The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-05-09
PUzzL|NC ECHOES.
The Riddle of the Gardens OF Aux
R0cherS In France.
MYSTICAL TRICKS OF SOUND.
A Spot Where an Almost insudibls
Whisper Becomes curiousIy Trans
formed Into Thousands Of Kissing
Responses-Other Famous Echoes.


elciting 30 much and such puzzled at
tention. One OF these ghostly tricks
OF sound Is 10 be found I'm the gardens
of Aux Rochers In France, which
was once the residence OF Nine. de
| Sevigne. The chateau il situated near
the old town OF Wire. A broad gravel
walk on dead level conducts through
the gardens TO the house. In the cen
ter OF this. on particular spot, the
listener Is placed at the distance OF
ten or twelve yards from another per
son, who addresses him In a low and
almost inaudible whisper, when imme-
diately, as from tens OF thousands OF
invisible tongues, starting from the
earth beneath. or as II every pebble
was gifted with powers OF speech, the
words are repeated with slight hiss
ing sound. not unlike the whlrling or
small shot through the air. On remov-
ing from this spot. however trihing
the distance. the intensity Of the repeti-
ton is sensbly diminished and within
a few feet ceases to be heard. Under
the impression that the ground beneath
was hollow the soil was recently dag
up TO a considerable depth, but with
out discovering any clew to the mys-
terry.
Although the weird echoes OF statu-
ary hall In the capitol at Washington
have been somewhat subdued since the
structural notifications Of the roof,
they still haunt the chamber which
was once the house OF representatives.
The capitol guides used to take great
pride I'm the mysterious echoes OF stat
uary hall, and they deplore their par
tial elimination II Will be recalled
by many that there Is n flagstone In
the floor Of the hall marked by n small
black hole about as large as an um-
brella end, on which. II person stood
and uttered a word, he heard repeti-
tlon OF his voice proceeding apparently
from the basement of the building just
below him. An appreclable interval
elapsed between the utterance Of the
sound and It's echo, circumstance
that rendered the effect almost un-
canny. TO laugh was TO prove mock
ing reJolnder. and many persons, say
the guides. were persuaded that n trick
was being played on them. The same
effect was noticeable on that part or
the floor adjacent to the fiagstone men
toned. but the farther away from the
latter the less distinct became the
not perceptible ut all
Some of the most curious and beau
tiful echoes I'm the world are TO be
heard I'm the Luray caverns. which are
only few hours journey from Wash
ington. Numerous OF the huge stalag-
mites here. when only gently struck,
give forth tones that I'm some instances
resemble the Ginning Of great. sweet
toned bells or long melodic note like
that of church organ famous vlo-
linist IL said. when visiting Washington,
to have journeyed TO Lurny In order To
test the effect Of the playing Of his in
strument amid the singular acoustic
surroundings. The tones of the violin
are described as having been wonder
fully enhanced both In sweetness and
I'm volume.
Among the wonderful rock forma
tions of the fhr west, notably I'm the
Grand Canyon OF the Colorado, are said
To Turk many marvellous echoes. The
same IL true OF the great Niagara
gorge, and. though few are aware OF
the fact. II is said that any one jour
neying TO the falls and taking In the
gorge--a suSerb piece OF natural seen
cry I'm itsef-will be well rewarded
by stopping at Inspiration Point, walk.
ing forward TO the edge of the clif
and here waiting until the FIRST train.
on nearing the level crossing. blows
its whistle The sound is caught up 10y
multitudinous echoes until one would
fancy that II was resounding through
the universe -
One OF the most famous echoes is TO
be heard In Woodstock park. Oxford
shire. England. which Is said TO re
peat seventeen syllables 10y day and
twenty by night Although this state.
ment Is TO be found i'm various stand
ard textbooks and treatlses on the
subject. Il has lately been contradict
ed by an Investigator, who remarks.
however, that the diminution Of this
classic echo IL probably due to the re-
moval OF various buildings In Its neigh
borhood
A most striking interior echo Is n
feature OF the Mormon tabernacle in
Salt Lake City When this hall il
empty and quiet the ring Of n pin fall.
ing on the floor can be heard from all
points. and even the faint. rasping
sound produced by rubbing the hands
together is perfectly audible from one
end of the building to the other
In the cathedral or Girgenu. In Sic.
lily. the slightest whisper Is horne with
perfect dlstinctness from the region ~
the great door TO n location I'm the M.
per part OF the church about 250 feet
distant
Although acoustics would seem tc
account satisfactorily for many echoes.
there yet remains much that Is mys
terious and battling concerning them 70
r. V. Collins In Chicago Record Her
aid.