American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-28

~ "iib iiC WIZ NItNS IL ''COHleS
ara Comes again, that he may call it
UP when far away" We were left
bfTfe guide and directed to look
through a fissure of the rock. Our
las1 had been extinguished and we
ssz% on tho rnen.l;"e light which
Che guide carried until no ray fell
upon our vision. We were in outer
darkness-a darkness which could
almost he felt. At length the fssure,
that we had been directed to look
through fully glimmered with faint
ray flight, and then became bright
er and brighter until the whole cave
seemed suddenly illuminated. All.
what scene was then presented to
our enraptured vision! A dome from
whose fretted vault, fold upon fold of
the richest tapestry, fringed with
gold and spangled with ten thousand
brilliant gems, hidden in each recess
and jetting the brightest scintilla-
tions, and reaching down, far down,
until the rays of light became lost in
its magic depths! Broad and bot
tOmless, and seemingly without roof,
this bright picture Of nature hidden
in the bowels of the earth, gladdens
the heart of him who has beheld it.
Look upw was an exclamation
from the guide after we had entered
another avenue, and the blue arch
of Heaven, studded with stars, with
the faint light of the rising moon and
a brilliant comet moving maiestically
among its satellites met our delight
ed vision. Can it be an opening in
the rocks and the broad arch of the
Heavens filled with its innumerable
host of bright and twinkling stars
we are gazing on? What a perfect
illusion!
The cave is divided into two parts,
with innumerable avenues, each beau
tiful i'll themselves, but none so
charming as the scenes that await the
adventurer as he nears that portion
of the cave where the spirit of en-
chantment seemed to slumber, and
where laughing nymphs and fiery
spirits delight to charm the senses of
all who cOmeneartheir blessed abode.
We are soon standing upon the
rocky steps of Echo river, with the
little boats drawn up ready for en-
barkation, we look around, us and
that fabled river AcheFon, with Cha
ron, its grim boatman ready to ferry
us into the unknown regions beyond,
comes crowding upon the mind. The
guide, as he stands in one of the
boats swinging his lamp and grasp
ing a long pole-our friends each
with their lamps burning steadily
standing upon the rocky sleeps and
all around us-the dark shadows
resting, save the dancing of the lights
upon the placid waters before us
''The boats are readyw and voice sc
full o. melody is echoed back that
we are in doubt from whence the
sound proceeds. "Ready-ready,'
is re-echoed in delightful cadence
upon the trembling waters. We ad
vanced into the magic circle and
stood upon the strand.
We were now fairly ahoat upon
Echo river and such heavenly sensa
tions never before were experienced
by poor, frail, erring human nature
Adam when he opened his eyes upoI
delights of Eden, never felt a NOR,
exquisite sensation. Here the human
voice is attuned to melody and til,
sounds are so rapturOusly enchantin:
that you forget your identity an'
are waited into another sphere, wher
beings of another world reside. Fo
half mile we rOwed down this Ell
chanting stream, and it was with re
gret we felt the boat as it CRATE,
upon the opposite shore. Olsen
barking, we commenced our journe
beyond the river.
Clambering over mountain {
rocks and passing a frail bridge owe
the Bottomless Pit we came to a
termination-as we supposed-of tn
; Cave but on turning an angle of til
rock a ladder some twenty feet lon
rested against the perpindicular wa
which the guide began to ascent
Far above he halted and directe
, each of our little party to ascen'
q Up we went one by one clinging I
, the rounds of the bending ladde
until we all stood on a slipping lede
, of rock, where one misstep wouI
q have plunged us into the fathomlc>
abyss which yauned beneath. W
, all rejoiced as we once more presse
}, the firm rocks beneath our feet.
We are now in Martha's Vincyar
| ,,,,1 I,,Iy ,1,I lou.
s could present Il more inviting a
i pearance than the eye is feasted apo
e Long festoons of grapes, purple al
:. gushing as those which the ISrca
g tish spies bore from the vale Esch
$ hung in the richest profusiOn fro
# the ceiling and walls of this grani
@ house, and Il tiSsure i'll the roc
! winds its surpentine length throus
|, the dense masses, presenting to Il
d eye the appearance of the vine fro
Il which the purple bunches arc pc
II dant.
Il After passing from the BacC
It Chamber where the rocks hang fro
r the ceiling assuming the shape
J. hams, shoulders and middlings, Y
e entered the snow drifts. How bea
S tiful, around, above, beneath, as 1
as the eye can penetrate by glimm
S of the lamps the Gypsum, white ;
|, the droven snow, lay like the ear
W when in mid-wintcr she shrouds he
}. self in her drapery of purity. B
Ic here no chilling winds make "
II shudder, and you recline upon Il
e drifts without one Shivering sens
10 ton. We passed this portion Of t
7 Cave for upwards of Il mile, at &
Y, end Of which we entered anOth
$, fairy bower called the Last Rose
n Summer. 1t is singular what pee
Il liar shapes the stalactiteS assum
and it is from one of these that t
q, chamber in which we now stand {
g, rivcS its name. From the ceiling
ld white rose, full blown, attracts t
IL eye. 1t hangs alone, "No kindr
rs friend is near While gazing on
IN those familiar words of the Poet a
sung nrPst beautifully by one of t
T, young ladies' of the party. NeN