The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-25

and the variety IL great Pillared Palace
- one of the most beautiful places in this
passage. Here ceiling. cornice and shelves
arc frinaed with stalactites and frosted
with O never ending medley of strange,
crooked. writing. twisted. unsymmetrical
sprigs OF white limestone pushed out or
eolid rock. Zach of the dozens of cham
bers and halls vie with each other in the
myriads OF crystal gems which sparkle In
the light Admlring the beauty and deli
cacy or gypsum rosettes one passes n long
gallery where the sound of q faint whisper
may be heard for hundreds of feet sees tho
millions of crystalizations glittering like
diamonds In CallioDe's bower, admlres the
deep grottos In purgatory. where OCCASION
ally bat fans above the pilgrims head,
passes on thrOug h many other places of equal
interest until tue throne is reached, which
10 one OF the most remarkable places In the
cave. Ii is unique beautiful and petite.
as II for the Queen of fairyland. Frlnged
draperies hang all round. supported by I'm.
duIeting cornice work, while near by roy
atty offers pare water in a DROPPED basin.
There are several other branches near thiG
place. all con- tanning many points of inter-
est. but the most attractive place Is the
large Hall of Representatives on the
branch which winds round the continent
until 1t enters tie part already visited.
This room looks larger than the great
Auditorium at Chicago, and has rocks
piled mp like seats along It's slanting floor.
FAT MANS MISERY.
On reaching the head OF the continent
there is q small passage called the Cut OF,
which leads to the main entrance near Fat
Mans Misery. Hundreds of women as well
as men have interested themselves in draw
Ing themselves through this place. Or the
several other passages only q faint idea
can be gwen. The most important one
explored is the Old Cave route, into which
one ascends through Banditti Hall by
in isla Ont of t more than a score
OF rooms and long. winding passages
only two of the most Important
can be mentioned here. One of these. Just
beyond Luoifers Gorge. with It's deep.
overhanging sides. is Oddfellows' Hall.
which is 300 feet long. 100 feet wide and 80
feet high. with walls smooth as to give
them the appearance of fancy masonry. lie
10 imposing, massive and grand. On the
walls Is the phan tom ship. with sails spread
for an unknown realm. The smooth, clip
tical crown of the dome Is bordered with
heavy molding ten feet deep. Just be-
yoDd the rocks are worn smooth
sS shess who tho a nays sat doT Sa
scene when illumined. The scenery
beyond is as wild. varied and grand as
could be imagined. Passing through Jobs
Hole. down into depths which look as If
they might be Pluto's wild domain. and
then climbing up sleeps to the summit of
some lofty cliff. and then down TO bewild-
ering darkness again. until over a mile be-
yOnd the weary but delighted pilgrim
stands. spell bon nd. Just within the en-
trance of the Senate Ok amber. where rises
q mountain of considerable height, upon
the tor of which stands. LIKE a column sup
porting the ceiling, vast stalsgmite like
an immense spectral iceberg seventy
i've feet In circumference and
thirty-fve feet high. futed ana
carved in manner that would
put to shame the most extravagant archi-
lecture of Rone's most haicyon days. It 10
the pillar of the Constitution, looking as If
it had risen from the foaming waves Of the
ocean. Grand and appalling at first, With
the illumination of the red light the CELL
ing above. with its long fringes of stslao-
titles. comes TO view, underneath which the
great pillar is seen in all Its grandeur and
beauty. The mountain supporting the PHI
lar of the Constitution has been called the
Mountain OF the People. and it 10 not
strange that so near to the Pillar of the
Constitution should be found hanging
from the wall the old Liberty Bell which
may be rung with the touch of q stone.
After viewing this gu blime spectacle which
recalls many pleassns historical recollec-
ti0ns. and then reading the pencil inscrip-
tIons upon the monument In Pluto's ravlne
just bey ond, many Of which were written
sixty years ago, one returns with deep med
ltations and pleasabs memories to emerge
from this underground exposition to view
the scenery of the surrounding hills which
lie almost as wild and romantic it was
when none but the red man knew it.
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