Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04

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Editor Star:-Among the marvels OF our school
days were the stories OF the Mammoth Cave Of
Kentucky. and doubtless many OF US dreamed
OF visit thither in maturer years, But with
most of us it has been only dream, like many
other boytsh fancies. Now, however, the Man,
moth Cave is almost at our doors, and hundreds
Of our citizens who desire for the coming au-
little excursion could not do better than to Vi sit
Luray. Taking the s:35 q. m. train on the B. &
O., railroad, two hours brings US to Harper's
Ferry, rich In beauty Of location and historic
nif1cent Shenandoah Valley, part OF the great
valley of Virginia, the garden of the state, shut
In between the Blue Ridge and the Aleghanies,
and we reach the little town Of New Market.
Then a stage ride Of sixteen miles, over a
smooth. hard road, crossing the Massanu5ten
mountain range at an elevation OF 800 feet, ana
turesque little village Of Luray, thoroughly
Virginian in all its surroundings. mile from
the village, on side hill, stands small frame
house; This you enter, pay your dollar, enroll
Hector, and are ready. Your guide opens a
door. and you apparently start down cellar, by
a flight OF stone steps. through a passage cut
in the solid rock. A descent of perhaps fifty
feet bril- gS you to the veStibule, q magnificent
hall fifty feet in diameter and thirty in height,
filled with columns one called WaShington's
feet in circumference. Avenues lead In various
directions, stalactites depend and stalagmlteS
ascend, and all Is weird and strange as any Of
the pictures of the Arabian Nights For four
hours we wind our way through a'marble halls, "
vaulted passages and ghostly chambers, with
but little OF discomfort or nard climbing. Stair
cases render the ascents and deScents safe and
easy, and plank walks almost remove the ne
cesslty for rGbbers. Generally we can stand
erect. but In the Elfn Ramble it seems as II
heaven and earth were coming together. A
roof OF solid limestone, without support from
columns, covers an area OF 500 or 600 feet square,
and is only from two to six feet above the floor.
Trenches cut through the yielding soil allow
our passage; but there Is q constant feeling OF
app ehenSion lest 1t shall cave in and crush US.
The largest and finest apartment vet dlscove ed
is Giants Hall. perhaps, 100 feet in diameter
and 60 or 70 feet high. Columns, some OF purest
alabaster Use 30 or so feet and large stalactite
of equal length, depend from tie ceiling. Some
OF the chambers, known as Naiad'S Baths
Bridal Chambers, &C. are of snowy whlteness
and apparently pitted up with all the par.
apbernalia OF the toilet At the bottom o.
one deep chasm are to be seen the bones OF some
poor unfortunate who must have fallen from
the cliff, forty feet above, perhaps thousands Of
years ago. Again we look through lofty halls
filled with statuary, which we may name anG
enjoy as the widest Imagination shall dictate
Altogether it is a place OF wonderful beauty
and attractiveness. The trip can be made com.
fOrtably in three days. allowing one day for the
journey thither, one day for the cave, and one
for the return. The B. & o. railroad sells
round-trip tickets for IS. Board at the hotel is
81. so per day, and the charges for horses and
other extras are very reasonable. j. w. C..