Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-06-15
Correspondence of the Herald /.
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.
!, = 81 :, -, VI r,,,r, q 1s7s

volume, whose glowing pages are replett
with instruction for the pleasure seeker
1t does not tell him of the glory of sun
set sky, summer sea and Handicapped
mountain in some particular locality. i
does not take him up on, to the heights
bat down into the depths. 1t does not
teach by comparison, for it cannot. 1t
reveals to the tourist the beauties of a
subterranean world. 1t shows him the
most wonderful of natures wonders
Mammoth Cave. 1t gives him faint
conception Of the impressions produced
on the soul of every one who has been
waited on its dark rivers, and whose
feet have trodden it may labyrinths.
To us it speaks with deeper meaning,
bringing back days of unalloyed pleas
ure, days when our footsteps. resounded
through those vaulted arches.
Among party of six, released from
the confinement of school room and of
fee, we celebrated the event by south
ern trip. Mammoth Cave is easily &C
cessible from the north. by the Louisville
and Nashville railroad, which the trav-
eler leaves at Cave City. Only vivid
imagination could have given to this
desolate looking village of fifteen or
twenty houses the name city. Its hotel
accommodations, however, are fair, and
most grateful to the weary traveller, pre-
pairing him for a ride of nine miles over
the Kentucky hills.
The morning finds him refreshed and
ready for the stage coach which bears
him through the broken country and un-
even ways, to which considerable inter-
est is added when he learns that the
road is supposed to pass directly ever a
portion of the cave.
AT the termination of the last mile
stands the Cave Hotel 1t is built in
true southern style, with verandas ex-
tending its entire length, capable of en-
tertaiIing three or four hundred guests.
At right angles to the main building and
connected with it is a long row of cot
tages, occupied by visitors who spend
the summer in this delightful retreat.
Travellers who reach the hotel by the
morning coach have ample time to COM
plete the short route the same day, re-
serving the long route for the day fol-
lowing. Suits are provided for those
who desire them, and indeed are quite
indispensable in accomplishing the Ion
ger journey. Shortly after arriving
persons are so metamorphosed as to be
scarcely recognizable. even by members
of their own party. Gentlemen appear
in ''over-alls" with wooden caps and
frocks, while ladies don fantastic
bloomer costume of some gay color with
cap to match.
Each provided with stout walking
stick and lamp we find ourselves at the
entrance of the cave, after passing
through dense forest, and over rug
ged path several hundred yards in length.
The opening at the mouth of the cave is
irregularly shaped. Trees grow about the
edge, ferns and vines hanging gracefully
over it, and a tiny stream of water falls
from the arch of rocks overhead. We
pause moment at the entrance to this 4
hidden world, for cold Matt" the /
guide to light the lamps and then step
fearlessly into new existence, We
forget the outside world, with its dust, /
heat and WEAKNESS. We forget our
selves. cold Matt is the senior guide
of the establishment, having wandered
over its darksome way more than thirty
SIX years. He possesses an Invaluable
fund of information, is ready with re-
ply, and the only croiterion by which he
estimates people is the interest or want
of interest which they manifest in his
friend, the cave. ...... .-.g
We can notice merely some of the
grandest features, and these but briefly. |
The way is narrow for some distance,
hard and smooth under foot, with walls I
and ceilings of rocks. Soon it broad
ems, and we enter spacious room, call
rectly underneath the dinihg-room of
the hotel. Leaving the Rotunda and
passing short distance the Methodist
churchis entered This apartment is so
feet in diameter, by 40 feet in height.
From its pulpit the gospel has been
preached more than fifty years, and the
daughter of the hotel proprietor told us
that her first entrance to the cave was
made sitting on the shoulder of her faith
er to attend these rovel. services. Other
points interest each wonderful in itself
are Gothic Chapel, Gorin's Dome and
the Star Chamber. The ceiling of |
Gothic Chapel appears to be supported
by gigantic stalactites which extend to
the floor, forming, when large enough,
massive pillars, and beautiful gothic
arches. When viewed by magnesium
lights its brilliancy is wonderful. A
romantic wedding ceremony is said to
have taken pace in this underground
room. A young lady was forbidden by
s'cruel parents" ever to marry the object
of her alteration on the flsce Of the earth ];
but Cupid suggested way out of the
difficulty, and she married him aaa9er the
earth. s.-.ssr-..- -r,.-
Gorin's Dome is viewed from nat
ural window, opening midway between
the top and bottom. By the aid of Ben
gal lights, some idea of its grand dfnen-
sions is obtained. Up, up the oval arch
can be indistinctly seen; far, far below
appears the floor covered .stalagrnites
while on the opposite side the rocks
present the appearanceof curtains hang
ing in graceful folds. When we remem-
Der that this is the result of the w.ter's {
silent quarrying during unreckoned
ages, our minds are lost in the magnitude
Of the.eonception. Mat. sees his party
thrilled and penetrated with the exceed t
ing sublimity of the picture; he beholds t
he look of reverence and awe on every y
face, and his dusky features light up
with quiet satisfaction. .::y q
The silence is broken. "Did you ever !
cad an atheist or an infdel through this f
ave, guide, inquiries one of the gentle 6
men. Mat. looks. puzzled: He cannot {
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