Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-11-13
a yIs1r 10 Tau rfAnFnToTH GAVE
oE KENTuCKY.

Inc following letter, descriptive oil q visit to
Mammoth Cave, KY, was written by a young.
lady from this vicinity oher parents. Itisdue
to her to say, that she had not the remotest idea
of its ever appearing in print But as it is one
of the most interesting descriptions of the Cave.
that we ever read, We cannot forego the pleasure
of transferring it to our columns:
Ny Dear Father and Nother:
We returned safely to Mrs. Groom's yester-
day, more than gratifed with our visit to- the
Mammoth Cave. all of the compahy-20 in
number-will long remember the journey to and
| from, as well Us the visit there The season.
the weather and all, seemed propitious to the
enjoyment of every moment Accident or diff
ficulties were neither thought of or experienced.
/ We left Lexington in private conveyances on
| Wednesday at noon, and arrived at the Cave ut
same hour on Saturday. The ride through the
country outriyaIed all other rides in which /.
ever participated. We passed through many
towns and villages, sometimes stopping TO dine,
and sometimes staying oil night. We spent one
night at Harrodsburgh, and the next morning,
several hours in visiting Greenville Institute
and in wandering through the old grounds where
once assembled the gay and pleasure-loving. L
refer to the Springs-more beautiful grounds i
never wandered through. One cannot pass
through such place withour feeling 6etter.-
The grounds now belong to Government, and
are expected to be purchased for the New Col
lege, in prospective. We passed through much
of the country that father expects to visit late
IN the fall. On our return, we spent a=night at
BardStOwn and DanVille. But to enter into a
minute description of our trip would be too
tedious for me to write or you to read. will
leave minor affairs until / see you. One
thing | must mention, the bold scenery on
the cliffs of the Kentucky river, as we'll as the
mountain views in Southern Kentucky. The
forests were beautiful, tinted us they were, by
i hn rIV II
trees which, discovered, were different in size
and teGf from many of our forest trees I rever
saw such majestic poplars as We saw at some
points. Often, in going up high hills, We walk
ed and gathered beautiful boquets of wild flow
crs. Some found indigenous to the soil there,
which we plant and nourish as tender plants at
home We were just in time for the Fall fruits,
and, believe, gathered twelve varieties while
absent As often as we pleased we walked or
lounged by the wayside at pleasures
reading or singing. Altogether, nothing could
Better have pleased n romantic soul But to re-
turn tothe Cave On Saturday after dinner.
we donned our costumes much to the amuSe-
ment of each other. Our dresses were short
and minus hoops. thought of father, and
Wondered If he would have admired them 1t
was some time after the ladies were dressed be-
fore they could be persuaded to appear in their
| boomers before the gentlemen. At o'clock,
P. NJ, we started from the hotel for the Cave.
passed down hill over road shaded on either
side by forest trees, and ere we thought of it,
were at the entrance of the Cave.
Nicholas-onr guide-waS awaiting US with
! lighted lamps, atthe entrance. Every one grasp
ed lamp, and turning, seemed chilled by the
.flSt impression. For myself, never before ex-
perlenced such nm appalling feeling. It seemed
impossible to descend The atmosphere pro-
ceeding from its mouth seems raw, rank and
chilly, like the air of q thousand cellars concen-
trated into one. The opening is not, as ina
gined, bare and wornlooking, but with the excep-
lion of few stones placed as steps on one side,
1t remains in its primitive state Flowers ferris
vines and MOSES grow abundantly, and hung
very gracefully down over our heads rs we
entered; hero and there the limb of an old tree
has fallen, andthe tricking of few drops OF
water gives it the appearance of waterfall
more than q cave. But MS one enters how it
changes, passing few yards, the unpleasant
atmosphere Is exchanged for that of the right
Temperature, which does not seem TO vary till
you return to that point. For a long distance
we go by the saltpetre vats which were dug
there IN 1872, and can still see at the distance
OF mile in the cave, the marks of Or CARTS
at first, VIC were fearful of stepping into the
watts, butin a little while such fears were con-
sumed by those of amore appalling nature In
| TACT, when l left the cave, hao become so in
ured to danger that could have walked plank
over any stream, however rapid.
Tho Rotund0 was the first large room We on
tered from the main entrance The Chapel and
the acute angle are, indeed, spacious halls All
ideas of Uastness were bankrupted in beholdiFhg
them. Especially the latter impressed me as the
most imposing and stupendous object eye ever
beheld Standing ut one point We could look
down two holes, which appeared fabulous in
dimension. When lighted by some brilliant
substance, which the guide carried, and burned
at different points, it wearied the eyes as well as
exhausted the Imagination, in looking into their
distance. Above, below, beyond, ali was past.
immense and aoonderfui Thought of YIN ), moth
er, and toishet2 1 could sec you there, aud hear
you cxclaim, aeonderfuLi j don't believe We
should ever have gotten you far into Its iMmen-
sites, intricacies OF dangers, you wonid have
been so overwhelmed with awe and admiration
For myself, felt such revcrent awe for such stu.
pendous works of nature, that did not feel
like speaking or listening to commonplace re-
marks. so left the party, and kept long side of
our guide, who, by the way was amusing and
entertaining Some of his peculiar witicis1ns.
as well as correct remarks, I will detail to YOU
at some future time. The star.chamber looked
exactly as the heavens do on a starry NIGHT
when you go out and look a long time into their
blue. The comet, too was there! Nicholas.
distinguished all our lights, and, by going round
some Lodges of rocks, threw, a light SO as to re.
sembe the rising moon. 1t was, indeed, SOL
emn moment. felta thrill indispensable. when
J Ire flnS4xl