The Portland daily press., 1883-08-10

column. All the chambers and most of the
objects in the caverns have been named,
and generally from their resemblance to
natural or artificial objects From the yes
tibule we enter long, narrow passage called
the Vegetable Garden, from its display Of
vegetable forms, very good limitations of po-
tatoes, carrots and the like. We then enter
the theatre, a great audience hall, and thence
to the fish market. Here hang along the
walls as II for sale, but perfectly sweet in
this constant temperature, varieties of fish,
almost perfectly formed even to the white
bellies and the wiggle in the tail; one can
identify the shad, the bass, the perch, the
mackerel, and the illusion is perfected by the
trickIing moisture, which gives a Shiny, fshy
look to the objects. There is the Elfin Ram
BILE, fantastically ornamented, 600 feet long
and 300 in breadth, and beyond that Pluto's
Chasm, rift 500 feet long, 10 broad and 20
deep, dive into subterranean gloom.
From this point wonders open on every side.
In the distance is seen suspended in air,
projected on the darkness, white spectre.
We pass on to miniature lake, where the
formation of crystals is still going on, TO the
Bridal Chamber, with its delicately veiled
stalactites and staagmites, ard its long
trailing arms of alabaster; to the Giants
Hall, with columns of Egyptian massiveness
and sculpturings of Grecian fineness. And
we here pass near other obJects-Dianas
Bath, Titania's Veil and the Saracen's Tent,
the latter a perfect representation of the
folds of conical tent, with the curtains
drawn aside in front. Elsewhere is throne
with hanging canopy. These objects re-
quire no aid of the Imagination to make
them out. Some of the most striking effects
are of hanging shawls, scarfs and lambre-
quins, in graceful folds, and some of them
with borders striped in colors. Illumined
by placing candles behind them the illusion
is beautiful.
One of the great sights is the Cathedral,
vast, lofty apartment with gigantic columns
and profuse roof ornamentation. At one
end is the stone organ, with its row of regu-
lar of pipes. When these are struck they
produce musical notes. Striking them in
irregular succession with a stick, the guide
plays "Days of Absence" without missing a
note and lively quickstep with only the
loss Of note or two. There are elsewhere
hollow, resounding shafts and thin, upright
masses of alabaster which sound like drums
when struck. In one place is a vast fallen
column, so feet long and IA feet thick. 1t
once hung suspended with its great compan-
ions, and the place in the roof whence it
broke off is still visible 1t has lain pros
trate so many ages that stalagmite column
has slowly grown up from the dip on one
end of IT, Dropping near it is an angles
wing of alabaster whiteness, 10 feet high and
Z broad, tapering like wing, and finished
on the surface with feather-like sculpture.
Everywhere one sees masses of gigantic,
glittering columns, the tower OF Babel, the
leaning tower of Pisa, the Sultana, and
double column, frozen cascade, and
hundred wonders. There is a very good
imitation of an elephants head and trunk,
al. L.. l. \ e
dropping lip. Through the hollow column
it is said an ascent can be made to a cham
Der go feet above. Near this the eye is ar
rested by the retreating form of an alabaster
lady, in party toilette. Her head is hid by
the jamb of the doorway, but, says truly a
visitor, the rounded shoulders, delicate
arms, sbapely waist, and long flowing skirt
and train. profusely ornamented, are all
there. 1t has been named Cinderella
Leaving the Ball." Beyond this, by the
way of the Bridge of Signs, one comes to
Skeleton Gulch. At the bottom of this, in
narrow trench, are several human bones
more or less .imbedded in the calcareous
drip. l made out clearly an arm bone.
From the amount of drip over these bones
they have probably lain here 200 years. No
body knows who left the skeleton here or
his object in leaving it here, but the notion
gains ground that these are the bones of
CudEdCtel iHuCn nSdIu Vi Siuce the war, q lVs
sill politician.
One of the minor curiosities in the floor of
one of the chambers is birds nest contain
ing three small white birds eggs, pebbles
rounded by the action of water. The guide,
who is man of truth, swore that nest and
eggs were found exactly as we saw them.
When he asked me if L did not believe it,
told him that 1 believed anything he said
as was underground with him and ne was
the only man present who knew the way
out.
understood the guide to say that the low
est point we descended in the cave is 260 feet
below the entrance. | have nothing more to
say of it except that believe it is the most
highly ornamented, fantastic, bewilderingly
beautiful piece of work known to man that
nature has anywhere executed unaided.
But then we know very little more about the
earth beneath us than about heaven above.