The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-02

original color Of the eye might have been, il
soon appeared black.
Although persons who are affected with con
sumption are rendered much worse by a resi-.
dence in the Cave, they need not be deferred
from making short excursions in it, for when
not carried to such degree as TO occasion
fatigue, they are always attended with advan-
tage. 0ver-excitement of the brain, and in
cipient insanity, would undoubtedly be bene-
fitted by Cave residence. Here absolute 81.
lence can be obtained, which cannot be had
anywhere else, and which is the great desider.
alum in brain affections. It's surprising how
rapidly the night influence is felt in the Cave,
which is indicated by pallor of the cheeks,
yawning, and an irresistible tendency TO sleep
Persons who first visit the Cave are not, us a
general thing, thus affected, because Of the
novelty Of their situation, and the many OBJ
jects which attract their attention. This ten
dency to sleep is not due to any impurity Of
the atmosphere, for the proportion Of carbonic
acid is even less than 1t is in the outer air, but
is referable solely to the complete silence and
total absence Of light. 1t is perhaps the only
place where person can count the pulsations
of his own heart by listening to its beat in
fact, the pulsations of the heart Of another
feet.
Thunder is never heard in the Mammoth
Cave, and gentleman who wasin itat 1.-THE time
shock of an earthquake wasexperienced on
the surface of the earth, did not perceive it,
The Rotunda is situated under the dining.
room of the Cave Hotel.
On leaving the Rotunda, and passing huge
oven -langiag ciins To the 1efi,, which CLOSELY
resemble the cliffs of the Kentucky River, af
ter which they are named, the Methodist
Church is entered. 1t is eighty feet in diam,
eter, by about forty in height. Here, from
the gallery or pulpit, which consists Of ledge
OF rocks twenty-five feet in height, the Gospel
was expounded more than fifty years ago.
The benches, or logs, occupy the same posi-
ton which they did when first placed in the
Church.
After leaving the Gothic Galleries, which
lead to the Gothic Avenue, Of which we will
have occasion to speak further on, the Grand
Arch is entered which leads to the Giant
Colin. This arch is about fifty feet high and
sixty vide.
To the lett Of the path leading to the Giant
Collin, are found two immense rocks, many
tuns in weight, which have fallen from above,
and are standing in an upright position.
The Giants Coffin is a huge rock, forty feet
long, twenty wide, and eight in depth, and at
the point from which it is viewed, presents u
striking resemblance TO a coffin. II has been
detached from the side of the avenue against
which it rests. The avenue Mt the foot Of the
Giants Coffin leads into the Deserted Cham
Der.
On the ceiling, little to the left of the
Giants Coffin, and looking into the Deserted
Chamber, is the figure of an ant.eater. 1t is
composed Of the etiiorescence of black gyp.
sum, and rests upon background of white
limestone. The resemblance of the figure to
the animal after which it is named is com.
plete.
A short distance beyond the Giants Coffin,
in the Main Cave, after passing what is called
the Acute Angle, group of figures is observ-
ed on The ceiling, which is termed the Giant,
Wife, and Child. These figures are in sit.
| ting posture, and the Giant appears TO be in
the act of passing the Child to the Giantess.
They are also composed of black gypsum,
which rests on white background.
| Still further on, the figure of colossal
mammoth may be observed on the ceiling.
From the Giants Coffin to the mouth OF
the Cave, wheel tracks, and the impression of
the feet of oxen may be seen, which were
made nearly fifty years ago. The earth al
the time these impressions were left, was
moist, as most Of it had been lixiviated in the
| VI pul AZ pICstIl
time it is perfectly dry, and almost of the con.
sistency of stone.
From the Acute Angle to the Star Cham
Der, several stone cottages, which were for.
merly inhabited by consumptives, are still
standing.
The Star Chamber is situated in the Main
Cave. 1t is sixty feet in height, seventy in
width, and about FIVE hundred in length. The
ceiling is composed of black gypsum, and is
studded with innumerable white points, which
by dim light present a most striking resem.
blance to stars. These points, or stars, are
produced, in part, by an efflorescence o.
Glauber's salts beneath the black gypsum,
which causes it to scale off; and in part by
throwing stones against it, by which it i,
detached from the white limestone. In the
far extremity Of the Chamber large mass
has been separated, by which white surface
is exposed, termed the Comet.
When the guide takes the lamps and
descends behind ledge of rocks, by which a
cloud is made to pass slowly over the ceiling
it is difficult to diyest ones self of the idea
that a storm is approaching II needs but
the flash otlightning and the roar of thunder
to make the Illusion complete.
After producing the storm illusion, the guild,
disappears with the lamps, through lower
archway, several hundred yards in length
leaving the visitor in total darkness, and re
appears ut the eastern extremity of the Stai
Chamber, holding the lights in advance, which
as he slowly eleyates them from the cayerr
from which he rises, produces the illusion o.
the rising sun.
With the exception of Echo River, the Stal
Chamber is, perhaps the most attractive OBJ
ject in the Cave.
The Floating Cloud Room connects the Sta
Chamber with Proctors Arcade.
The clouds are produced by the scaling of
of black gypsum from the ceiling, by an efflor
essence of sulphate of soda beneath it, b,
which white surface is exposed. They ap
pear to be drifting from the Star Chamber
over the Chief City. The Cloud Room is d
quarter Of a mile in length, and in hight and
width corresponds with the Star Chamber.
This is the most magnificent natural tunnel
in the world. 1t is a hundred feet in width
forty-fye in hight, and three-quarters of 4
mile in length. The ceiling is smooth, and
the walls vertical, and look as though they
had been chiseed out Of the solid rock Wher
this tunnel is illuminated with Bengal light
at kinney's Arena, which is its western termi
nus, the view is magnificent beyond concep.
ton.
This arcade is named in honor of Mr. L. j.
Proctor, the proprietor Of the Cave.
Kinneys Arena is hundred feet in diam,
eter and fifty feet in hight, From the ceiling
in the center of the Arena, there projects 4
stick, three feet in length and two inches in
diameter. 1t rests parallel with the ceiling
and is inserted into crevice in the rock
How il was placed in its present position is a
difficult question to settle, inasmuch as il
could not have been inserted in the position
1t occupies by artificial means.
After passing the S Bend, which has nc
particular points of attraction, Wrights Ro.
tunda is entered.
This rotunda is four hundred feet in its
shortest diameter. The ceiling is from ten
to forty-ive feet in hight, and is perfectly level
the apparent difference in hight being pro.
duced by the irregularity of the floor. Ii i,
astonishing that the ceiling has strength to
sustain itself, for it is not more than fifty feet
from the surface of the earth. Fortunately
the Cave at this point is perfectly dry, and no
change of any kind is transpiring in It, other
wise there might be some risk Of its falling in
as evidences Of such occurrences are to be
found in the surrounding country.
When this immense area is Illuminated Al
the two axtrpmaq gi,nul anaonalv II rrasant.