The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-05-02
PUzZL|NG ECHOES.
The Riddle of the Gardens of Aux
RocherS In France.
MYSTICAL TRICKS OF SOUND.
a Spot Where an Almost lnaudibie
Whisper Becomes Curiously Trans
formed into thousands Of Kissing
Responsibilities Famous Echoes.

formed into thousands OF Kissing
Responsibilities Famous Echoes.
Some echoes in their mystic charac-
ter would seem to approach the do
main of psychic phenomena, which are
eliciting so much and such puzzled at
tention. One of these ghostly tricks
of sound Is to be found In the gardens
of AUX Rochers in France, which
was once the residence of Nine. de
Sevigne. The chateau is situated near
the old town of Wire. A broad gravel
walk on a dead level conducts through
the gardens to the house. In the CEN
ter Of this, on q 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 If every pebble
was gifted with powers of speech, the
words are repeated with a slight hiss
ing sound, not unlike the whirling of
L.
Ing from this spot, however trifing
the distance, the intensity of the repeti
ton is sensibly diminished and within
a few feet ceases to be heard. Under
the impression that the ground beneath
was hollow the soil was recently dug
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 in the mysterious echoes Of stat
uary hall, and they deplore their par
tial elimination. 1t will be recalled
by many that there is a fiagstone in
the floor of the hall marked by a small
black hole about as large as an um-
brella end, on which, If person stood
and uttered word, he heard a repeti-
tion of his voice proceeding apparently
below him. An appreciable interval
elapsed between the utterance of the
sound and its echo, a circumstance
that rendered the effect almost un-
canny. To laugh was to prove a mock
ing rejoinder, and many persons, say
the guides, were persuaded that trick
was being played on them. The same
effect was noticeable on that part Of
the floor adjacent to the flagstone men
toned but the farther away from the
latter the less distinct became the
echo until, at a certain distance, it was
not perceptible at all.
Some of the most curious and beau
tiful echoes in the world are to be
heard in 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 In some instances
resemble the Ginning Of great, sweet
toned bells or a long melodic note like
that of church organ famous vio-
inist Is said, when visiting Washington,
to have journeyed to Luray 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
in volume.
Among the wonderful rock forma-
tions of the far west, notably in the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, are said
to lurk many marvellous echoes. The
same is true of the great Niagara
gorge, and, though few are aware of
the fact, 1t is said that any one jour-
neying to the falls and taking In the
gorge-a superb piece OF natural seen
cry in itself-will be well rewarded
by stopping at Inspiration Point, walk
ing forward to the edge of the cliff
and here waiting until the first train,
on nearing the level crossing blows
its whistle. The sound is caught up by
multitudinous echoes until one would
fancy that 1t was resounding through
the universe.
One Of the most famous echoes Is to
be heard In Woodstock park Oxford
Snlre, England, which is said TO re-
peat seventeen syllables by day and
twenty by night. Although this state
ment is to be found in various stand
ard textbooks and treatises on the
subject, it has lately been contradict
ed by an investigator, who remarks,
however, that the diminuton Of this
classic echo Is probably due to the re-
moval Of various buildings In its neigh
borhood
A most striking interior echo is
feature Of the Mormon tabernacle in
Salt Lake City. When this hall Ia
empty and quiet the ring of 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