The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-07-15
AIrio to Palmer,s Cave,


The marked success of the fishing
excursion last week aroused desire
i'm the breasts of certain members to
perform pilgrimage to the hills for
the purpose Of discovering whether
the heat of the sun and the dry atmOs-
phere would affect the party as did the
dampness of the Smoky river. The
desire reached fruitiOn last Thursday.
BY agreeing not to shadow the par
ty with fiendish reporter, we exact
ed from the leader promise of full
kand complete report of the expedition
including the minor details.
The original contract required the
party to start at about half past five in
the morning, but the midnight esca-
pade of certain bovine belonging to
one Of the party delayed its owner far
beyond the appointed time.
The good will Of the party was made
manifest by showers Of blessings
heaped upon the devoted head of the
delinquent, but his explanation of the
disaster which had befallen him prov
ed satisfactory, and the party started
in high glee about half past six o'clock.
Twelve and a half members composed
the. company, and two vehicles, we'll
stocked with the necessaries Of life
and containing said company, moved
briskly westward at the time above
specified. Many creeds were repre-
sented and two members proved fire
worshippers, and insisted upon facing
the glorious orb Of day during the en-
tire journey, continuing the while to
perform certain mystic ceremonies by
the aid of heather images painted
upon pasteboard.
The first serious danger that threat
ened the party was an attack by two
feathered monsters, but the Nimrod
of the party proved his skill by quick
ly placing them hOrs du combat.
At Brookville the party halted for
ice and were waited upon by the May
or and Marshal, who extended to
them the freedom of the city, an offer
which said officials afterwards regret
ted when they observed the amount
of freedom taken by the party.
At eleven o'clock the party reached
its destination. The members Occu-
pied themselves for an hour examin-
ing the cave and grove and attempt
ing to decipher the hieroglyphics
carved upon the solid rock. The wa
ter of the crystal springs, SO refreshing
to the touch, was freely used by some
of the party in bathing their parched
brows. The pleasant shade Of the
mighty forest trees and the cooling
breezes constantly waited through the
cave will be long remembered. The
image, cut i'm the solid rock, Of the
mighty chief who fell in battle near
the spot is "A marvel of aboriginal de-
sign and skillful execution.
Our readers have been before treated
to a complete description of the cave
anu to suiiouhuiftSr anu Wv VIII
therefore not describe them now
After dinner the time was employed
i'm various amusement. The stiffness
of tire forest was frequently broken by
a shout of derisiye laughter as some
member Of the company was discov-
cred to be the victim of misplaced con-
fidence, while the pleasant smile of
his successful opponent would be beau
tiful to contemplate.
Shortly before starting upon the re-
turn trip, by system Of mathematical
computation remarkable for its novel;
ty, one of the party demonstrated that
four times five is greater than three
times ten plus twice six. AS he fin
ished the demonstration, the crestfall-
Ell look of his adversary, who had
doubted the truth Of the assertion, ex-
cited the mirth of the entire company.
After supper the party started home,
perfectly satisfied with their days eX-
perience and determined at the first
opportunity to repeat the journey i'm
company with their sisters and their
cousins and their aunts"