The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-11-07

uShulhS W thO iiShs WIN al my
might, | told the men to pull and
shove me, and, taking me at my
word, they rather jerked than pull
ed me along, skinning my left elbow
slightly, and nearly disrobed me /;
but, oh joy! here we are at last in
the large room called "Glcat Relief"
And it is very appropriately named,
for it truly is a great relief to be in
its ample ways after passage of Fat
Mans Misery.
Passing on we came to Tall Mans
Misery, but that was no misery to
me, though it was quite low pass
way; but now we come to River
Hall. Here a now interest in the
wonders of the cave begins TO be
felt. The guide tells us that This is
the high water mark of the great
cavern. But just here let us turn
aside, go back little, to see one of
the great beauties and wonders of
the cave. 1t is the celebrated Ba-
con Chamber. Here are a vast col
lection of large stslactitic formations
resembling hams and shoulders, no
sides, and, strange enough, just a
little distance from this "Bacon"
there is overhead, most perfect and
beautiful inverted kettle of the prop
er size, for the genii of the cave to
boil the stone food in
''Set him down here, says the
| guide to the bearers, and lot him.
take look at the Dead Sea !"-
Gazing down into its still waters a
slight feeling of awe steals over my
soul, whilc the mind swiftly flies
| over to the land of Palestine, and
many Of the sayings Of the Savior of
mankind rise up, and wiH be heard,
while the eye rests upon this dimin-
tive sheet of still water, named after
| the Dead Sea Of the New Testament.
Though very unlike its prototype,
the name is appropriate enough
care there any blind fish in there r
| ask. "Yes, replies the guide, II
have caught great many out of that
place" We will cross over the riv-
err Styx--not poles, as a lady called
it who had only slightly (9) forgotten
it's name, and the manner in which it
was photographed. She had lived in
happy ignorance Of the old bony
charon of mythology, whose spectral
form used to ferry the ancients over
the above named mystical river
Fortunately for us, we had natur'
al bridge to cross upon, and thus had
no use for the spectral boatman.
! Here now is Lake Lethe; but ]
| do not think should ever forget it,
though | were to battle in its clear,
cool waters and drink deep draughts
even from its fountain head. 1t was
here upon the sandy shores Of this
subterranean lake that the royal
Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, paus-
ed and refused to proceed, whether
through fear or Indifference, or some
other motive operating upon his
Highness mind and heart, the out
side world remains in profound and
blissful ignorance, but the fact re-
mains, lie stopped here, and would
proceed not an inch further, al
though the most interesting portion
Of the entire cave lay but just a lit
tie way before him--the wonderful
Echo River. Jenny Lind, the sweet
Swedish Nightingale, though be-
longing to the more timid sex, went
on far beyond the hating ground of
the heir apparent to the throne Of all
the Russias. But, as there are often
"wheels within wheels, it is shrewd-
ly suspected the Duke had his reas-
ons for not going further, and that
those reasons were not inspired by
fear or timidity, but through de-
sire to hold a prolonged chat in that
romantic spot with one If Americas
most fair and accomplished charm
ers.
Well, we are over the lake, and
here is the Sandy Desert. sNow
lie down upon your hand barrow,
and look up toward the roof while ]
illumine this place with a Bengal
light" says William, the guide
We all gaze upward, when 10! the
heaps and great drifts Of snow, zap
parently) chill us by perfect wintry
appearance. It is grand lit isis
lusiye! ooh! isnt't that worth all
our toll and trouble, to behold it 7"
cries one of my bearers, who up to
the present time seemed not to be
much enthused by alltho other won
ders, beauties and mysteries he had
SEEM. But this grand, glorious and
Elusive vision broke up the fountain
Of thought which lay hid away some
where in the mighty deep Of his
seemingly unpoetic nature, and he
grew to be the widest and most
demonstratiye in his admiration, Of
any in oursmall company. It did
me good to see tina. the shell Of his
feeling bad at length yielded to the
tilt hammers Of the cave and its d.
vine mysteries, and to see that he
was a man of like passions aud enio>
tons Of many a mute, inglorious Mil
ton And now with hearts filed
with deepest emotions, and our souls
hushed and silent in the presence Of
those wonders Of tie Hand Divine
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