Daily Republican., 1879-06-12
yIRGINlA's WON DER.

VIRGINlA'S WONDER.
Grand sights to be Seen in the Lu
ray Cavssns-Tbe Fantastic Cor
geOusness Of the place BeyOns
iptisn-Evidences Of Prehia
tOrlc Occupation.
Staff Correspondence Of the Republican.
LURAY. VA, June 9, 10.
After leaving the Cathedral We ell
tered another passage which led int
Giants Hallway. This was like tb.
Cathedral in immensity. The wall
stretched out between long rows of i'm
mense columns, and the sides glisteneG
with beautiful crystalizations. After
other intricate windings We came out
upon shelving rock aud from there
we had fine view. To the right raj
long gulch or chasm filled with gloon
impenetrable. BY our side came W
from this inky blackness shaft a:
pure and as white as marble, known al
Jne ppeCLro COluWn.
Across from this was a chamber Of
ruins, cemetery in which mouldereG
the stalactical and stalagmitical for
nations for ages. In this subturansan
fastness there is the same evidence O.
life-that same process of formation and
decay-as distinct and marked as art
the more apparent evidence of natural
existence, that there is in the terres.
tial order of things. Centuries upon cen
turirs, ages upon ages, anteodating all
historic revelations, annealing from
the vapors of an inceptive creation, this
ork of internal formation has been
going on. Growing, dying and crumb.
ling unto dust, and then rising from
the powdered remains of its own de-
cay, is natures simple history written
upon the everlasting columns that sup
port this impenetrable vastness and
protects the unfathomable mysteries o.
its cavernous depths.
Here in this spot are scattered mas
sive pillars, huge stalactites and moul-
dering stalagmites all piled together in
a wild confused expression Of fallen
grandeur. The ceiling above is bare,
the process Of percolation having ceased
the formation died,for lack ofsustsnance
and in dying dissolution set in and
weakened their grasp upon the dome.
AT periods, ages upon ages back, when
the world, still unsettled in its system,
throbbed and pulsated beneath the
subterranean caloric convulsions, these
formations have been Jared from their
fastenings and since then have been
slowly dissolving back to dust. With
feelings Of awe We turn from the con-
temptation Of the scene.
Wandering on We entered the grand
ball room. Terpischore would wish for
no grander spot for the application of
his art. Imagine, if you can, the beauty
of its surroundings and the effect of the
glimmering lights from the large chan
deier that is suspended from the dome.
What must have been the scene when
the frivolous gnomes issuing forth from
their innumerable caverns, began their
wild fantastical carnival! Designed
for these subterranean inhabitants II
must have been. 1t is expressive of all
that is weird uncanny and supernatural
and it must have been while dreaming
of such scene that Rossicrntian gave
birth to his chronological theory. In
December of last year grand ball was
given in this chamber. TO 60 whirling
amid the mazes of the dance in the
very bowels of the earth surrounded
by the mysterious gloom that wells up
from the many uufathomable chasms
must possess an irresistible fascination.
There is much that is strange that
remains yet undiscovered. There are
abvsses by the score, some impenetra-
Bile and others unfathomable. Fluto's
chasm is 500 feet long, As feet deep and
40 feet wide.
This is among the smaller ones and
is but mere fissure in comparison with
the others. Mr.. Campbell undertook
to explore one of the larger ones, but
after descending by rope to a depth
of between so and 60 feet, he was COM
PEELED to return, not having touched
bottom. There are "Oberon's GrottO, "
"Titania's Veil," "The Saracen's
Tent guarded by sentinels, "Tower
OF Babel, Maids Bath" and the
Bridal Chamber" all possessing Won
derful beauty. In some the figures
were incrusted with a chocolate hued
formation, that partook not only of the
color, but also of the porosity of a
sponge.
The most attractive sight to the ladies
is the "Bridal Chamber" which is
highly colored and finished by nature
with all kinds of fantastic imagery.
Great folds Of lacing hang from the
ceiling as translucent as the finest
marble.
Separating from the main party Mr..
Stebbins, through stragetic movement
and thorough knowledge of the pas
sage, led us around number OF pillars
until we were by ourselves. He told
us to look downward, at the same time
flashing his light below. We did so
and involuntarily recoiled. We were all
standing upon beetliDg edge, right
over vast precipice. That neighbor-
hood contained our presence just as
long as it took us to get from the spot,
at the same time not sacrificing safety
for the sake of speed. That little in
cident warned us to be very careful.
We then clambered up rising rock
and stepped into small room, the sides
and top Of which were pure white. The
floor was also of this color but the soil
ed feet Of dalfntrudsrs have changed
it from milky to disagreeable mud
color; On this spot was an interesting