New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-15
MYateriea Of HoweIs cave.

mysteries Oh f1OWeS CdVG-
~-
Doubtless all have had. at times, the desire awak
ened In their hearts TO see the mysteries Of Mammoth
Cave = to listen to the duh sound OF the falling stone,
dropped into the sBettemless Pit as it goes bound
ing and eaping on its way towards that vast sea OF
molten lava which geologists tell us Of and which
must be easy to imagine than to describe or to
engage the services Of Charon, and explore the IN
known wonders Of tie cold black "Styx," or listen
to the tales Of ancient Indian towns" in the interior
of the caverns nav and wonder how the race lived,
and when they died. Indnging such reveries, many
have cghed that distance and expense render visit
10 this cave to them impossible, nor that
near at hand cave Of almost fabulous proportions
aud features is found and even slight and imper-
feet sketch OF Il may prove acceptable TO our readers
"Hewe's Cave is Situated in the town Of Cobers-
kill Echohare county in the State Of New York, and
deserves the celebrity 80 generally awarded 70 il Of
being the greatest natural curiosity in the United
States and many who have visited tie cave OF Ken
tuckv, prefer TO liBger here.
own Is easy Of access either from Cherry Val.
ley or Canajnhafie. Having safely landed, (for not
being able 10 describe natures beaute0us laboratory
as i is, must need give our own experience, we
booked our names at the Gave House, and having
donned suit OF clothes that seemed to have suffered
in desperate struggle for existence with the old
ciothe@man,) we descended few stone steps, aud
entered with sbudder (perbaps occasioped by the
cold blast that saluted us this wondrous boudoir Of
Dame Nature.
Ia " intrance HALF we found ourselves, and, after
lighting our torches, discovered it to be rocky pass
nge two hundred and sixty feet in length by thirty
five In width Being satisfied with view Of stone
and smell OF dampness, entered Washington
Hail. which Is one hundred feet long and thirty
wide; here a beautiful stalactite, resembling the
Father OF his Country, or, what IS readily imagined
TO he bis statue. His mantle is falling in graceful
folds from about his commanding person, while his
epaulettes removed from bis shoulders, are hanging
on the wall beside him. On the opposite side of the
wall hangs Lady Washington's hood" every fold
IN the ample cape distinctly visible. Near by, at an
elevation Of twenty-five feet, is altar, kneeling at
which many have taken the most holy of ties, that
bind them for life. The ceremony soemnzed Ia such
Q place, the walls blazing with the red glare of
torches, the solemn voice Of the officiating minister
must stamp the memories Of the assembled guests,
and produce impressions lasting the granite walls
that echoed their responses. little removed is
small statue Of a woman, sitting in chair-also
withered hand with beautiful staIactite examinations
:" Hermts Gem IS the next object of curiosity but
deserves no particular mention, save that all above
attached 70 the walls, images of Birds beasts
trees and fishes until one is almost ready 10 believe
that he stands IN natures storehonse Of patterns,
and these are carved out, of black and white marhle
In the matehless style of the Creators hand alone.
Passing through the Tunnel we enter " Cataract
Hall. which Is five hundred and forty feet high and
thrtydve wide, through the midst Of which stream
rpples and murmuis in its darksome way, toward
cataract never yet seen by man.
Bat applying our ear TO a tissue in the wall the
distant roar oil waters were distinctly heard, its
heighth or depth unknowh--the very mystery at
tending 1t renders additional interest TO the hidden
waterfall. At the Lake, a body Of water re-
posing 10 huge stone reservoir, we step into a
barge boat, and as the torches lurid glare falls on
the dark walls, the eye is bewidcred by the null
ttude and beauty of the groups Of figures on which
the light "a thrown C0rnices, statnes men birds
beasts aud fishes are seen on every side, and excite
wonder and admiration Of all who, ke US, experience
the pleasure Of visit 70 these enchanted halls Ia
Music Hall, near BY, is huge formation, called
the Harp weighing nearly a ton which, on being
struck, sends echoes through the cavern in tones OF
md r.o4l, a.,d
witching tenderness. The musical education Of the
water sprites or gen of this cavern, has not been
neglected, and they could not go TO the mountain,
ne nigh and towering peaks OF the Alps have
come 70 them and from their submits we look far
down into dark chasm called the g Pirates Cave
Leaving Mount Blanc behind us we toiled up the
"Rocky Mountains clambering over huge rocks
and eTamhllng through chasms, until we gained a
height Of FIVE hundred feet, we began our descent
INTO the Valley OF Jehosaphat,1 passing through
Winding Way,Ha narrow passage hewn out Of the
solid rock, or, perhaps, channeled by a narrow
stream and just wide enough to admit one person at
time, 90 crooked that we could see scarcely three
feet In advance, while the walls are ornamened with
most beautiful specimens Of carving. We came to
the Devils Gangway = which leads to the oRotunda .
room six hundred feet In height; this altitude was
aseertained by the flight Of rockets Being satisfied
with having penetrated four miles and half we com
msnced our return, and when once again the sun :
bright rays eii on Us our joy seemed too great for
utefanee- Those granite d0mes and rock ribbed halls
showing superhuman skill OF the great architect were
Inspiring. Those sculptured and wondrous forms Of
stone seemed angels work aud not the work OF chance
the waterdrlppines OF ten thousand years. The
lake and Wnding-Way excite our interest," the Hid.
den Waterfall and Mystic Harp stir feelings In our
breast that give pain and yet such pain Is delicious
But i Is the sunshine, the bright glorious sunshine
the fields the grass the trees that give such extatc
Joy that only those who live with them around can
ever know. New York Dispatch.
SENSIBLE Observation-Disclosures Taylor is respcn-
sible for the following
/ know an American author who was once bored
for long time By female acQuaintancc for sympa
thy and tender appreciation Of her ideas Of spiritual
duty Mr. Plutarph,n she would say, ais there 0
more serene aud Sublime satisfaction 10 life than that
OF discovering your spiritual duty and then oonscien
tiously performing 1t Have you not often, in youi
own soul, felt this tranquil bIissgo The author bort