Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-06-27
GENERAL.
The Great Cavcrns of Lurny.

Concluded from hrSt page last week.
feet, with its bcwildering and glittering
array of translucent pendants which
characterize the ceiling of the Ball
Room, Campbell's Hall and others, the
surface here Is Il mosaic of rich patches
of formations like seaweed and coral, i'll
varied hucs, from rich seal brown and
deep salmon to the most delicate tint of
rose.
These formations appearing at close
intervals are maSSed i'll brilliant mosaic
by great waves OF frothy white and
cream, like the foam of the ocean tossed
and whirled by the waves. SurmOunt-
ing all the rich ornamcutatiun that bids
defiance to the work of Art, are exquisite
fiutings of the richest and most delicate
order. i'll pearlv white and cream.
Under the brilliant rays of the electric
light, the effect of this rich blending of
color is far grander than that of the
most magnificent sunset the upper earth
has ever known.
These "Senate Halls of Nature can
be compared to no work of man $ hand.
The finest accomplishment of Art would
be mute and batfled mimicry i'll the
review of such intricate and gorgeous
OrnamentatlOn.
sented in these newly discovered cham
bers as i'll heretofore explored portions
of the Caverns.
In strange defiance to the laws of Ma
ture and Geography, from the side of
one of the domes found here pours the
cataract of Niagara and only Il few feet
distant is the Yosemite represented.
with its three equidistant leaps in
snowy crystals.
The Golden Apples of HeSperides'
are wonderfully presented and give va
riety to the richness OF this wonderful
cabinet of Nature.
A formation of striking dStinctncss
and beauty thrown out upon dark
background, is Il tall, white figure,
standing Immediately over the smaller
ones. This is supposed to sustain the
character of the "Guardian Angel"
Columns grand and beautiful, and
pieces representing statnary, both i'll
bronze and marble, are abundautly i'll
terSpersed through this new section,
which is also especially rich in the
multitude, size and magnlficence of its
voluminouS draperies, which enclose the
entire section on either side. In many
of these the waving etfec: instead of the
perpendicular fall. is strikingly dis
tinguishable.
These new discoveries are equal to
anything yet known in the Luray Cav
erns.
The Labyrinth of Perseus' is also
tangibly manifested with the figure of
"Ariadne" standing near its entrance i'll
the supposed possession of the guiding
"Thread."
The figure of the "Petritied Forest"
is well sustained III il collection of stall
agmites resembling stunted growth.
This is in many places broken distinct
ly showing the successive rings and
grain of wood i'll the miniature trees.
This forest extends into the Lady
rinth of Perseus." Tiny white forms
adjacent are supposed to represent the
Babes in the Wood" fixed in stony
and unrelieved terror.
CONCLUSION.
1t is a task of recognized difficulty to
describe the indescribable. This diff
Guilty is enhanced, if possible, in the case
of cave scenery by the fact that the i'm
pressions it leaves upon the mind of the
bchOlder differ not So much III degree as
i'll kind from those of past experience.
A new order of sensations, ideas and
emotions demand, of course, ii new vo-
cabulary. No straining or expansion of
a terminology derived from the upper
world will enable it to describe adequate
ly the wonderful phcH0mrnd presented
in this realm of StdIdctd. The visitor
who attempts description mus; be con-
tent, therefore, with seeking to impart
enthusiasm without hoping to trace
fully its causes. This only will remain
clearly understood the felicity of hav-
ing experienced sensation altogether
novel.
The Persian monarch'S desire-a new
pleasure-is secured at length to the
world in the Caverns of Luray.