The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1939-09-14

through
Hazel
Eyes

Carlsbad, New Mexico, Sept. II,
1939-After visiting Carlsbad Cavern
located thirty miles south Of thiT
place, 1t is easy to imagine that one
has been visiting in another world
a curious maze Of fairies and COB
Inns, paradise and torture chambers
Ia world where human beings count
for naught.
Imagine, III you can, walking six
miles along winding rock-bound paths
down into the earth to a depth of
nearly 300 feet. Vision literally bill
lions of rock formations, ~delicately
formed filigrees of lacy texture in
snowy white and shell pink, giant
stalagmites growing out of the earth
at large as 100000 tons In one for
nation, indescribable stalactites sus-
pended from ceilings hundreds of feet
high in a million varied shapes, sizes
and colors.
Carload Caverns is a sight i'm
mense enough to inspire awe in ones
heart that nature can create such
mystic grandeur.
Some OF the formations are esti-
mated to be millions OF years old.
Where a formation rises out of the
ground to join n growing from the
ceiling a column of regal beauty, fit
to adorn cathedrals. Is found. 1t Is
thrilling to imagine oneself in a throne
room at the eternal reckoning when
coming upon the Kings throne in
the Palace room In its burst Of
glory. In other portions It 10 just
as thrilling to walk olong a brink
where q simple slip Of the foot would
cause a plunge hundreds Of feet be-
low to certain. horrible death.
Small mirrored streams In different
ro0ms of the cavern reflect with
crystal clearness the magnificent spec
tacle Of cathedrals and domes-icy
water over ten feet deep.
Subdued lighting is used through
out the cavern to bring out to the
fullest extent It's immensely and beau
ty. The walkways down into he
chasms are fixed for the comfort and
safety of the hundreds Of thousands
of visitors who visit u annually. Six
hundred persons were in the party
today, representing thirty states and
three foreign countries.
1t Is open every day in the year
and The temperatures remain con-
slant through at fifty-six degrees.
A coat is comfortable.
The trip through takes five hours
and a tasty lunch Is served in a
huge dining hall in the bottom Of
the cavern Two fast electric eleva-
tors will whirl you to the top In one
minute-eleven to each elevator. They
were installed as an emergency meas
ure several years ago N the ran
gers who act as guides advise those
who feel like 1t to walk out. 1t is
owned and operated by the United
States government as a National Park.
Jim White, a Texas cowboy, now
a jolly figure at the cavern, discov-
cred it n day in 1901 when he saw
a huge flight of bats from the side
of the hill. October Is, 1923, by
proclamation of the late President
Calvin Coolidge. it was made a ma
tional monument and on May IA,
1880, the area became he Carlsbad
Cavern National Park by an act of
Congress.
nels nave been explored to date yet
it is know known just how vast is
this area below the earth's surface.
The entrance at the mouth of
the caverns Is 4.400 fee. above sea
level A splendid concrete highway
winds about five miles up to he
highest point in this part of New
Mexico and the entrance Of the cav
ern.
Two trips are made daily except in
the summer when extra parties are
formed to take care of the crowds.
Adequate lodging facilities are pro-
vided in the town of Carlsbad, pop
ulation $500. Splendid air-condition-
ed hotels. tourist camps and shops,
take care of the needs of the many
guests.
Carlsbad Cavern has been called
the eighth wonder of he world.
But any person who takes a trip
through the cavern feels that he has
in truth made a pilgrimage that
lifts his spirit and soul to higher.
finer things heretofore unknown. He
Aeels his ~unworuhiness before the
greatness God has created-and when
the journey is ended and the hun
dreds of pilgrims gather before the
Rock Of Ages, see the inky black
ness when the lights are turned OUT
- naav ~ fha lic$anna 4ho soft