Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-22
10 " IWNTV1
A ROMANCE OF THE MAMMOTH CAVE
nrnAEks TO SCHOOL GIRLS.

Ny DEAR Glls | told you | had a little moro
to say to you ON the subject of geology. aud now
let us look at some striking particulars, of the next
series in the text book, to what we were consider
lug, which was | think the sandstone formation,
the varieties of its manifestations on the surface
Of the earth, its hills and dalos, its rocky SUBMITS
and rapid streams. free stone, free and jovlal hearts
and soft water. We would do well to retrospect
the slate a little, our first subject, and notice tho
beautiful Impressions Of plants, mado ON the
smooth surface Of THEN layers olineated in all thor
minute parts, as We have seen them pressed be
tween papers, and learn TO read tho wonders OF
nature, which lie hidden under the surface of the
earth, and which tho Great Creator has stamped
upon every page Of his works. Look too, girls at
the varied aud numerous fossils, mixed all through
the rock, that your foot presses almost every mo-
mcnt when you are out Of doors. Think how all
these little appearances like shells, now solid
limestone were once living moving animals in
their watcry homo in the ocean, where they were
made to enjoy life, and then to writo their History
and deaths in strong and enduring Characters
think what has been before US, what %myriads of
creatures have lived here where we enjoy life. thoy
are gone, but their history remains written by
themselves.
viii you girls, look upon this natural history
laid open to your view, and think in what ondur-
ing characters will you write your history, your
existence and your names in the sphere you occupy
in tho great scale of being.
Now let us turn a glance to our next subject,
which according to our author is the fifth formation
he calls it limestone, of the finest kind, it is a beau
tiful stone resembling marble, and by some is call
cd Kontuky marble. The surface of tho country
where this formation is uppcrmost, presents n very
uncommon appearance, the reverse Of the billy and
abrupt surface of the sandstone formation, it is
almost a continued plain covered with shrubby
growth called, scrub oak or shrub oak but though it
produces this stunted growth of wood, it when
cleared and cultivated produces good crops. This
region abounds in sinking springs, rivers disap'
pear and sometimes break out again. 1t is the
region Of caves and subterranean passages, where
are formed the stalactites and many curious things.
A kind of ~saltpctre is found here. but it is not a
nitrate of potash, but a nitrate of lime and has to
be changed by teaching through wood ashes, when
the nitric acid leaves tho lime and unites by a
chemical affinity with tho potash of the ashes.
Will you rel o nbCr how ~saltpetro comes? A mix
ture of this false s~altpctre and gypsum, makes
some of the beautiful stalactites putting out from
the wal 8 # the mammoth cave, a foot or moro in
length with beautiful caves. In the summer time
you take a rido into Kentucky, in some less than
n hundred miles from the upper corner of Camp
bell county on the Ohio river you will come to the re-
gions called the barrens, that is tho regions Of these
wonderful apartments underground. Then if you
are assured that those cavcrns arc not filled with
carbonic acid gass you may take subterra mean
walks, and be entertained in gorgeous halls, and
grottos. Go ON a little further you will come to
the southwestern corner Of Edmonson county, there
you will find the entrance to the celebrated Nam
moth cave, which is small at first, but widens, and
extends as you proceed till it multiplies apart
mcnts, rivers, lakes, beauties, and pcrils, for the
space of forty miles, it is said, and who has had
courage to explore it further may tell of adventures
not generally known. Many romantic tales ar,
connected with tho sportivc parties exploring thcs,
mysterious abodes. The one | am about to relat
to you is the most romantic of all that | have eve
heard. 1t is the narrative Of liervcy Bond and Flip
Montrosc- Lovers of course, romance would no
be worth listening to, if it had not love in it.
Girls would you not rather listen to lovers 70
nance than geology? Well, tho story of thcs
young lovers is rather strange. | shall not b.
able to give it to you in full, but give it in a yer,
short sketch.
llcrvey, was Col. Bonds only son, his father wa
a wealthy Kentucky farmer, and brought up IIeI
vey, his only child in tho enjoyment Of all tina
wealth and ease, which belong to the upper classc
in Kentucky, in all that unrestrained freedom @
speech and action, which ~bcspcaks the aAcctionat
intercourse between parents and child. His mother
idol, and his fathers pride, he was intelligent an(
noble minded, possessing ali the advantages 0
education, that the present improved state of soc
affords. His stature was noble rather than larg,
his features were symotrical and fine, his forellea
elevated, his hair was slightly brown. rather thai
faxen, and when neatly combed from his IA
forehead gave a soltoncd expression to hs di;
niied carriage, his nose was aqueline rath(
than roman, his brow well developed and clea
a smile usually played around his mouth, whc
was Of the finest mould, but when he was in
grave mode it assumed an expression of invincib
frmness. But Zilpa. How shall l describe he
She was a beauty Of that kind which takes posse
sion of all your admiration, while in her prescnc
aud leaves u charm on tho memory. Her ~complexio
was the lightest olive, her eyes were dark and
that soft luxuriance that throws an irresistab
charm over the beholdcr.
but girls, my story will prove too long, if 20
wish 70 hear more about the lovers who wandere
in the Mammoth cave. | must give it in anothc
number.
Nor TOO LATE TO COMMENCE. AS il is ncv
too soon to do good, so il is never too late to amen
4 will, therefore, neither neglect the present, NJ
1aanatr "a tn tf,,a 40. 6 hal INas