, 1860-11-30
The Diamond Cave.

The Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky is classed
among the wonders Of the world, and is certainly
unsurpassed for the extent and grandeur Of its
subterranean balls. In lis vastness and gloom
it resembles deserted city buried 5eLeath hills.
But this remarkable cavern, though the largest
known, is only one Of many which abound in
this part Of Kentucky. TIE whole country is
cayernous. For many miles the country is
hollow under foot, and there are found occasional
openings into the world below. The most in
tercsting Of these yet discovered is known as
the Diamond Cave" 1t is about six miles
from the Mammoth, and one and half from the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It is only
since last summer that this cave has been ex-
plored, and its wonderful features are known
to but few, though it is destined to havea world
wide celebrity. Compared with its vast rival, its
extent is very limited, being embraced within
one-third Of mile, distance easily traversed
by the invalid, and this facility has been aided
by a foot-walk Of plank through the whole ex-
tent Of the cavern.
Here are displayed some Of the most wonder
full forms that inventive nature has produced to
grace her subterranean abodes. Among the
fairy tales Of the Orientals and the Germans is
one Of palace, all Of whose inhabitants were
by magic power transformed into stone. In this
Goblin Cave, las it might well be named) one
can almost realize that he is in the palace OF
that fairy tale, where even the furniture and ac-
cessOries Of the place have shared the petrifying
mandate.
The visitor first descends by . stairs anarrow
passage Of about thirty feet, and lands in YES
tibuIe Of some forty feet in diameter. During
the descent, he sees, as It were, cascade pour
ing down the rocky passage beneath his feet IL
is, in fact, water CONCEALED into stone by the de-
post Of It's cacareous PARTICLES and at its termi-
nus it widens into magnificent sheet Of tumb-
ling waves, covering nearly one side Of the yes
thule, but suddenly arrested aud transformed
just before lis broken rivulets and falling spray
had touched the floor. e,
Around the walls Of this chamber, and nom
the ceiling, hang other sheets, some Ike falling
water, others IKE curtains waving in the wind,
all, all Of hard calcareous stone.
The varying thickness and density OF these
OCCASION when tLey are struck, sonorous sounds,
and they may be played upon like musical in
strumett, every note being produced clear and
distinct, and Of q fine musical intonation. "A
skilllul performer might create charming elect
out Of this weird music.
From this chamber leads gallery, which,
from It's wondrous stalagmite creations, may be
lilkened to an Egyptian tomb. Mummied forms
are seen, some wrapped In their eerements--
others enclosed in stony cases curiously carved
and covered with hier'glyphics.
Passing into the cathedral portion Of the cav
ern, one of these stalagmilts assumes very ex-
act resemblaDce to the Pope, clothed in his
vestments aud mitre, little larger than life size.
In fitting proximity is the shrine Of the Virgin,
a recess Of the spar covered rock, enclosing q
little image Of quite as good q siInilitude as
many made BY human bands.
A little further on is the choir Of this cathe-
dral, containing very accurately made organ
while other formations which may pass for tombs
and monuments line the walls and rise from the
floor, and, pendant from the roof the sparry iei.
cIes are shaped into the tracrry Of Gothic arches
and gorgeous chandelier hangs 50 low as to BE-
touched BY tie hand.
The scene again changes, and the spectator is
led through halls hung with tapestry, in massive
folds and translucent sheets, behind which the
light Of lamp il transmitted in soft red-eolored
shades. Pillars, formed by the meeting Of sial.
aetiles and stalagmites, are sometimes clustered
together N antique and rare architectural de-
signs, and occasionally creating grottoes, with
seats for whispering lovers made. ln some
parts the walls and floors are lined with crystal
lied spar, Of beautiful white, which reflects
the light in star-like CLEANS; fountains Of real
water spout from the walls, or drop into marble
basins, carved ard curiously wrought, and charm
the car with alulling murmur.