Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-29
isht that grew brighter and brighter, as the

light that grew brighter and brighter, as the
east lightens up with approaching morning,
and soon the lights and the footsteps of my
guide were close at hand. This room is
called the "Star Chamber" from the millions
Of crystals in its roof, that glitter. like stars
with the torches and other lights. There is
often much sport and joking during the rest
in the darkness, when large parties visit the
cave some naughty fellow watching the To-
cation Of party of ladies, will leave his seat,
and moving near them initiate the sound of a
kiss, and quietly return to his place, leaving
the party when the lights come back to look
at each other with an inquiring glance as if
to say twas it you? And sometimes
wicked wag with bit of smut, under pretence
of arranging shawl, touches the cheek Of
lady, and soon after playfully adorns the nose
Of some gentleman, just before entering the
Star Chamber, and after the lights return,
calls the attention of the party to this singular
coincidence. 1t is told that young lady
with her mamma was visiting the cave with a
very estimable gentleman as her escort in q
considerable party of friends, and in the ST.
lence of the Star Chamber an English tourist
in the party wishing to see the effect of sin
gle match, lighted one suddenly, and to the
great discontinue of the lady and her friend,
the establishment of her mamma and the gen.
eral amusement of the party, the gentleman
was in the very act of stealing kiss, to which
the young lady was disposed to make no OBJ
lection. But we were soon on our way,
taking draught of water at Richardson's
spring. which bubbles out sweet and clear,
just where it is needed. evidences OF civil
ization, sab" said the guide, as looked at a
pile of broken bottles against the wall; ode
Indians inhabited dis cave, but dey didn't
leave dem here sah," said Nicholas" the
=: l.. IL II. 4.
gray head, as if a man from the land of the
Maine Liquor Law might appreciate the say
ing. We found, along in the principal
avenues, monuments piled high for different
purposes, by enthusiastic travellers and par
ties, for cities and generals both Union and
Confederate, and for countries and States,
each friend putting on stone as he passes;
and at one point we found two stone cottages,
which were built some score of years since, in
the belief that TIE even temperature of the
cave might cure consumption, and these were
inhabited some time by parties who tested
the matter, and found that the disease was
not stayed by living in this place, so the cot
tages and the boarding house were abandoned,
as the scheme proved failure. We hurried
on o the entrance, and found that night had
come, and we had long ride in the dark
ness, over the rough road and the hills. But
we had confidence in "Shelby," the driver,
and we started on. We soon were joined by
three other colored boys, who were ready to
ride to the station. Full of fun and the
rollicking negro humor, and without restraint,
they told plantation jokes and stories, sang
the melodies of "de cotton row" and the hymns
of ode meetin" with earnestness, making
perfect and original variety show, such as is
seldom seen and not often excelled. "Shel-
by was CAREFUL during all the trip, once or
twice in bad place stopping in a story or
song with, "hold on dar, mus pay ticlar in-
tention to dis point Of de road, reckin," and
resuming when we were we'll ON our way.
So we reached the station in good time, and
in excellent appetite for the fine supper that
awaited us, and the fire that burned brightly
on our arrival at the hotel. We left on our
way southwark, the next morning, with the
most pleasant memories of day spent among
some of the most wonderful works of nature
and the greatest curiosities Of our country.
A. B. G.