Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-10-08
LuTaD Gaze.

We have been requested to copy the fol-
lowing from the Ptoaograph:
The caverns of Luray, in Page county
Va, of quite recent discovery, haze attract
ed great and constantly increasing attention.
Those competent to Judge have pronounced
this the most remarkable cave known.
While gazing upon its marvellous forma-
tious and in thinking upon them afterwards
the impression cings TO one that Nature
has chosen this section Of the earth's inte'
rior. where there are no limitations, except,
perhaps, in variety of material, where there
is no temptation to regard usefulness, for a
field in which to give full pay to fancy, to
show what she can do to excite the wonder
and admiration Of finite beings. The fol-
lowing from private letter cannot fail to
interest readers of the Phonograph:
Yesterday Aug. 1sl went to Luray.
We made up a party of ten. We had the
French Professor, Mrs. Bingham and son,
lshe isa naval officers wife, the Littlej0hns,
Crosses and Chamberses We left Harper's
Ferry at 1910, got back 7:20. | hate an
excursion that starts at ; in the morning or
keeps you out all night.
The cave is wonderful We were under
ground two hours, were two hundred and
sixty feet below the surface and walked
about three miles. The French Prof. says
he has been in larger caves in the old coun-
try but in none so beautiful There are
several springs We drank from the Imper-
ial, usiug the solid silver gold-lined English
cup that Fritz and Pilot won at the great
Dog Show in New York last summer.
| expected it would require great play of
the Imagination to observe the Likeness Of
the objects TO their names but in many cases
the resemblance was perfect, as in the fish
market the ladys riding whip, the break
fast bacon, the wet blanket, the lace shawl,
the Swiss cottage, the camel's head, and
hundred other things. The Films ramble,
Mohamet's coffin, Titania's veil, Oberon's
grotto, were faithful representations for any
thing could prove to the contrary.
The ballroom is a marvel-eighty-iive
feet deep and | know not how long, with
anterooms aud corridors all complete.
Standing in the centre one catches glimpse
of solitary white figure among the dark
pillars that by a stretch of the Imagination
can be made to resemble Cinderella. At
least any one who can see Washington's
face on Maryland Heights would know it to
be Cinderella herself fleeing just as the
clock struck twelve. Less gifted people
could see nothing in it, not even in the long
white train and the perfect shoulder.
Il think even less of Cinderella than !
did before" was Alyernons remark, which
thought good for Presbyterian sister.
Pluto's chasm Is over seventy feet deep
and five hundred feet long. 1t is bridged
over in places, and lighted toward the bot
tom. The bottom has never been reached.
The fallen column is twenty five feet long,
twelve feet in diameter, and weighs one
hundred and seventy tons. IL is estimated
that it fell four thousand years ago, and con-
sumed several million years in is forma-
ton.
The guide struck the notes OF Old Hun
dred on the organ which really looks like
church organ. But | can give you little
idea Of it except that it Is as I remarked in
the beginning, wonderful cave.
am glad the boarders in our hall are lit
erary instead Of fashionable. A second
French professor has come with his wife
and baby You ought to hear the little
thing chattering in French and English.
The ladies say he is polite even for French
man. Out walking they met COW. he
said. "Oh Rqdame In rache " Madame cow
fFritz and Pilot are property Of Clifford
Littleiohn, OF Leesburg, Va.
What j. the difference between food
and An an.rv brakeman One breaks the