The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-02
A Pleasant Time IN The Mountains or
Virginia.
RICUMOND, September /, 1880.

A Pleasant Time IN she Mountains Of
Virginia.
RICHMOND, September /, 1880.
Editors Dispatch: On August rs, 1880,
Luray Cave, in Page county. was ilumina-
ted with the brilliant light OF about fifteen
hundred candles. which was indeed most
lovely scene. This is the finest cave OF
which we have any record. Upon enter
ing it reminds one of that glorious hereaf.
ter OF which we read in the Bible. We first
come TO what is known as the grand en-.
trance, twenty feet high by eighty feet
long, In which is very large pillar known
as the Washington Pillar, fourteen by thirty
feet, q fine piece OF natures work.
We leave there and pass along Stebbins
avenue, which is lovely walkway, espe-
cially for cOurtine couples. In q few M
ments we come to Natures Flower Garden,
which Is perfectly beautiful. There are
flowers OF all kinds, all formed OF the same
material, but differing very much in shape
and color. The writer has O cluster OF
daisies which came from the above-men-
toned garden, and though they are not as
fresh.looking as those raised by our friends
the florists OF Richmond, they are more du-
rable, will not wither, and do not require
the trouble OF watering. We now leave the
beautiful fower-garden and pass into the
smphitbeatre, where we have lovely view
Of the stalactites, which are in the greatest
profusion. We now go through the Muddy
lake and under the Natural Bridge into the
Fish Market, where ha1g all kinds, sorts,
and sizes OF as natural-looking fish as ever
saw. All seem to be perfectly fresh and
ready for the pan; but as they were formed
OF stone, concluded they were a hard lot
OF fish. and did not choose any. Leaving
the Fish Market, we proceed through Plu-
to's Cbasm, which is 75 feet deep by 500
feet long, in which is situated the Spectre
Column, 40 feet high and feet in diane.
ter-one Of the grandest pieces OF natures
work ever seen.
On leaving this beautiful pillar we pro-
ceed to Proserpine's Pillar, another grand
piece OF natures work. Now we come to
the Crystal Spring, beautifully loca,ed upon
large fat rock. 1t has the appearance OF
having been built there by some human
hand, but O close examination shows that
the artistic hand OF nature alone bad thus
formed il. The water is as clear as crystal,
from which it derives its name, and is very
palatable.
We now pass on through Stonewall ave-
nue. or Skeleton gorge, in which the remains
OF human being, long since dead, are still
to be seen. Now we come to the Imperial
Spring, which is a very beautiful one, the
water OF which is delicious, and as cold as
ice. Leaving this point, we pass Brands
Cascade, Oberan's Grotto, and Titania's
VEIL The latter is grand, and il is very
amusing to see the ladies stand looking at it
in astonishment. We now come TO the
Fallen Column, which is as natural looking
as anything / ever saw; is about or feet
in diameter and 25 or 80 feet long. We pa s
under this into Saracen's Tent; from the Q
we 60 to the Frozen Fountain, grand
sight TO behold. Ii has the appearance OF
ice formed OF the cIearest water, and as pure
as any marble. The next point OF interest
is Diana's Bath, which is perfectly lovely.
Now we come to the AngePs Wing, which
IS as white as snow and as natural as it
could possibly be made by the hand and
chisel OF the most skilful artist. Passn g
on few feet we find ourselves In the Cathe-
dral in front Of a large organ upon which
every now and then, by The request OF some
visitor, the organist would play some ia
miiar piece, which was highly appreciated
by those who are fond Of good Wusic. We
leave the Cathedral and a little further on is
the Tower of Babel, which is simply grand.
We now approach the entrance to Giants
Hall, a beautiful place, with the loyeliesS
scenery / ever beheld. Further on is the
Indian SQuaw, which is very perfect in its
formation. Now we are In front OF Sui
tana Column, a beautiful piece OF natures
own work. After leaving this we pass
along a lovely walk which leads into the Ball
room, where everything Is in readiness for
those who participate in the innocent
amusement OF dancing. There is "A full
hot CT nj a m nsi ia
is very fine. Down to the left OF the Ball.
room, and not very far away, is the Gene.
terry, with its white marble slabs, as though
they had been placed there by the hand Of
some human being TO mark the last resting
place OF some dear friend or relative.
Having gotten 10 the terminus OF the
aforementioned ball, we now return by a
different route. The first point OF interest
we come to is the Casket Spring, which Is
the exact shape OF a coffin and its water
nearly a. clear as that OF the crystal. After
leaving this we proceed to the grandest
sight in the cave-that Of Cinderella Leaving
the Ballroom. She appears In all her love-
illness and beauty, with a long white train,
which Is very becoming to her lovely form.
Further on we enter CampbelPs Hall, in
which is situated Scale Column, and Just
beyond is Empress Column. which Is forty
feet high and very beautiful. To say the
least Of this wonderful cave, 1t Is far beyond
the descriptive power OF my poor pen.
There were in attendance on the above
mentioned day about 400 persons, many OF
them from distance; among them was Mr..
w. Ii. Sublett, OF Richmond, accompanied
by one OF Rappahannock's fairest daush-.
ters. All seemed very much pleased and
many expressed themselves as being agree
ably disappointed. VISITOR.
INCLINED PLANE ACCIDENT.-Between 5
and a. o,cIock yesterdav afternoon the man