New-York tribune., 1909-08-22

wherefore tho Virgin Mary gave him her hand In
marriage: in tbs rod OF Aaron. which, whom laid
UP among others In the tabernacle, brought forth
buds and hloomed blossoms and yielded almonds. 20
There many Caves Of Venus IN Europe. but
mono around which there clusters such a wealth Of
legend around the grotto IN tho HorssiherY.
Ninetoen years ago the writer visited the scene
and explored the cave He found II decidedly
commonplace hole In tho ground. but richly
rewarded by tho results OF tho literary explora-
tons to which the visit led him. Before Christian
ity came to reconstruct the folk tales Of the Thur
ingian peasants the Horselberg the home
Of DAme Holda. HOLE. and the horde OF
weird creatures which used to 60 tearing through
tbs German forests on = Wild rout In the Yustids
Dsme Holls. like many another character in Teu-
tonic mythology. WAS benienant creature whose
blessing brought forth fr1itfulness TO fields and
vineyards before the Christian priests mssAmor-
phosed her into thing wholly OF evil She was
the mother OF al! tho fays and fairies follow
In the train of the Wild Huntsman, and though she
appeared At tn1es seductive siren and tempted
men TO thoir destruction. she appeared ofteaer A.
An old woman who rewarded acts of kindness with
endless generosity. II WAS she who had tn keep
ins the souls OF unborn children and babss who
died before they could be christened were carried
by her to the Jordan and baptized In tn waters
Even after pr!estly sermons had transformed her
into beauteous she-ievtl she still kept up her
residence IN the cave. which now In turn took on
new character VentUresome persons who got
near us mouth. either purposely by accident,
told Of strange noises which issued from H. like tho
rushins OF many waters or the voice OF a subter-
ranean storm. The priests supplied explanation
and etymology to fit the new state OF things, Tho
noise WAS the lamentstion OF souls In tho nr,s OF
purgatory. TO which place OF torment the cave was
an opening. This was said TO account for the old
German mans OF the mountain-"fi0r- Seel- Berg
that is "Hear-Souls- Mountain To this Latin writ
ers added another. viz. Mons Electromagnetic
No OrpI IpU
pearancs Of the exterior-in which some fantastic
writers avo"ed they saw resemblance TO a cofin
was no check on the fancy of the medieval story
teller. however. who pictured tho interior of the
mountain as a marvellous palace and filed II With
siittering jewels and treasures incalcuIablc. The
story Of Tannhausers sojourn within this magical
Is only OF many. nor do they all end
like that of the minstrel knight. Undsterred by
the awful tales told by monks and priests. poets
and romancers sang the slories and the pleasures
Of tha cave as well as Its grewsome punishments.
From them We know many things concerning the
appearance Of the interior. the caves inhabitants
and their merrymakngs I cannot resist the temp
tation TO retell one OF these old tales.
Adelbert. knight of Thurlngia. was one OF those
who experienced the delights OF the Cave OF Venus
yet. unlike Tannhauser in the original legend,
saved at the last. He met Faithful Eckhart at the
but enhancing music sounded within and he was
powerless to resist. He entered. Three maidens
came forward TO meet him. They a5ily clad
flowers were twisted in their brown locks And they
waved branches before them as they smiled and
beckoned and sang song of springs awakening
What could Sir Adelbert do but follow when they
glanced coyly over their white shoulders and led
the way through a narrow passage into a garden
surrounded with bushes In bloom and filed
with golden haired madens. Iovelier than tha
flowers. who wandered about hand in hand and
sang with sirens voices? In the middle of tho
rose hedsed garden stood a red gate, which bore
in bold letters this legend: