Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-12-27
SCHOOL IS IN A CAVE,
MOST NOVEL EDUCATIONAL AS,
SEM6LY PLACE.
Pupils Occupy seats in Q Room Ell.
cavated by Nature from solid
Limestone Cliff - Cool In Summer
and Warm in Winter.

A most novel building Is that on the
banks Of the Smoky Hill River, few
miles east Of Kanopolis, Ellsworth
County, Kan. 1t is known as the home
of the cliff jewellers, and richly de-
serves the name. 1t is huge cliff sixty
feet high, rising sheer from the bottom.
lands along the river, and few hum
dred feet from the banks Of the stream.
1t was the headquarters Of an old band
Of Indians, and the records Of the tribe
are cut deep in the face Of the wall,
still clear and sharp after long CEN
turtles of western wind and storm.
At the base Of the cliff are limestone
caves washed out by the waters Of
other days and enlarged by the people
Of this generation. Doors have been
fixed in the openings that lead to the
outer air, and, of course, all the light
comes from that direction.
The caves are used by the people for
various purposes, but the most inter.
estng Is that of holding the district
school. For this purpose has been Sc
lected a room II by II feet square and
with high ceilings. In one corner has
been fitted up the teachers desk, and
the maps and charts are fastened to the
wall. The rough rocks arch over the
whole and the pupils are surrounded
by walls that are cool and solid, while
their seats and desks are placed on the
earthen floor. The light comes from
the door, though there is at times a
necessity of lamp when the skies are
lowering. Day after day they study
and recite in the little school, secure
from the dangers Of storm or flood, for
the cyclone and lightning are not to be
feared in this secure retreat.
Adjoining the schoolroom Is another
room nearly as large, and the owner OF
the cliff finds it a pleasant place In
which to spend the summer nights. the
temperature being far below that OF
the outside air.
Then there Is a wonderful spring that
bubbles out of the earth little farther
in the caves, and the owner has fitted
up milkroom, where q stream OF pure
cold water flows all the time around
the crooks and pans and makes the pro-
duction of the cream profitable one.
1t is probably the finest milkhouse In
the State, and the supply Of GOODNESS Is
never lessened.
A huge brick fireplace has been built
in the schoolroom and makes the in.
terror CHEEKY in the dark days Of win.
ter. The great trees outside-oak, cot.
tonwood and box elder-hide the cliff
from the sun in spring and summer
and make 1t delightful resort.
The Faris brothers are owners OF the
claim on which is situated this remark.
able cave and cliff, and they have re-
fused large offers for it. Visitors come
from long distances to see the novel
formation, and there Is many picnic
in summer to the vicinity.
All around are wonders of the prairie
formation-huge umbrella rocks that
stand ND from the sod like great toad
stools; caverns wherein are vast riches
of rock salt, the mines being worked
now with small force and which are
likely ~ Dc VI SIcut So1uc SUNNY ~~J ,
rock cities where there may be seen all
the fashions of houses and castles fan
tastically worked out in enduring stone.
these and many more are found In the
vicinity. One college Of Kansas has an
entire room filed with curiosities from
this section. 1t includes models Of I'm.
plements supposed to have been LETT
when the Spaniards under Coronado
came up through Kansas and founded
the villages that were to be the begin
ming Of mighty nation. Indian YES
sells and relics Of the mound builders
are common, while petrlfacti0ns that
cannot be explained except upon the
assumption Of the very ancient occu.
patton Of the prairles by an intelligent
race are in the collection. 1t is rich
region for the antiquarian, MS well AZ
for the searcher for the odd and un.
usual