Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-06-03

/ 49, b&A0b1 NAttANA VI NH1ttA sNANf EN#N'
to Congress, Col. House and Col
Bailey went out 20 the cave with |
party uf young lawyers for littl,
recreation. After sitting arounC
awhile. these two gents decide,
that they must have Il quiet littl'
game of "draw" and that 'twoulS
never do to try il before the young
er fry. Accordingly they proposed
to 60 in the cave, and have it out
So slipping slyly off when none wa
looking they entered the cave and
started for Independence Hall, thi.
being the spot decided upon by
both gentlemen, since both were
fond of the name and quality
On getting To the Bar Room, Col
House, who persisted in carrying
the matches and candles, knowing
from experience how careless Col,
Bailey Was, and that he would
probably lay them down and for
get them proposed that they stop
for a little refreshment and each
taking mild and harmless glass ol
ginger ale they proceeded to their
destination. Sticking the candle
in the rock they sat down near the
great boulder and were soon deeply
absorbed in the game. The gentle
men played on and on until the
candles suddenly went out, "Holy
Moses" cried Col. Bailey, "just in
full hand too, get out those
matches, House, and let's have Il
light, quick" Then as Col. House
seemed in high state of excite
ment and no light appeared, the
gallant Col. Bailey jumped up IN
great alarm and anXiously inquired
what was the matter, "By the
bones of the Prophet, Bailey, l
haven't got a single match, laid
the candles and matches on a shelf
in the Bar Room and forget them."
Sobs, here broke the voice of Col.
House, and imprecations and wall
ing came from another quarter
where Col. Bailey stood. Four
hours later when a party of the
young lawyers having missed their
leaders came in search of them,
they found the gentlemen clasped
in each others arms, their shirt
fronts deluged in tears, and these
two pools at their feet, teStifying to
the overflow of grief. All! Coils.
Coils. "When the cats away the
mice will play"
From independence Hall numer-
Gus smaller caves branch off, some
of which are of great beauty. One
of these is called Diamond GrOttO,
and upon entering, one is dazzled
and bewildered by its brilliant
splendor. Thousands of crystals
hang from its walls, and glitter like
gems of the purest ray. Long, slen-
der and eXquisitely graceful stalac-
tites seem swaying in the cavern
breeze, while tiny drop of water
hangs quivering upon the point of
each, and ever and anon falls with
a musical tinkle upon the rocky
floor. With uplifted eyes and part
ed lips we stand breathless in this
cavern, home, per-
chance, for elves and Culpies. Near
this grottO is another called very
the Egyptian Grotto, since
its roof and sides are covered with
the most beautiful stalactites, which
hang down i'm great clusters, very
like the bran ches of feathery palm
trees.
Ascending a ladder which stands
On one side of the grotto, near a
rocky ledge just under fairy cano-
Ply of lotus leaves, we see glints of
white shine now and then through
these as did the famous lilies of the
Nile in the rosy light of Cleopatra's $
pleasure barge, as it fioated at
through their starry splen-
dor. The entrance to this grotto is
30 deep and narrow, that it can on
Iy be entered feet foremost, but L
beg of ali to visit it, since there is
nothing like it, to my mind, else
where. Near this marvellous grotto,
5 spring, called Elephant Spring,
1ecailse the figure of a stone ele-
Dhant guards the entrance. The
'pring is thought very pretty, but
$ very difficult to approach. A
leads from this point to
minor cave, in which is round
lole under tine rock, in imitation of
he snow hut of an Esquimaux,
which has the added charms of rO-
nance. In the spring-time of Capt.
Jushman's life he had an afdire de
'Oea0', which castle in the air result
ID in smoke. The disappointment
vas 50 bitter that he decided to re-
ire from the vain pomps and van
ties of the world and chose this
pot as his retreat. Aiming him.
elf with couple of candlts and
The Sorrows of Werther" he re-
ired, and remained in seclusion for
hree days. His heart-broken
riends finally traced him to the
ave, and found him i'm his Indian
nut, minus, his candles, and one |
'oot top. Nothing so vulgar as food
lad crossed his mind upon entering,
nd he had been forced to dine upon
YAK and leather, in the interim.
they easily pursuaded him that
he world was worth living for, if
here was disappointment in it, and
le came out to its sunshine once
more. He Immediately went to
Iealing in provisions, however, and
las remained an interesting mi
ogimist ever since.
Next this cave is another, called
Dismal Cave, because our county |
retire there, to mediate
nd imprecate when defeated for
'ffice; and the last cave near this Is |
venture, so named because |