The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-08-05


and many of the wooden pipes are
still intact. A little farther along
is the spacious hall known as the
Methodist Church because Of the
services held here for the nitrate
miners by itinerant preacmTs. A
short distance farther and we turn
OFF TO the right through Booth The
alter up fight OF stairs and enter
Gothic avenue. at the end OF Gothic
avenue do not fail to tell the guide
to take you down the winding path
to the spring This part OF the trIpl
is optional and If the party be large
the guide Is inclined to omit IT, but
it'is one Of the most beautiful parts
Broadway we turn toward the Star
Chamber and follow deeper into flel
cave. On our way we pass the ruins
Of some huts which in 1S43 were
kbuilt to house q colony of consump.
tiyes who by medical advice took
up their abode within the cave, be-
| lieving that the uniform temper
ature of about Sc degrees would be
beneficial. Continuing beyond the
huts, we enter Star Chamber, one OF
the show spots Of the cave. The
party is seated on long benches and
far overhead bright crystalline stars
Of magnesium sulphate against.
black sky OF manganese diOxide are
shown by reflection OF the guides
lamp. All lights are then extln.
guished and the party is left to ap
| preciate the sensation of absolute
blackness such as never exists above
ground. II every one remains per
fectly quiet as the guide directs the
silence Is so complete as to be felt.
In the words of one of the guides.
II is possible to hear your
thoughts. Dawn, as portrayed by
some OF the guides. with the gradual
returning of the liCht and the MIN
lcry OF the awakening farm animals
is one Of the best scenes ever staged
On our return from the Star Cham
Der we stop in Broadway and are
seated on some benches while the
guide goes forward around bend in
the rocks where he ignites a strong
magnesium lirht which so shines
through the outlines Of the walls as
to produce a beautiful white statue
Of Martha Washington. As We near
| the entrance we branch to the left
for a short trip into Audubon avenue
to visit ne great underground ban
quet hal. Beyond this hall Audubon
avenue extends some distance and
the guide will probably tell us that
in that direction lie the mushroom
beds where the cultivation OF mush.
rooms was once attempted. The trip
to them is entirely optional with
the party. Let us. be sure we inform
him we wish to visit them for.
while they are of little interest in
themselves. very short and easy
walk beyond them brings us to
Olives Bower, Were is seen a large
and grow ne stalactite OF remark
| abe beauty A short walk to the
entrance brings us back to the out
OF doors in f. ON two and half to
three hours
Route is perhaps less often taken
than the others The route is GOV
cred at every morning and every
afternoon if any tourist desires &c
route follows straight through the
main cave to its end, a distance Of
about three miles. After passing
the Star Chamber the guide begins
calling attention to points of in
terest along the way. Our road is
broad and high, but in some places
'h9 path is steep. We are in the
higher levels OF the cave and no
where at any great distance below
the surface Among the principal at
fractions on this trip are the cata
racts, Chief City (the largest cham
bcr within the cave, 40 feet long,
200 feet wide and 1875 high, and
Ultima Thule formerly the end of
the known part of the caye.) Be
yond Ultima Thule is the New Dis
covery. Bishops Pit Is not so deep
as some of the pits visited on Route
|, but its rugged surroundings, Its
small diameter and its well-like ap
pearance make it seem the deepest
of pits. From Bishops Pit 1t is but
few rods to sthe Grand Portal,
through which We entered Violet City
the end of the main case. Violet
City is the objective point on the
trip and a steep climb to the top
brings us to a wonderful display e