Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-10
BIG LICK, VA.
DIU LIOh3 v
MR.. EDITOR,

Dld LlCh, A.
Mr.. EDITOR.
A thousand visitors, al
least, 60 every year to see that won
dsrful curiosity. The natural bridge in
Virginia.
The impression made upon theil
mind depends very much upon the
manner and time of ones going.
The majority Of those, who visit the
bridge, 90 with an excursion party, and
certainly fail to be impressed by the
grandeur Of this mighty work of nature
Their thoughts are, Of necessity, dis
tracted by the idle talk and silly do
ings Of their pleasure, seeking associ-
ates. In an excursion party, there is
always goodly number of those, who
care more for the pleasures Of the bot
lie and the lunch.basket, than for The
seven wonders of the world. A limos
all of the party will insist, that atten-
ton be gwen to their efforts to sent
their names down to future genera
tons, engraved in the everlasting rock
1t is really surprising that people
who 60 to so much pains to engrayt
their names, at a place so much visited,
never seem to reflect, that among such
a mass OF names and initials, constantly
accommodating every year, theirs coul(
not be found, even if there ever shoult
be any one who cared to look for it.
Then there is always the awkwar d
man or woman Of the excursion party
who is sure 10 sit gracefully down in
the creek or do some other ridiculous
thing, that en'ectually prevents the
seriousness necessary to a perfect en-
joyment of the grandeur exhibited in
the mighty works Of God.
Therefore 1t so frequently happens,
that those who visit the natural bridge
60 away disappointed as to the i'm
preston made upon them. Ifyos wish
to visit this truly attractive place try,
by all means, to see 1t in the early
morning, and see it alone.
Give all excursionists the slip, and
go by yourself, and you will haye a
glorious opportunity TO commence with
nature in one Of her grandest moods.
There will be an impression made upon
the mind that neither time nor change
will obliterate.
Go in the month Of May when the
wild flowers are blooming. The deli
cate beauty of the many varieties of
flowers, that grow at the bottom and
along the sides Of the chasm, will con-
trast sharply with the mighty grandeur
OF the uplifted rocks, and fill your soul
with delight.
l visited the bridge. not long since,
in company with a little girl, who had
no idea of its appearance. | desired to
see what effect it would have upon her.
1 kept her attention attracted from her
surroundings, till we got in a position
such that the bridge lifted itself right
up before us and above u. The sun
was shining under the bridge and threw
the shadow on the side opposite to that
on which we were standing. This
made the arch and its supporting walls
stand out more prominently in our
front, and put on their most terrible
appearance. Then 1 stopped and said
to her. There is the bridge.
The effect was almost overwhelming.
She would have sunk to the ground had
l not been holding her. Her next inn
pulse was to run away from the terri
BILE place.
have frequently seen the ceremony
of baptisms by immersion performed
both in the running streams and the
consecrated pool.
1t never seemed to me peculiarly
solemn, must confess. Nor do the
crowds, generally attendant upon such
occasions, appear to be much impressed
by its solemnity. But, | think, fyou
shall ever see an immersion beneath
the natural bridge, you will not soon
forget the impressiveness of the scene.
One can scarcely fail to feel himself in
the very presence Of the Almighty.
The very awfulness ofthe surroundings
gives a deeper meaning to the hymns
and prayers and exhortations to duty.
Nature lends her grandeur to the
simple ceremonial, and binds the heart
into the attitude Of prayer. w.