Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-10

they have looked westward to the tower
ing heights of the Blue Ridge, wonder
ing 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 meais'-
around which the great mountains
stand protectingly, but it was not the
Shenandoah Valley that we beheld when,
one evening after driving all day towards
those mountains, whose turquoise hues
turned to emerald as We approached, We
finally surmounted the gap and looked
down upon the fairest little valley that
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
tints of sunset splendor, while as the
gorgeous colors faded away the full moon
in its perfect beauty shed over it her gen
tie light.
Beyond us lay a lower range of noun
tains, the Massanutton hiding the Shen-
andoah, and below us lay little happy
valley-the Valley of Luray. A pretty
stream flows through it like silver thread
in the landscape The little town, gayly
decked with flowers, seems to be the
abode of peace and tranquility. Near it
Is little hill-a most unpretending little
hill. So demure it looks, how could one
ever guess the secret it has kept these
hundreds of years? Yes, a mighty secret
has been hidden in that quiet valley
Farmers have bought rich land and
ploughed and TILED and raised their gold
en- harvest and have scorned the 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 hui
man JOY and woe have been heard there
from the town close by, while down be-
low in perfect silence, in utter darkness,
work has been going on that is startling
In Its resemb ance 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 gay party, who went
there to enjoy the novel entertainment of
dance under ground We did not care
to see it in that way-at all events, we
preferred nights rest after a drive of
twelve hours over mountain roads The
next morning we were impatient to be-
hold tie wonders that should be revealed.
A short walk brought us to the hill where
a house has been built over the entrance
to the cave. 1t is proposed to have
hotel here; the site is perfect-no one
could wish lovelier view. A long flight
of steps led down to the door through
which We passed with our guide, each
one provided with candles with tin re-
fiector. Our first sensation was of dark
ness We realized what was the dark
ness that my be felt " 1t seemed to close
Ground us, and our little candles made
scarcely any impression upon it with
their feeble flames. After a while our
eyes accustomed themselves to the
strange darkness, and We could then see
dim passages through which We went.
mysterious shapes around u.s. We came
to an open space; the roof was high
above our heads; from it hung stalactites
great and small, and folds of drapery like
curtains partly concealing gloomy
caverns black as night Stalagmites rose
like giant columns from the ground.
Some were of yellowish, earthly color;
others were white and glistening. Here
We decided to burn scme of the red fire |!
We had brought with US. The rosy light |
flashed over fantastic forms, giving them !
a new beauty. The cave was filled with
warm. brilliant illumination. We
gazed around in breathless wonder at the
scene disclosed, and then the light was
gone, and smoke, dense, sutfocating
smoke, only remained. There WAS no way
for it to escape and SO there it stayed,
making thick fog. This will not do"
said the guide; mo more red light in
here !" So ours was the first and last
l may say Just here that after several |
hours wandering and exploring the in
tricacies of the cave, when we returned |
to the scene of our little illumination We
found the smoke still there l hope in |
time it has found its way out, but it must |
lave been a work Of time The farther |
we penetrated the more were We entranc- |
cl, and the more wonderful became the |
formations Wewere allowed to burn the |
magnesium wire We had brought, as that |
gave but little smoke. We had our |
guide flash it upon whatever was of |
most interest, and by its vivid light We !
saw huge elephants, grinning monkeys, |
the fish market, where huge rows of fish, |
looking as if yet wet with their native |
water. In one cave sat an old woman,
as though crouching down and shivering.
High up on marble pedestal sat a grand
Turk, cross-legged, with turban on his
head and a flowing beard Near him was
perched an eagle on what looked like an
old dead tree. We saw the Tower of
Babel towering upward in pride, arch
upon arch rising white and beautiful /;
and we saw Pluto's cavern, dark and
grim, and looked down into its unfotd
depths of blackness. Then as we groped
our way along, on either hand were dim,
mysterious vaults that one could easily
fancy must be the abode of elves and
sprites. A little child, the youngest of
the party, started back
From one Of the blackest recesses APP
preached, or seem to approach us, n tall
figure most ghostly i'll its appearance.
One arm was extended, the other seemed
to be holding together the long white veil
with which it was enveloped from head to
foot An irresistible fascination made us
strain our eyes to discern the features
that it seemed to hide and yet one felt
sure that what was hidden was horrible
A few steps on brought us to a differ
ent scene An angels wing, white and
beautiful, guarded the entrance to a glori-
Gus cathedral Stately rows of columns
farthest end was seen huge organ. Sud-
denl we were startled by strange sounds
that broke the silence-from the organ
came strains of unearthly music-for MS
the guide swept his hand over the pipes
they responded to lis tou.l. aud 4snt
forth n weird melody. Beyond this We
found the dancing hail. the largest of
all the apartments 1t is difficult to csti-
mate size where everything is So odd and
unusual, but this hall is said 10 be about
the size Of the rotunda of the Capitol at
Washinton. From one of the door
ways We see fair lady hurrying away,
her floating drapery of creamy lace trail
ing behind her III her fight. 1t is Gin
derella hastening from the ball BY
strange freak, which struck us as pathetic,
in a corner of the dancing hall we find the
cemetery" 1t has been rallied of IA
though TO protect from desecration the
heaving mounds and grave-stones stand
ing upright.
A human interest is given to the cave
by tragedy here enacted Years ago a
poor Indian boy was lost in these deep
recesses. What must have been his
feelings of horror and dismay, buried
alive in such Il vault We find the foot
/ DIllllh VI HIS hit ipN
he has slipped "A little on the muddy path
the print has become as hard as stone
and there it has remained to touch with
pity for his fate the hearts Of those of
another race after long ages have passed
and his people have been swept from the
land. Some distance from the foot-mark,
showing how he had wandered. we find
where he had fallen. Poor boy lie
struggled hard no doubt, for his life, but
n deep and terrible pit-fall gaped before
him; into it he fell and there his skeleton
now lies half buried in stony covering.
| think the most beautiful object in the
cave is the crystal fountain" 1t is an
oblong box, white as marble, most deli
cately carved over it hangs canopy
fringed with what look like icicles. 1t is
filled with the clearest water. In this
| Natnr Lnl heen found a tiny mittnn Il