DOWN IN THE EARTH.

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Let us take a little trip down under the surface of the earth.  There will be something unusual about such an excursion.  Of course, as we are not going to dig our way, we will have to find a convenient hole somewhere, and the best hole for the purpose which I know of is in Edmondson County, Kentucky.

So let us go there.

When we reach this hole we find that it is not a very large one, but still quite high and wide enough for us to enter.  But, before we go in to that dark place, we will get some one to carry a light and guide us; for this underground country which we are going to explore is very extensive, very dark, and, in some places, very dangerous.

Here is a black man who will go with us.  He has a lantern, and he says he knows every nook and corner of the place.  So we engage him, get some lanterns for ourselves, and in we go.  We commence to go downwards very soon after we have passed from the outer air and sunshine, but it is not long before we stand upon a level surface, where we can see nothing of the outside world.  If our lanterns went out, we should be in pitchy darkness.

Now we are in the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky!

This vast cavern, which stretches so many miles beneath the surface of the earth, has never been fully explored; but we are going over as much of it as our guide is accustomed to show to visitors, and if our legs are not tired before we get back I shall be very much surprised, for the trip will take us all day.  The floor on which we are now standing is smooth and level, and runs back into the interior of the cave fully a thousand yards.  This place they call the “Audubon Gallery”—­after our famous naturalist who made birds the study of his life.  His works are published in enormous volumes, costing about one hundred and fifty dollars apiece.  Perhaps your father will get you one.

We pass quickly through this gallery, where there is not much to see, although, to be sure, they used to manufacture saltpetre here.  Think of that!  A manufactory in the bowels of the earth!  Then we enter a large, roundish room called the “Rotunda,” and from this there are a great many passages, leading off in various directions.  One of these, which is called the “Grand Vestibule,” will take us to the “Church.”

Yes, we have a church here, and, what is more, there has been preaching in it, although I have never heard that it had any regular members.  This room has a vast arched roof, and a great many stalactites hang from the walls and roof in such a way as to give one an idea of Gothic architecture.  Therefore this has been called the “Gothic Church.”  You can see a great deal which looks like old-fashioned church ornaments and furniture, and, as the light of the lanterns flashes about on the walls and ceiling, you can imagine a great deal more.