68 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



Gorin's letter, was spanned by a substantial 

 wooden bridge known as the "Bridge of Sighs;" 

 and then was discovered the most beautiful and 

 interesting portion of the Cave. 



Shelby's Dome, which is sixty feet in height, 

 rests directly over the Bottomless Pit. The Pit 

 and Dome have been formed, and are still en- 

 larging, by the same causes that excavated the 

 Side-Saddle Pit. ' 



Immediately beyond the Bottomless Pit a 

 room is entered, called the Revelers' Hall, which 

 is about twenty feet in height and forty in 

 diameter. 



Here it is the custom of visitors to rest for a 

 short time and discuss the terrors of the Pit. 

 This is generally followed by bringing forth the 

 potables, when the safety and health of all par- 

 ties are duly toasted. So says Dr. Wright; and 

 so will every visitor say when he observes the 

 imrftense quantity of broken and unbroken bot- 

 tles strewn about the floor of this wild-looking 

 HalU 



After passing through a low archway, about 

 four feet in height, very properly termed the 

 Valley of Humility, the ceiling of which is 

 smooth and white and appears as though it 

 had been plastered, the Scotchman's Trap is 



