Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-11

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The perfume of incense and the odor
Of the burning oil were heavy and
nckening. For few minutes il
seemed as though l would suffocate,
but gradually l became accustomed to
the pungency, and the sense of Ian.
guor produced by the heavy perfumes
was not unpleasant.
| If this was place of worship, the
choice of gods was liberal indeed.
Upon raised dais Of marble there
was n great Chinese god, or Joss,
made of precious woods inlaid in
blocks. This idol was hollow, and
within his capacious stomach there
burned a lamp. For eyes, he had
windows of amethyst, which were so
lighted by the internal lamp as to be
very brilliant.
The mouth of this idol was open as
if to devour, and his teeth were pre-.
cious stones. Rubies, emeralds,
diamonds and sapphires were sci
around the ugly mouth in tooth-like
order.
A tongue of coral, upon which the
light of the lamp reelected strongly
threw myriads of bright rays of color
from the gems that surrounded it.
The nails of this idol were OF pol
ished mica He was in a crouchino
position, with arms extended, as if tc
receive an Offering. Around his neck
hung priceless necklace of dia'
monds.
70 one side of the temple, in an al
cove, hinge dragon, with eyes and
tongue ahame, glared at me as at an
intruder This dragon was made of
polished stone, with wings of beaten
Drass The tail and claws were like.
wise of brass.
On the side of the large idol, oppo.
site the dragon, was huge and hide
ous Buddha.
Here, then, was choice enough OF
| .eligions. Here could come the
| Buddhist and learn his artificial wor.
! ship from his god, who stood in the
position as if teaching multitude
Lhe Taoist could come, and his JOY
could not be surpassed. His idol was
the richest, the uglest, the largest
ConfucianiSm is not represented by
idols or images, but the Philosophy OF
Light, as t is called, may easily be
,liscetned in the magnificent gardens
outside the temples.
All these things | was not long il
ldmiring But in short time / was
almost Taoist Tor the sight that
made my heart beat faster and sent
The hope of life into my brain was Il
huge dish Of solid gold set before the
great idol, containing cooked rice.
Profane the sanctity of the heath
ems temples though [ should, here
were life and sustenance for a time at
least. Across the top Of the dish were
golden chopsticks.
/ ate my fill.
Then made profound bow to the
ROWING idol who had so considerably
come to my timely relief, and shared
with me the offerings of his worship
ers.
Revived sustained by the meal l
had eaten, | became new man. was
now ready for further adventures, and
eager to continue the exploration OF
the submarine palace | had so miracu.
lously discovered.
From what seemed to be tho rear OF
the temple, another arch, hung like
The first with rich curtains, led into
large room carpeted with velvet.
There was but little furniture in the
room. 1t seemed like an antechamber
to the temple Across this room still
another arch could he seen, and,
pushing the curtains in this to one
side, ! passed through it.
If had been surprised before was
dumfounded now. This inner room
was not large-not more than thirty
feet sguare-but fortunes hung upon
its walls. There were panels of gold
and other panels of silver. Between
them the walls were covered with in.
laid precious wood, studded with
choicest gems. No rock could be
seen. Heavy Turkish rugs covered
the floor. Richly upholstered chairs,
diyans and ottomans were scattered
about. A golden lamp, in which
burned the perfumed oil, was sus
pended from the ceiling which
was covered with silk, draped and fes
tooned. 1t was place enchanted.
saw no exit from this room save
the arch through which I had come.
On one side of the chamber in an al
cove, nearly hidden by swinging
panel of etched bronze, found bed.
1T was undisturbed. There were
pipes and tobacco lying upon small
table.
/ had evidently seen everything in
the rock palace.
"But where" asked myself, "were
the human inhabitants of this magnifi'
cent palace? We're they absent OF
were they in hiding, and perhaps
watching me from their place of con-
eealment?"
I closely inspected this last discvv-
cred room, but found nothing to indi.
cate that any person had been there
recently. And yet it was unmistaka'
bly, the abiding place of some one of
vast wealth, ecoentricity and luxuri-
Gus tastes.
1 had become accustomed to the
Jtrangeness of the place.
My condition was so much improved
over the predinament I had been in,
that I was disposed to accept the situa-
kio1. of laoct tnrtupota' T wonlI