Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-09-21
A VISIT TO MAMMOTH CAVE.

geysers of the Yellowstone, the Grand
Canons of Colorado, or the beauties
and wonders Of Yosemite, natural
curiosities of our country of which
volumes have been written and put
in print. But rarely noted-an OBJ
servation on the mysteries of Mann
moth Cave, which is sll its name i'm
plies; immense, one of the wonders
OF creation. A desire formed in youth
to visit and explore this hidden curl
osity induced the writer by an extra
effort to join a party of ladies and
gentlemen who had made special
arrangements to that purpose. There
is only one entrance which is con-
trolled by a syndicate. Iron barred
gates have been provided and are
kept securely locked and only at
certain hours in the day are parties
admitted, accompanied by trusty
guide. A descent of the granite steps
is made and through the entrance,
when each gentleman is provided with
an oil lantern. Forming by twos, the
guide in the lead, the move is down
Broadway, the principal avenue, that
varies in width from twenty to two
hundred feet; it's height was obscured
in the darkness. The grade was a
gentle descent on a smooth, firm
pathway. Except for the faint glim-
/ IF Inht hn To-
tramp was in total darkness. Our
first halt was on entering "The Starry
Chamber" where seated on benches,
we are treated to a sight full of
| grandeur, view of a real "starry
fimament," an azure colored dome
studded with numberless glistening
stars as beautiful as seen in the
heavenly orb; stalactites imbedded
on the ceiling of the apartment-no
doubt centuries were consumed in
their formation.
The next attraction was the "Bridal
Altar" consisting of FIVE colun ns,
nearly equidistant, circular ia form,
from one to two feet in diameter and
several feet in height, stalagmites
that CLEAN like polished ivory and are
marvelously beautiful. Two couples
we're here united in the bonds of mat
rimony. The brides had declared they
would not marry any man on the face
of the earth, but like many another
were victims of Cupid's dart, but true
to the traditions of their sex they
would not retract and their betrothals
were on condition that the ceremony
be performed at this place. A fine
spring of water clear as crystal, gush-
| ing from fissure in a ridge of rock is
encountered and gladly partaken of
by the party who from the long ira mp
had become exceedingly thirsty. We
are ushered into an immense apart
ment "The Auditorium of States"
several piles of rocks representing all
the states, collected by visitors on
which they had deposited some
matter of record. The writer con-
tributed to Vermonl's pile the last
letter received from (his best glrD
"that he who runs may read"
Broadway runs in nearly direct
course, but many attractions are
located in galleries or avenues that
are reached by ascending or descend
ing on stairs and often through mar
row passage ways STOPPING posture
was necessary, where broad, high
walled apartments would be entered.
In one of these byways is "Jacob's
Well" with its almost perfect curb,
from circular formed rock some
three feet in height and about the
same in diameter with an opening
sufficient to receive a good sized
bucket. Pebbles dropped into it in
dictate it is of great depth. Returning
to Broadway the terminal point in our
route is reached, the party having
walked more than ten miles. Here
seated on benches, while orr guide
having relieved US of our lanterns and
bidding the party to watch for SUM-
rise Immediately disappeared, we are
left in total darkness. A bridal couple
is of the party. The bride looked tidy
and dapper attired in hobby navy
blue bloomer suit, that fitted her trim
figure to perfection, while the groom
wore stuuning brown golf suit. He
realized that this was an opportune
moment to steal a kiss from the ruby
lips of his bride. But the stiffness
was easily disturbed and the echo like
a small earthquake broke the silence.
The ruse was greeted by an outburst
of laughter, and it seemed the bushes
that frightened the cheeks of the
fair recipient were plainly visible.
From mountain peak many have
witnessed and been enraptured with
the beauties and prandeur of q eunriso