The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-09
THE CAVE OF LURAY.
y Visit to Virginian Wonderland.
From the Norfolk Landmark

from tne NOI1Oik
L must begin my account of the cave
NJ Luray with Warrenton, because it was
from here we started on our expedition
"a the cave, and WarrentOn is well
known to the people of Norfolk, so many
Of whom have pleasant memories of
visits to this charming place.
/ Gkink many have felt as | have,
when, after climbing our mountain here
and standing under the " View Tree
they have looked westward to the tow
-ering heights of the Blue Ridge, won
-dering and longing to see what beautiful
Land lies beyond those blue mountains,
whose outline seems melting into the
sky. | had been told of the Valley of
the Shenandoah-that land of
Fertile plains and dewy mesds,
xruund which the great mountains stand
protectingly, but it was not the Shenan-
81 ,faab Valley that we beheld when, one
evening after driving all day towards
chose mountains, whose turquoise hueS
lzurned to emerald as we approached, we
EiualIy Surmounted the gap and looked
down upon the fairest little valley that
q, ever the sun ShOne On-or moon either,
for both sun and moon beautified it when
first we saw it, the one with warm, rich
tiHts of sunset splendor,> while as the
gorgeous colors faded away the full
moon in its perfect beauty shed over it
her gentle light.
Beyond us lay lower range of noun
tains, the Massanutton hiding the
Shenandoah, and below us lay little
happy valley-the Valley of Luray. A
pretty stream flows through it ike a sill
ser thread in the landscape. The little
town, gaylv decked with flowers, seems
60 be the abode of peace and tranquility.
Near it is a little hill-a most unpretend-
zHg little hill. SO demure it looks,
how could one ever guess the secret it
IIas kept these hundreds of years? Yes, a
ufighty secret has been hidden in that
quiet valley. Farmers have bought rich
land and plOwed and TILED and raised
eIeir golden harvest, and have scOrned
Ehe little barren hill where only pine
trees and scrub oaks grew; and children
have for ages played over it, little
dreaming of the depths of wonder and
of mystery that lay beneath their feet.
sun and moon have shone on that little
hill. Sounds of human JOY and woe
have been heard there from the town
close bv, while down below, in perfect
silence. in utter darkness, work has
been going on that is startling in its re-
Semblance TO the work of human hands,
and the shapes and forms of those far
depths are surprisingly like those OF the
upper world.
The night we arrived the cave was
lighted up for a gay party, who went
there to enjoy the novel entertainment
Of a dance underground. We did not
care to see il in that way-at all events,
we preferred a nights rest after drive
sPf y hours over mountain roads. The
next morning we were impatient to be-
mold the wonders that should be re-
vealed. 4 short walk brought Us to the
hill. where a house has been built over
the entrance to the cave. It's proposed
ra have R hotel there; the site is perfect
no one could wish lovelier view. a
-ong flight of steps led down to the
ioar Through which we passed with our
-,7,f.ic. each one provided with candles
gsfsz a tin reflector. Our first sensation
yv.ss of darkness: we realized what was
tlae u darkness that might be felt. g" 1t
seemed to close around us, and our little
candles made scarcely any impression
,,aou il with their feeble flames. After
n yTbile our eyes accustomed themselves
20 fA,e strange darkness, and we could
rbeR see dim passages through which
are vent, mysterious shapes around us.
We came to an open space the roofwas
nigh above our heads; from it hung
staiactites great and small, and folds of
. -jraDsrv ike curtains partly concealng
rloany caverns black as night. Stalag-
Trii1es rose ike giant columns from the
-.rnlund. Some were of yellowish,
earthly color; others were white and
.~lisieping. Here we decided to burn
: s1rae Of the red fire we had brought with
.,as- The rosy light flashed over fantas-
rie terms, giving them new beauty II
IYst cave was filed with warm, bril-