbroken where every
sound dies away as If fearful 10 hnger or OF waking
some mighty monster; darkness, sniiocating palpa
bic felt and seen. are around you. and stu there
is a sense Of ioyousness, OF eladness that none
ever knew except those who have wandered
through this micrOcOsm untrammeled by crowd
and given IN wholly n the influence OF the silence
and the solitude With but one feeble lamp pick
ing his steps along the awful Stiffness the vlsl-
ter cannot choose but give himself up 70 medi-
tstiOn His thoughts are his sole companions,
and long lost visions of faded years throng thick
" around bis heart Old friends, old acquain.
tances dreams Of happiness forever fed all
come back and one feels q sadder but WI
ser man" for this communion with the Past
Butchange and light up the vast domes OF this SUB
terranesr world. and what universe aimOst0 IN
told spendor lies revealed Ceilings OF gray old
rock hich by the toTchs light invisible. now
seem 70 fade away like clouds in a Sumner night
lofty walls which seem u shut out worlds unknown
from view majestic domes whose root the eye can
not reach all appear for instant and as the light
dies disappear slowly and soemnly, as one may
imagine the world may fade away when the al
mighty lat shall 20 forth Bat tits not only these
grand. sublime rs they are which form the chle
attractions OF this wonderful place. There are ave
nues in which the most delicate chiseings that ever
arose beneath the hands Of q sculptor are rlvaled
nav. far surpassed. The gorgeous beauty OF this
brilliant scene cannot be realized by any out an
actual witness The wealth OF the world would mol
furnish diamonds sufficient 10 set one little nook "
an avenue where there are hundreds. Ghttering ~
the rays Of even the smoky lamps used here theii
briliancy is beyond belief and from the walls al
around hang. or rather Grow, leaves twisted and
curled into the most graceful. fantastic shapes -
Lilies pure as purity, resses Of lurking hair roses
beautiful as the famed one Of Sharon all seem
mingled in one dazzling mass. and changed by some
magic word 10 stone. Cold and white. there they
stand so fragile that a breath will break them but
so they have stood orcountless years. But It Won
be rs much worth while 70 attempt to make the
Cave as to describe it. and will not endeavor L
do so. But let all those who love. as Shelley says
Everything almost
Which IL Natures and may be
Untsirted by mans misery"
visit the Cave Not only will they find all they car
desire in the Cave itself but all an epcure or th'
most eager votary pleasure can wish at the house