ISBN: 9781151025975

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not … More...

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ... THE MAMMOTH CAVE. ROMANCE ANI MY8TERY OF CAVES. -- THE FAMOUS CAVES OF THE WORLD. -- 1HE OHEATEST CAVERN ON THE GLOBE.-- ITS IMMENSE FAME. AMERICANS* NEGLECT OF IT.--CAUSE OF I Hill: INDIFFERENCE. --SITUATION OF THE MAMMOTH CAVE. --ITS MISERABLE MANAGEMENT.--ANNOYANCES AND IMPOSITIONS PRACTISED ITON TOURISTS. --JOURNEY THROUGH THE VAST TUNNEL.--WHAT ONE SEES, FEELS, AND DOER. -- CONSUMPTIVE GHOSTS. WONDERS OF THE STAR-CHAMBER. -- DESCENT INTO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT. -- CROSSING THE STTX AND THE LETHE. -- MARVELLOUS ECHOES. --STARTLING ACCIDENTS. -- WOMEN IN AWKWARD SITUATIONS. Caves in all ages have been associated, not only with inystcry and romance, but with sorcery and superstition of every ''conceivable kind. Fable and tradition have converted them into the abodes of demons and witches, and history shows that robbers and law-breakers have always made them places of refuge and shelter. Every mountainous or picturesque region I have visited has abounded in witches'' caves, robbers'' caves, murderers'' caves, and caves generally, in which supernatural rites and horrid deeds are supposed to have been celebrated or committed. The dark, dreary, and weird quality of many caves, added to their unique and fantastic formation and uncertain windings naturally awake a feeling of awe, and appeal strongly and strangely to the imagination. The ancient priests, in order to influence favorably the minds of the ignorant, pretended that the divinities they claimed to interpret had their residence in deep and dreary caverns, and that thence they revealed their mighty purpose to their mortal agents. The oracles of Delphos, which princes and sages were wont to consult, were interpreted, as it was assumed, by a priestess sitting at the mouth of a cave, and... Thomas W. Knox, Books, History, UNDERGROUND OR LIFE BELOW THE SURFACE Books>History <