Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-13

OF Trieste, Johnston and myself started III the DIN
gence for Labach the terminus of the Vienna rali-
road. From the top of the lofty hill Just behind
Triesta we had an excellent view of the city and
the Adriatc. 1t is beautiful prospect, and as we
moved slowly up the serpentne road, l looked
mournfnlly upon the blue sea, and endeavOred in
vain to extend my vision to the dreamy city oil
Venice. love Venice, not alone for its historical
association and unique beauty, but because some OF
the hsppiest moments OF my life have been passed |
in her palaces and on her canals. My stay there /
appears morehke dream than reality, and the
residue Of my life could be as the time passed IN
Venice, l would not ask a better heaven But
away with such thoughts-we were in q numbering
diligence on turnpike road, running through
broken and barren country similar to that IN the re-
| gion of the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.
About one mile from the village of Adelsberg is
| the cavern known by the name of the GrOtta Of
Adelsberg, which is probably the largest subter-
ranean passage in Europe. 1t is four miles in extent
| and the formations upon the whole are more inter-
esting than those Of the Mammoth Cave. The
chambers not extensive but better preserved,
having been strictly guarded against tie hand OF
the visitor. by the officers the government The
entrance is in the face of cliff below ruined
castle Here the river Polk, after winding through
/ the plain, sinks into the cave, and may be seen
about one hundred and eighty yards from the en-
trance, by the light of the taper struggling to make
its way through the devious passages of the deep
abyss Like the Mammoth Cave, you enter
small hole closed by an iron gate, leading intoa
long, low gallery to a vast hall 100 feet high and
more than 300 feet long, called the Dom. This IS
the only part of the cavern known down to 1919,
when a labora working in the cave accidenty
broke through screen of stalactite and discovered
that this was 'but the veshbule of one of the most
magnificent of all the temples which Nature has
built for herself in the region Of the night Rude
steps cut in the rock lead down one side of this
chamber to the river which is crossed by wooden
bridge and the opposite side is scaled in like man
ner. You then pass through range of chambers,
varying in size, but by for the most interesting
from the variety beautiful purity, and quantity of
their stalactites and staagmites. The singular
Shapes of some of the formations have given rise to
various names applied by the guides according to
the likeness which they discover in them to realob-
jects, such as the throne the pulpit, the butchers
shop the too hearts the BELL which resounds almost
like metal, the curtain, curious mass, about an
inch thick spread out in a manner to represent
perfectly piece of drapy, and beautifully trans
parent The last and most remarkable chamber Is
called Mount Calrary, from collection OF fallen
rocks in its centre, encrused and partly cemented
together by stalactitic matter" This chamber is
very high, and the formations present singular
variety of beauty On Whit Monday one OF the
chambers is converted into hall room, and the
peasant lads and lasses assemble from miles around
and make the regions of darkness re-echo with
I sounds of rpirth and music.
f Returning to the village of Adelsberg, we pro-
ceeded in the diligence to Laibach, where we took
the railroad for the Emperors City, passing through
Gratz and a section of country remarkably beautl-
full and fertile At the Vienna gate our luggage
, was searched with more than ordinary care, bnt
, they failed to discover any contraband articles we
profted by previous difficulty in Lombardy, anc
pocketed our weapons, which the Austrans seen
to have apeculiar disposition to find in the posses
, sion of Americans.
; We drove to the ETzherzog Karl (Arch-dukt
CharIes) a fashionable hotel situated in the ole
city near the Cathedral and main street Gra65in-
This hotel is conducted on magnificent scale, ano
they charge magnificent price So much Tor be-
ing fashionable. The first question we asked OF the
landlord the next morning suggested by the
contrast between our dress and that otour neghborS
at the breakfast table We had been out OF the
reach of civilization so long that we had fallen tal
/ behind the fashions and looked 50 rusty that we
felt out of place, and hurried after hasty meal tc
Grub5aa Tailor where we selecteda wardrobe
suitable as we thought, for our purposes In two
DAYS we were CONNIE IL fu7a and felt prepared &c
meet the gaze Of the most fastidous Brumme of the
Erzherzog Karl After changing our garb we hard
ly knew each other, and were frequently heard te
excaim, Johnston is that you? Yes! Mac, is that
= you! All this however, was at the expense o.
our purse which was well nigh empty when We
! took leave of the Grabbn Tailor Everythingis ex.
l tremely dear in Vienna, much more so than any
Il place we have visited They attribute their higf
prices to the paper currency circulating in Aus
tria valued at from 25 to 30 per cent less than sill
L ! YER
? From our tailors we proceeded to the Police Of
flee for the pSrpose Of procuring permission to re-
! | side stated time in the city, for which paid
one form each. number of questions of an in
t qusitorial character put to US, all of which
we answered without hesitation, having plots OF
> | conspiracies against the Emperor of Austria The
country has been in state of seige ever since the
troubles in 1848 and the authorities deem it neces-
sary to preserve the most rigid scrutiny over the
. movements and actions of foreigners. Without
permit under the seal of government we would be
liable incarceration at any moment, and the bare
mention of jail in Austria makes foreigner Tem-
Bile in his shoes.
Being armed and equipped according to the law
we accompanied some friends to the TolkSgarten,
peoples garden) which is one of the most fire.
quented places of summer resort in Vienna. Two
l bands Were playing when we entered, and both
the best of their kind in all Germany. One was
the Emperors military band, and the other the
band OF young Strauss, of the celebrated COM
poser I am not skilled in music, but somewhat Of
an amateur, and can safely say that these two
bands are the best in the world. The Germans
seem to have a natural fondness for the harmony of
sweet sounds, and they have attained perfection
in music, that no other people can arrive at This
place is resorted to principally by females, who dress