The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-07
others Of their tribe can boast Of such a

others Of their tribe can boast Of such
home
| We crossed and recrossed the creek on
stepping stones, searching out every spot to
which any tradition belonged. Under the
arch, thirty feet from the water, the lower part
Of the letters G. w. may be seen carved in
the rock. When Washington was young
man, he climbed up hither TO leave this re-
cord Of his visit. There are no other in
scriptions Of the same kind, and above them
a board, on which are painted the names of
two persons, who have thought IL worth while
thus to immortalize their feat Of climbing the
highest. But their glory was transient after
all. They have been outstripped by travel
Ter whose achievement will probably never be
rivalled, for he would not have accomplished
it fhe could by any means have declined the
task. Never was wonderful deed more in
voluntarily performed. There is no dispa-
ragement to the gentleman in saying this: il
is only absolving him from the charge of fool
hardness.
This young man, named Blackjack, ac-
companied by two friends, visited the Natural
Bridge, and, being seized with the ambition
appropriate to the place, Of writing his name
highest, climbed the rock opposite to the part
selected by Washington, and carved his mi
tials. Others had perhaps seen what Mr.
Blackjack overlooked, that il was place easy
to ascend, but from which it is impossible to
come down. He was forty feet or more from
the path; his footing was plecarious he was
weary with holding on while carving his |
name, and his head began to swim when he |
saw the impossibility Of getting down again
lie called to his companions that his only |
chance was to climb up upon the bridge with
out hesitation or delay They saw this, and
with an anguish agreed between themselves
that the chance was very bare one. They
cheered him, and advised him to look neither
up nor down. On he went, slanting upward |
from under the arch, creeping round pro-
lection on which no foothold is visible from
below, and then disappearing in recess fill
ed up with foliage. Long and long they wait
ed, watching for motion, and listening for
crashing among the trees. He must have
been now $50 feet above them. At length
their eyes were SO strained that they could
see no more, and they had almost lost all
hope. There was little doubt that he had
fallen while behind the trees, where his body
would never be found. They went up to try
the chance of looking for him from above.
They found him lying insensible on the bridge.
He could just remember reaching the top,
when he Immediately tainted. One would
like to know whether the accident left him a
coward in respect of climbing, or whether it
strengthened his confidence in his nerves.
The guide showed US a small cedar, which
projected from shelf of the rock about two
hundred feet above our heads, and along
whose stem a young lady climbed several
feet, so as to court destruction in very vain
foolish manner 1.-THE support had failed, as
might reasonably have been expected, her I'M
mortality ofreputation would not have been of
an enviable kind.
We remained in the rayine till we were all
exhausted with hunger, but we had to wait for
dinner still another hour after arriving at the
inn. BY way of passing the time, one gen.
,leman of our party tainted, and had to be laid
along on the floor which circumstance,
fancy, rather accelerated the announcement Of
our meal. The moment it was over hasten
ed to the bridge, and was pleased to find that,
being no longer fatigued and hungry, could
look into the abyss with perfect ease. | lay
down on the rocks, and studied the aspect of
the ravine, in its afternoon lights and shadows
from five different points Of view. While thus
engaged was called to see handsome cop
per-headed snake, but it had gained its hole
before could reach the spot. We ladies SO
much preferred the view of the bridge from
the glen TO the view Of the glen from the
bridge, that we went down for another hour
before departing. 1t looked most beautiful.
The sunshine was slowly Withdrawing from
under the arch, and leaving us in the shadows
ofevening, while all was glowing like noon in
the region to which we looked up from our
lowly seats, the STEPPING stones in the midst
Of the gushing creek.
The Natural Bridge is nearly in the centre
Of Virginia, and about half way between Fin
castle and Lexington, which are about thirty
seven miles apart, The main central road of
Virginia runs over the bridge, SO that no ex-
cuse is left for travellers who neglect TO visit
this work, framed by the strong hand Of Ma
ture.
. BY wondrous art,
Pontifcal, ridge OF pendant rock
Over the vex'd abyss"
vexed, not by the tllmul,s Of chaos, but by the
screams OF governed birds, the battles of
snakes with their prey and the chafng of wa
tiers against opposing rocks.