Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-08


stopped a short distance West of the bridge
to look at the arch from that point, when
something like the following occurred: One
looked up and exclaimed: go lookl there
is the eagle as plain as can be. That was
not the eagle on the other side. This is
the eagle, and it is the most conspicuous
figure on the arch,-look, don't you see
it," eyes" says another, 81 see it plain
ly; but it looks more like hawk nailed to
baln-door than an eagle" There was
not much poetry in that remark, but there
was much Truth in it, and showed that the
author of it was man of good vision and
correct observation. In short time, he
remarked: "Oh, there is the lion.' %
"Where? where?" the others asked.
"There, just in front of the eagle-iying
down-looking from u.s." But the Others
could not see it. Then he described it
again, and then one of them said: ooh yes,
there it is plainly defined-anybody can
see that" Then all got to see the lion
(Which looks more like panther) and
wondered that they had not seen it before,
and felt sorry for those who had amagined
that they had seen it on the other side. Then
our lynx-eyed friend again looked up and
exclaimed: 80, see a turkey-don't you
all see turkey. just back of the eagle?"
After looking awhile, one said, so yes, /
see it now-it looks more like seal. "
eyes" says the other, ''the head and body
are more like seal's." With another
look, our keen observer, said, 81 see hog
don't you see a hog in the white in front
of the scalp" No; no one could see it yet.
Then he said, "Look, I can see it; it has a
white body, black head, with its mouth
open, and stick in its mouth" That por-
tends storm said ole-but he could not
see that hog. But after looking intently
he said, eyes, see hog-a black hog. y,
The other said, (which way is your hog
looking?" 'It is looking West" was the
reply. go no." said the other, ''that ain It
my hog-my hog is white, and is looking
to the East, and your hog is black and
looking to the West F." The owner of the
black hog took another look for the white
hog with stick in its mouth, but could not
find it; but his search was rewarded by
finding white-faced COW instead.
If this party had remained there long,
there is no telling how many beasts of the
field, birds of the air, and fishes Of the sea
they would have discovered in that great
puzzle-picture of Nature painted on her
magnificent canvas of stone; but the
sounding of that ''tocsin of the soul, the
dinner bell," caused these discoveries to
abandon their search for animals in the
picture, and to seek for something to sStis-
fy the cravings of the inner man at the
hotel, where their search was also success
full, and they satisfied themselves that for
practical purposes Parsons's table-chickens
were preferable fowls to his Bridge eagles
Or hawks.
From time to time, at long intervals,
great pieces of stone fall from the sides of
the arch of the bridge, gradually making
it more narrow, and within the past year
large boulders have dropped off, so that we
great wonder not to delay it too long, for
we are very sure that there will be no
bridge there to sea million of years from
this time.
We will not attempt to describe the
emotions excited by this natural wonder,
for they are as different as are the consti-
tutions of the different beholders.
"Some there may be with hearts as cold
AS the rocks on Torneo's holry brow"
who can witness it unmoyed, and see moth
ing in it but mass of stone, as Of him of
whom Wordsworth wrote
"a primrose by the rivers brim,
A simple primrose was to him,
And nothing more"
Such prosaic temperaments may be un-
ceptible to the poetic beauty and grandeur
of nature will enjoy it with zest. Nor will
we attempt to give what Science would say
as to the manner in which nature, with the
simple agency of water, sculptured that
grand work, for
"When Science, from Creations face,
Enchantment's veil withdraws,
What lovely visions yield their place,
To cold material laws"
Such as by culture or constitutional
temperament can duly appreciate the most
interesting chapters in the book OF nature,
will reckon their visit o the Natural Bridge
as an epoch in their lives. None should
fail to go to see it who can spare the time
and has the means to do so. We are sure
that none will regret the time and money
spent to accomplish that object.
Besides our party of excusienists from
this city, there were visitors there on the
4th from Lexington and Lynchburg, and
from the vicinity of the Bridge, making in
all about 400 persons, more than three
hundred of whom dined at the Hotel.
In the afternoon, there was tournament
about half mile from the Hotel. We did
not witness it, as we preferred to make
another visit with q friend to the Bridge,
and hence can give no further notice of it..
Before o'clock our party commenced
leaving the grounds to return to the depot,
but as there was not suficiency of vehi
cles, and some had to wait till the vehicles
could 60 to the depot and return, it was
half after six o'clock before all got back to
the depot. Though the schedule time for
the train to leave was SIX o'clock, it was
kept in waiting till all the party got to the
depot-those who got there early becoming
quite impatient to be off, and chided the
late arrivals for their delay, though it was
impossible for them to get there earlier.
When al had arrived, the signal was given,
and the train moved off, and the party, de-
lighted, but fatigued, was rejoiced that
they were homeward bound. There was
perfect order throughout, with nothing to
mar the pleasure of the trip, and they
reached Staunton about ten o'clock that
night. Again we say, the committee OF
arrangements deserve special commenda-