Wonders of the great Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, containing thorough and accurate historical and descriptive sketches of this marvelous underground world . on above. This soft 56 TVONDER8 OF THE light gradually becomes a little brighter, andsoon reveals to us the appearance of a real sky,as though we were looking upward at the bluedome of heaven. Then the twinkling stars comeout one by one, and in a short time the mimicsky is decked with brilliant constellations, themilky way appears, and a comet flashes across thecelestial dome. As we are intently beholdingthis beautiful and sublime scene, sudd
Wonders of the great Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, containing thorough and accurate historical and descriptive sketches of this marvelous underground world . on above. This soft 56 TVONDER8 OF THE light gradually becomes a little brighter, andsoon reveals to us the appearance of a real sky,as though we were looking upward at the bluedome of heaven. Then the twinkling stars comeout one by one, and in a short time the mimicsky is decked with brilliant constellations, themilky way appears, and a comet flashes across thecelestial dome. As we are intently beholdingthis beautiful and sublime scene, suddenly wehear a low muttering as of distant and subduedthunder, and in the distance see the dense foldsof a cloud approaching us. This mimic cloudrolls itself out towards us like a banner unfurledto the breeze, and in a short time the sky isovercast, the stars are blotted out, and we areleft again in utter darkness. The illusion is soperfect that exclamations of wonder and admira-tion break from the lips of all our party, not-withstanding the instructions of our guide toremain silent. PRODUCING THE ILLUSION This wonderful illusion is produced in the. RALPH WALDO EMERSON OREAT MAMMOTH CAVE 57 following manner: The blue limestone in theceiling of this great chamber is pierced by innu-merable formations of white gypsum which al-ways glistens when light is thrown upon of these formations are small, some large,some single, and some in clusters. After ourguide had left us in darkness he entered somesecluded corner or crevice of the avenue, fromwhich the light of his lantern could be thrownon the ceiling above us. This light is just suffi-cient to give the limestone ceiling the appear-ance of a blue sky, and to cause the white gyp-sum formations to send back glistening rays asthough they were shining stars and constella-tions. EMERSONS VISIT Emersons essay on illusions was writtenafter a personal visit to the Mammoth Cave, andin this essay he embodies the impressions left onhim
Size: 1289px × 1939px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishercarri, bookyear1912
