The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-09-12

population of Paris could hide itself
beneath the city.
To build the city we know so we'll
to-day past G Aerations delved and dug
beneath it for the coveted stone. What
then We're quarries have now become
caves, portions of which have been
converted into catacOmhs AMI contain
the bones of the dead, while others are
used for the very mundane purpose of
growing mushrooms. The mushroom
is a comestible particularly favored
by the French. Wagon loads from
nsar and far find their way into the
central markets of the city every day
in the year, and the annual consume
ton by the Parisians of this vegetable
represent value Of over $1,25OO0O.
Both beneath the city itself and out
side it, these. strange mushroom caves
extend for miles in all directions; and
in them hundreds of men, who often
never see daylight from morn till eve,
pass their lives in cultivating the
mushroom.
Il was told that should find these
"under-boulevards" of the great city
well worthy of visit, and accepted
the offer of an influential friend to OBJ
tain permission for myself and d photo
grapher to descend into the bowels of
the earth and learn something of the
art of underground mushroom grow
ing. We departed one fine morning.
the photographer and I, for Nalakoff
on the outskirts Of Paris We found
the mushroom farmer en- his farm
awaiting us--a well-built, bluff. hearty
specimen of French "termier," NJ.
Burvingt by name. l looked around
for signs Of caves, but failed to find
them, nor did | see any hills in the
neighborhood under which they might
be- In answer to a question | was in
formed that they were just is metres
under our feet.
This shaft leads right into them"
said the farmer, indicating covered
circular hole In the ground had not
hitherto noticed. He pulled the boards
away, and looked down, shudderiny,
for looked only into fathomless dark
hess. How we Were to get down puz-
zled me; how the Photographic appara-
tus was going to fare worried the pho
togranher, and we were both immense
ly relieved to learn that this shaft was
not the entrance, but only the place
where they pitched the manure down.
l still had hopes of gaining entrance
other than by descending shaft-a
gentle slope or something of that scrt
was what l wanted-and l felt con.
WINGED that this would be the case
when our guide said ave had rather
long walk before us. 1t proved a 60
three-quarters of al hours Journey.
over fields and down country lanes.
ere he stopped suddenly before a small
square fence and told us we had reach
ed our destination. And we had been
following the line of one Of the UNDER
ground passages all the time
Opening a gate, the farmer revealed
a shaft; my hopes were scattered TO
the winds. had never done any lad
der-climbing, and really did not fancy
the feat of ''monkeying" down a pole,
the rungs or which We're just short iron
bars inserted, none too near one an
other, on either side, AMI which SWAY
ed to and fro like a bough in the wind.
Il can't see the bottom said the
photographer. somewhat ruefully.
For my part that did not matter so
much, ! was only anxious not to feel
it too suddenly, for there was nothing
10 break drop OF 10 feet, unless hit
ting against the sides as one fell might
be regarded as breaking 1t The first
difficulty was to get the Photographic
apparatus below. Camerastand. and
fash lamps We're packed into basket
which was hooked ON to a rope, and
away it sped, but quick as the roma
went through the hands of the Cham.
pignonniste the camera-stand was