Litchfield enquirer., 1881-12-08
THE WONDERFUL CAVERNS OF LURAY, PAGE COUNTY,
 VIRGINIA.

v The town of Luray, on the Shenandoah | Valley Railroad, one hundred and seventy five miles from Richmond, beautifully situat- ed on the slope of the mountain, within sight of 'Stony man, one of the highest points in Virginia. To the east lies the Blue Ridge, and to the west, the Massanuttan mountains shut out the natural horizon. The geological strata of this region is limestone, which, be- ing readily dissolved by water,containing car. bonic acid percolating through it, is the natur- al instrument for the formation of caves. For many years 8 small cave has been known ir one of the hills near Luray, but it was not until August, 1878, that this wonder tul freak of nature was discovered. This was due to the curiosity of MT B. P. Stebbins, 8 travelling photographer, who was convinced that the old cave was only a party of other sinft3ar formations. After diligent search, nu- merous diggings, and considerable expendit- ure of time and money, with DO little ridicule from the villagers, he was rewarded the bril- liant discovery. Andrew Campbell, of Lu- l ray was the first to enter the cave. @1f On every hand are seen the evidences of 8 grand convulsion of nature in ages gone by, when the cayerns were formed in some shock Of nature. There is lofty chamber which is larger than the dome of the Capitol at Wash ington, and hoored for dancing; it is called the ballroom. Its sides are stalactite col ulnns; it's roof is ribbed with calcareous forma- tions. Near by, in loftly cathedral nave, is gigantic organ of stalactites which resound with deep and barbaric growl as the operat- or makes them vlbrate under his rude touch. There isa chasm 75 feet deep and 800 feet long. At one point gigantic column has fal- len across tEe path; at another crystal spring bubbles up or miniature lake cover the floor of a charming retreat; stalaglnites formed on the floor from the drip above rise like shrouded statues in 6 garden, and on every hand the wonderous architecture of Si- lent nature awes the spectator into mute ad- miration. With the Omnipotent force of great creative hand, nature seems first to have piled adamantine material to from the magni- ticent space for her silent grottoes, and then, by the slow process of drop on drop, to have ornamented the interiors.
 The conversational idea of a stalactlte is that of sharp point limestone icicle, but here all conventional ideas are shattered, for in a cu- rious formation, to which the name "helictite" is given we find horizontal instead of yer tical line of development, which extends until it can be free to move in any direction, and then it generally takes an upward course. To this is due the delicate lace and shawl work that adorns the walls, the finest development of which is an Indian blanket hanging in na-
 
 brown and when light is placed behind it appears perfectly translucent.
 On terraced mound, and flowing om curiously wrought casket, from which it takes it's name, is spring of crystal water, and known as ''Casket spring" Among the many beauties of this cave, now pre-emlnent among 'things of beauty" none perhaps strike more forcibly the general visitor chan this spring; it's approach is so guarded by stalactite and stalagmite formations, that one is upon it be- fore it's existence indicated-the very sudden ness of it's appearance adding greatly to the effect of it's beauty: Within 30 feet stands the snow white shape, curiously like retreat ing female figure clothed in flowing robes of white and aptly named "Cinderilla leaving the ball."
 Fluted salactic columns, 30 feet high, form the back ground of the spring, and 8 royal canopy fringed with the most exquisite drap- cry stretches from the front and is reflected ! back from it's glass-like surface, an opening in the back ground near the left of the basin, reveals the small lake, whence comes it's SUD- ply of water
 Folds ef lovely drapery ornamented with tracery like fine lace-work and hung with edg- ings of heavy silver bullion, solemn looking cemeteries with grim wilderness of tombstones and monuments and shafts i'll sad disorder, and thousand other designs which curious nature, in this, her playground, fashioned during centuries that were untold ages old, when Egypt's first race was in it's youth. Some of the figures seem to be cut from clear est crystal, while other run through the vari- ous grades of transluency into grades that are opaque, and in colors from white that rivals the driven snow through all the tints between that and dull black.
 The 'Fsb Market" named thus from the fact that great rows of and equally great va rietles of fishers appear to be hanging, as though displayed by some enterprising fish, monger
 Dr. Porter of Lafayette College, himself distinguished scientist. in recent lecture, quotes an eminent brother scientist as saying, concerning the prostrate column weighing one hundred and seventy tons, which some con- vulsion of nature must have thrown from it's posision. that four thousand years must have pass since it's fall, and that seven millions 0f years were consumed in it's formation. The calculation is based upon the, probable time it took to form the present sizes of the vertical stalactites which have formed on the fallen column. No wonder another distinguished son of science, Prof Collins, of New York city (now in search of Polar salacttes) who visited the cave and looked at this column, confessed the preconcelFede ideas of time stranded. "I am not familiar" said, he xvi the hypothesis upon which the calculations are based, but when the sGg0ets assert that it required seven millions of years to give this fallen column it's present diameter, feel like putting of my shoes and standing on this sloppy stone, for it certainly must be holy ground where stand" The fallen column is about twenty feet in length by fourteen in diameter. As it is but simple fragment of the ancient pillar before it fell, gauging it's probable length by the pillars nowstsnding, it's iosp pol ic olo hou been less than fifty feet, and it's entire weight four hundred and twenty-five tons.
 Those who have made matters of this kind study, unhesitatingly assert that nothing so magnificent, exists in any other cavern known to man. The roof of it's highest room is one hundred feet, from which is suspended the most enormous stalactite in the world; that it is by far more interesting and beautiful than the Mammoth Cave; that every form known to similar subterranean cavities is there with the advantage of new and peculiar forms known only to this cave. and that the cavern is older than the tertiary period.
 The entrance to the cave is through the basement of a two-story frame house on the side of the mountain, where the visitors pur- chase tickets of admission at dollar head. Passing through the entrance, which is twen- ty feet high by eight feet wide, you soon come in sight of the chief places of interest already described
 The atmosphere of the cave is pure the temperature averaging ffty-nine degrees, winter and summer, not being affected by charges from without. The entire passage through it can be made without getting in the least wet or muddy.
 An electric light has been recently introduc- ed into the caverns, the only cave thus lighted in the world realizing the most brillian. ef- fects and producing visions of beauty incred- ible and indescribable by words A good-siz-