Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-08-10
LETTER FROM THE VALLEY.
RocKINeHAM SPRINGS,
JAY 80, 1875.
Dear Spirit:
Mountains to the left of us.
Ditto TO the right of us,
Ditto all around ms.

that is our position
at present at Rockingham Springs, situated
about three miles from McGaheysville, with
mountains as aforesaid it is new place and
has the advantage of all the wildness aud
beauty of the pine forest, untouched by the
wccdman's Ratchet. The water here is very
fine, strong Chalybeate and NOT Every hard
to take" Mr.. Hopkins (the proprietary has
struck "big Bonanza" out here that in time
will yield him good profit; this is his FIRST
regular season and he has about fifty people
here, with more coming every day.
Among the company are Judge Stuart aud
lady, Of Luray, Mrs. Judge 0'Ferrall and
family. Prof. Hodge aud his bride; Maj.
Brand and family, of Baltimore, and Rev
Mr.. Lipscomb, who had charge of the Meth.
odist Church at Charlestown some twenty
years ago, and many other pleasant people too
numerous to mention from Baltimore, Phil
adelphia aud Washington.
We came here from Port Republic, s'ihe
Oldest town in the Valley" and so dull and
dead that it answers very well to Goldsmith's
picture of The Deserted Village. On the
morning of the 22d We turned our reluctant
faces from Willow Grove and taking the train
at Ediuburg for Harrisonburg were once more
Euntipg new home. At Broadway we found
young bear chained to tree near the rail-
road, we interviewed him, he seemed to bear
his troubles very well, said ''Nothing Bruin"
(brewing,) SO We passed on. At Harrison.
burg we had the good luck to- stop at the
Spottswood, this is considered the luckiest spot
in Rockingham Raleigh Springs divides at
present this honor with the hotel, but the
better haLf is still ut the inn. The city of
Harrisonburgis principally remark able for the
beautiful residences in its suburbs with their
finely kept lawns aud brilliant flower gardens,
the prettiest, neatest looking homes in the
Valley; the Court House and Depot reminded
us of our Charlestown Holmes, who has host
of friends up here.
wEYER's CAVE.
= On our arrival at Meyers Cave Depot we
found the two>horse stage .for the Gave" wait
ing, and We were soon on the way in the rain,
''carry gold headed cane" but who does
clined to be mountainous; as soon as you reach
ascent of arofher. We raised an octagon
ding, Just before we crossed Middle river.
We found Mr.. Mohler, the owner of the
cave, fine old Virginia gentleman call of ye
olden time, " and after hearty supper he en-
tertained us by a sketch of the cave and the
various accidents and "thrillipg adyenturcs'
that have t'happened down in the cave."-
The next morning bright and early we started
for our trip to the interior" with Mr.. Edward
Nlohler as our guide, young gentleman we'll
suited to his underground business, perfectly
acquainted with all the ms and outs of the
dark pathway. The cave was discovered in
1904 by Beonard Weyer, trapper, a wood
chuck having unfortunately put his foot into
one of his traps he felt compelled to take it
homo with him, it proved, however, boot
less operation, as Mr.. Weyer captured him
just as he, too, put his foot into it and falling
into hole discovered the cave. 1t was not
fully explored, however, until about twenty
years ago, when the last chamber was dis
covered by Prof. Rogers, of the University of
Virginia.
Having supplied ourselves With candles
and strong faith in the guide, we bid fare>
well to sunlight and commenced the descent
into tho first chamber, called
THE STATUE CHAMBER.
Here in the dim light We found ourselves sur
rounded by weird, fantastic images, groups
very unearthly and of many different forms
and positions behind US the daylight strug~
Cling through the cracks of the wooden door
lay like pale mooubeams upon the rock floor
before US darkness that can be felt yelled
the way above us-no archipg sky, NO feecy
clouds, none of the light drapery that hangs
around our day. but a superbly arched dome
richly decorated with pendants that sparkle
like myriad of stars.
Near this room is the Altar, with its cur
tains and massive candle sticks, ell of pure
white the Grand Cathedral Organ with its
rows Of crystal pipes aud heavy cornice then
"Washington's Hail." or as il is more appro>
priately called, "The Gnome Kings Palace -
this room is two hundred and ifty,seyen feet
long, twenty-five feet wide, and thirty feet
from floor to ceiling. As we enter the room
Mr.. Mohler places three candles in the rocks,
elevated SO as to throw the light down into
the chamber, this pale stream of light stops
at the feet of "The Gnome King" who stands
in the centre of the Hall, his face mautled in
white and his CHASTITY robe falling in shadowy
folds to the floor this is the grandest as we'll
as the largest room in the cave; when ilum>
mated by strong magnesium light, fold on
fold of beautiful drapery appears on all sides
transparent and of many colors. In the night
that comes suddenly as the light dies out, our
three candles at the entrance of the room
twinkle as stars, the white figure of the King
alone is visible, very grand and majestic in
his loneliness.
Crowded with fantastic beauties, rich in its
manifold decorations, and perfect museum of
curious copies in stone of animals, &c,
Weyer's Cave is beyond description one must
see it to fully understand and appreciate its
grandeur and beauty. The same hand that
paints the blush upon the rose and sbs pes
each grain of sand upon the seashore, has here
followed out temple, whose wondrous beau
ties constantly increase, simply by the drop
pings from the cloud>fed hill an art gallery
whose images and statuary, carved by the