Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-18
aliisfellantons.
1 visit to the Natural Bridge.

Oh INC NbtuI6t DElukCs III VI Siuios Inv
highly colored narrative Of the learned
blacksmith recounting the wonderful es.
cape OF the venturious youth who scaled
in limestone sides, effected an impression
on my boyish imagination which the ex-
perience of more mature years has never
effaced. To me that exploit recorded in
the glowing language Of master mind.
rivaIled anything in the Arabian Nights,
or the Nibelupgen Lied. and created a de-
sire within me to view the spot, associated
also with the name of Washington whose
autograph is engraved on the fiinty album.
During a recent sojourn in the valley of
Virginia, stopped few days at Lynch
burg, and as could reach this great nat
ura1 curiosity with convenience from this
point, continued my journey westward.
The road from Lynchburg to the Natural
Bridge lies through wild and romantic
region, which, to the traveller accustomed
only to the lowlands and pine barrens of
eastern Virginia, is striking. In many
respects the scenery resembles that fainil-
Jar to the tourist of northern New Hamp-
shire, and if the Granite State deserves
the appellation of the Switzerland of
America. then indeed does Virginia merit
the title of the Scotland Of America.
Nor is the comparison far fetched.
The Cumberland mountains and the
Blue Ridge correspond to the Gram
plans. The Potomac and the James answer
to the Forth and Clyde and if the Ameri-
can province has no Loeb Lomond and
Ben Nevis, neither has the Caledonian
land, a Wyer's Cave, Harper's Ferry,
or Natural Bridge. So of course this
Journey was as interesting and pleas
ant as any this country can boast.
For more than fifty miles you pass through
a gallery of pictures most exqnisit, most
varied, most beautiful. Everywhere
around you is Nature in her widest, her
prandest, her most romantic state. On
ward past the canon of the James, through
primeval forests, you still pursue your
wav. Mountains rear their lofty heads
before and behind you. You seem
hemmed in by those towering elevations.
At last you see your way before yoa.
A beautiful and fertile country opens in
the distance, and still westward the blue
outlines of distant mountains meet the
view. Through the valley you continue
your Journey, and even before you desire
it, you are at its end. The Natural Bridge
is before you.
This famous curiosity stands nearly in
the center of the state, and at distance
of two hundred and fifteen miles from the
Capitol at Washington. 1t is on the head
Of q limestone hill, which some terrible
CONFUSION Of nature seems to have rent
assunder. The fissure is spanned by this
wonderful bridge. Oh, it is sublime, this
structure, so strong and yet so elegant,
springing from earth and bathing its head
in the sky ! 1t is unique. for in all the world
there is not anything like it. Nature sur
passes herself here, and art is rendered
insignificant by the contrast. What mas
sive piers, what solidity Of masonry
Then the arch itself, fashioned after the
elliptical. the very line of all others so
difficult for the architect to realize, and
vet so calculated to enhance the picture
esque beauty Of the object! This is most
the perfection of art, and yet what art
could never reach. The hand OF the AL
mighty alone fashioned those butments the
simplicity. the granduer of the whole is
proof certain that it is the work ct God.
Niagara pales before it and is less an OBJ
ject of wonder. The magnitude of that
matchless cataract is what renders it Won
derful. But the Natu; al Bridge is nature
uhc Win PipPpitiohS VI VII
the very spot where art would otherwise
have been required for the construction OF
q bridge. As a freak Of nature it is I'M
parallelled. The mean height of the
bridge from the stream below to the upper
surface is two hundred and fifteen feet
its average width is eighty feet. its length
ninety three feet. and its thickness fifty
five feet. The bridge is guarded as it by
the design of nature, by parapet OF
rocks. and by trees and shrubbery firmly
imbedded in the soil.
As stood and gazed upon its titanic
proportions in the full light of dav. the
scene was exquisite. At my feet Cedar
creek went dashing on its way over the
pebbly channel 1t had done so for ages
past; it would do so Tor ages to
come. Here the poor Indian had
stood, but will never stand again,
thinking he heard in those waters the
whispers of the Manitou. and gazing on
that great object of nature before him,
with adoring eyes. Solitude is around
you. but il is solitude of the most sooth.
ing character place where sorrow
might learn to forget her griets, and folly
begin to be wise and happy.
Many distinguished persons have visited
the spot. and the names of the most adj
venturous ones are inscribed in the sof,
limestone. Washington himself. is said
to have climbedup the perpendicular cliff
to the height of fifty feet and left his name
engraved as a testimony of his daring
Another youth more reckless. but no,
more bold. eclipsed this even and perform
ed the hazardous feat of scaling il to the
very summit. The adventure has beer
variously told. but the true accounts is
recorded nthe Colonial papers of Virginia
The hero's name was James ii. Piper, al
forwards member of the Virginia Senate
and man of note in the political history
of the State. There is no truth. however
in that part of the story which represents
him as being hauled up with ropes. and
his fainting away as he was landed on the
platform above. Mr.. Piper reached the
top unassisted. and proceeded down the
hill alone to meet his companions who
met him hall way.-Vomdn at Work.
al would not live always, ask not &c