In this spacious niche is another group, apparently composed of the forms of a man, two females and the torso of a child, all so admirable in outline, pose and drapery as to suggest the skill of an able sculptor. It, indeed, would require uncommon artistic ability to surpass, or even equal the grace of this snowy group.
Here is another formation still more wonderful than those we have been observing. George, you have done well to hold in reserve this masterpiece of nature. It really is marvellous. It is as though some weary mortal of a past age laid down to rest, Death coming this way blew upon him his icy breath and froze him into perpetual silence, then gently enshrouding him in purest whiteness passed on, leaving him to the peacefulness of endless sleep.
How many years have elapsed since nature began these strangely beautiful formations? Who can say? Not I, madame. Such a lapse of time is inconceivable. But we know that here, during an unrealizable length of time, from dripping water charged with lime, atom has been added to atom and thus the stupendous wonder has grown, grown in darkness, and silence, and never have any but Spirit eyes gazed with admiring awe upon the splendor and loveliness of this scene which naught but Infinite, Intelligent activity could create.
On no other Planet have we found formations of this nature excelling these, seldom have we seen them equaled. Those arched openings invite us into other divisions of this underground fairyland. We will enter this chamber on our right. These formations differ somewhat from those we have seen, but are quite as beautiful. See how those great stalagmites, singly and in groups, unite themselves with the white loveliness of descending stalactites, all apparently forming a gateway to a veritable garden of snow trees and vegetation, the drooping branches laden with blossoms and fruit, forbidden fruit, we may conclude, as between it and ourselves there is a swiftly flowing stream. What do I think of the Biblical legend concerning Adam and Eve? Madame, my opinion is, that had the mythical garden been as beautiful as this the commendably inquisitive Eve would have been content with the prescribed diet and the amiable Adam would, to this day, be promenading under the Edenic trees. One is tempted to linger in this strangely beautiful spot, but we must pass on.
We pointed out to you that the stream traversing the canyon entered an opening, at the northern base of the mountain; it is the same stream now rushing by us toward an exit at the southern side of the mountain, thence into the lake of which we have spoken. We now will cross it to glance through other portions of the cavern, some of which, George says, are not greatly unlike those we already have explored.
Medium—Although I have not seen them, I know that on our Planet there are formations similar to these; may I ask are such formations features of all Planets you have visited?
De L'Ester—Yes, of all Planets sufficiently aged. Do not you remember that on our moon we once showed you a cavern similar to, but not nearly so extensive as this that contained stalactites and stalagmites too, but of rather diminutive proportions? You also may remember that we demonstrated to your satisfaction that there was a time when Luna was capable of and did sustain many life expressions of both fauna and flora, but that now the internal heat of the little Planet is so nearly exhausted that but a limited number of peculiar life expressions survive the rigor of its extremely low temperature? The history of a planet may be likened to that of a human. In the case of the Planet, birth, growth, maturity, with a gradual but unceasing withdrawal of vitalizing heat and energy, which finally must culminate in the extinction of all its life forms, aye, of even the cohesive energy which has so long held it in form, followed by inevitable disintegration of its atoms which are the building material of new worlds.
The parallel history of the human includes birth, growth, maturity, then gradual withdrawal of vital energy, during which the heart beats respond less vigorously to the crimson current which flows more and more sluggishly and the history draws near its conclusion. The extremities grow colder, colder, animation dies out of the expressive features, the eyes grow dim and sightless, pulseless, breathless, lies the mortal body, but it is not dead. No, no, there is no death. Life is in every atom of the universe and the disintegrated particles of the physical body afford material for new life expressions, while the freed Ego, the ever conscious, cohesive, vitalizing spirit force which held the mortal body in form assumes other and higher relations and thus revolves the wheel of evolution whose circumference is the universe, whose centre is God.
Madame, you are so given to asking questions and I to loquacity that we too much delay our progress. Your pardon, friends, for having kept you waiting. Now we will move on. Yes, it would be rather difficult for even a diminutive mortal to penetrate this passage which now widens and grows loftier, and now we have reached the last of the series of caverns. Gradually we have been descending and now are far below the level of the entrance and on the brink of a deep and narrow chasm. No occasion for alarm, madame, but to reassure you we will join hands. Inez, you will take your sister's right hand, giving your right hand to Humboldt. I will hold your left hand, madame, and Agassiz, with George, will precede us. George, you will be good enough to light us down the abyss. Yes, it is a tremendous chasm, but here we stand, safe and sound, and you perceive that there was no danger. It is too much to expect that, while you yet are on the physical plane you will wholly free yourself from apprehension. Indeed, we have experienced some misgiving as to the amount of courage you might exhibit on occasions to which, during your mortal existence, you must be unaccustomed.
George, as you are acquainted with this uncanny locality, I desire that I now may stand aside while you shall act as guide and I suggest that you shall say to madame something relating to our mission. Your discretion will limit your statements.