Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-03
An Underground Castle.

Not castle that had been suddenly
swallowed by hungry earthquake,
neither had it been buried for years and
years beneath the stones and ashes of m
active volcano.
1t was indeed curious affair. this
castle about which | am going to tell
you. for il was planned and built under
the ground The only visible part of it
was queer little turrct in which could
be discovered not the least trace of loop
holes, windows or. doors. The fortress
itself contained number of mysterious
winding passages and graduated CALLER
les. and though the walls We're smooth
and most perfectly hard-fnished, they
were bare and gloomy enough, and no
old paintings from the mastcr-artistS
were suspended there. There was many
u niche and alCovc too, alike mdeco-
rated by llowcr-vase or statue. Not Il
ray of light was ever permitted To enter
its cherries apartments or dispcl its
melancholy gloom.
\ : for the master of this hidden cas-
tie. he seemed only intent upon cnlarg-
ing his suhtcrrancan domains. With
wonderful skill and ncvcr-ilagging cner-
gy, he continued TO construct new pas
Sagcs and apartments, adding a chamber
here and hall there. with apparently
no other purpose than that of making
his hcrmetcal stroug ghold Enthusiastically
complicated and secure
This castle was located in the midst Of
a forest, and for many days | climbed q
tall beech tree that ovcrshadowcd its
visible tower, and strange To say, every
day at precisely twelve O'Clock. | was
rewarded with a sight of the princcly
architect himself. A. he never varied
in his time of coming To the surface, at
first inferred that he doubtless obtained
his luncheon outside, and came up at
the proper dinner hour to secure it. But
| aitcrward decided differently rs you
will see.
Earnestly desiring m intimate ac-
puaintanc" with this interesting
stranger, one dnv descended from my
observatory in the tree and with shovel
i'm my hand, awaited his noOnday ap-
pcarancc. suddenly he came to the sur
face. and in n twinkling | placed my
spade under the base of the tower. and
tossed this horm"t lord into deep
bucket, which | had placed at convc-
nient distance. The movement was too
sudden to allow him any hope of escape,
and | carried my prisoner home in tri-
umph but soon made the discovery that
| had no bcggarly straggl"r in charge.
On the contrary, he appeared to be a
right royal rcclu-o. He was richly clad
in a very soft vo.ycty fur suit. OF dark
lead color. the tips of the coat-tail. pants.
and Wristbands being trimmed with u
band of pure white. The cleanliness of
his fur was simply marvellous Buried
i'm the mud and earth rs IL had been i'm
its little underground dwelling. still its
coat was beautifully fresh and free from
spot or dust. Although he evinccd
great strength, hc was diminutivc in
size. the length of his body being no
quite five inches, though his smooth.
narrow coat-tail dragged about an inch
on the ground, and ! wondered how h .
kept the white pointed tip so glossy and
and unsoied' He WAS decidedly stout
and "thick-set.' - ar d his pretty oval
head was joined directly to his sleek
body without any visible neck. For
some days | believed him to be a blind
mute. and therefore did not wonder Mt
his indifference 10 the gloom of his sub
terranean quarters. but after bringing
my good microscope into rcquisition.
discovered that his eyes were not only
very minute, but that they were almost
hidden by his soft fur robe. But they
were there, two very bright. twinkliur
eyes, actually smaller than grain Of
mustard seed. and evidently adapted to
nocturnal explorations. His sense of
hearing, too. appeared 20 be very acute.
though ! could discover no appearance
of an external car. lie struggled while
| held his fat. broad palms in one hand.
and his curiously wrbhcd-fcct in the
other. After time I succeeded in fore
ing his unwilling Jaws apart. and, to my
astonishment. there were thirty-six
sharp little teeth. and all his own too.
1t seemed rather unfair. thus to treat n
helpless prisoner, but | excused myself
IN the groula that | was only seeking
for information.
Then united his hands and feet. and
threw him into tub of water. where
was delighted to see him swim like n
fish. "Where could he have learned
to do this" | eNclaimcd and then 7
tried to imagine that his castle-grounds
might he beautiiicd with fountain sprays
and silver lakes ofhis own construction.
took him out Of his bath. smoothed
and dried his fur robe. and placed a
rich repast before him. which was made
up of earthworms and ground nuts.
This he devourcd very greedily. even
exhibiting a degree Of fcrocity rs he
hunched his round back. and ravenously
pushed the food into his mouth with his
fat, chubby hands.
And now allow me To introduce YOU
tolthis curious little king architect OF
the Underground Castle. His family
name Is Tdipidg. but he Is generally
known as Srdlops dq,tdticus. And so,
after NIL. he is only the common blind
mole" whose little hillocks here and
there are familiar to every one. And
set, by patient and carhful observation.
we find that he Is n most interesting little
animal: His small body Is comlina-
tion Of mechanical implements. Ills
long snout serves rs a crow-bar. pick
axe and spade, and his whole frame IL
an ngcniously complicated machine
each part ofwhicli Is well adapted to IL,
purpose. By the constant rubbing oI
his sides against the walls of his dwell.
ing they become smooth and hard, so
that he scarcely carries any dust upon