Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-10-15

tor of the REGISTER started on trip up
the famous Shenandoah Valley, and our
experience was so pleasant that we have
thought that our readers would find In
terest in an account Of the journey.
We left Shepherdstown by the IL
o'clock train on the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad, and had most pleasant ride
of nearly two hundred miles to Natural
Bridge Station, which we reached about
an hour late at seven o'clock. The road
passes through beautiful valleys and
skirts the lovely Blue Ridge mountains
the entire way, following the Shenan-
doah as far as Waynesboro and then,
passing the divide, following up the
North Branch of the James, the one
flowing North and the other South.
Leaving the cars at the James river, the
bus carried US to the Natural Bridge
Hotel. two and a.half miles from the
station. After a good brushing up and
GOOD supper we walked over to the
bridge, couple of hundred yards from
the hotel, and viewed the great struc-
ture by moonlight. Standing on the
top and looking over its brink. far, Tar
below could be seen in the shadows the
waters of Cedar Creek, while the faint
murmuring of the stream was carried
to our ears through the stiffness. -" nat
a glorious place for suicide" said one,
and it truly is. But the guide-oook
tells us that only one person has ever
Jumped from the heights, although sew
sral persons have fallen to meet with
instant death.
Next morning we all arose and got
our breakfast early and started to ENJOY
to the full the beauties of the Natural
Bridge and its surroundings. The path
to the bridge winds around steep hill
until suddenly turning to the left the
wonderful span stands out before us.
We sit down for few moments ana
silently gaze on the work OF the AL
mighty. For the thought that strikes
the beholder is that here is building
not made with hands, and showing in
its eternal foundations, its great but
tresscs, its mighty arch, the work OF
! Divine master-builjer. Finally we de-
scend still further the rocky path, and
stand under the bridge itself. Here,
looking up TO the very top. one feels the
greatness of the structure. Comparing
it with the tallest trees that grow
around they seem to be but stunted
dwarfs, and as for ourselves-why, we
feel how insignificant and small man is,
and we do not feel like jesting in the
shadow of this awful presence. The
clear waters of Cedar Creek gently bub-
BILE through the rocks, and this is the
only sound that breaks the stiffness.
We look and look and look, and then
gather some facts to tell to our friends.
The guide-book tells us that the bridge
is 2l5 feet in height. Our readers will
understand better when We tell them
| that is much more than twice rs high as
the railroad bridge at Shepherdstown.
The Bridge is formed Of Il single block
OF limestone, and is supposed to have
been cut through by the water and in
the course of many years enlarged to its
present proportions. 1t Is about 90 feet
I'm width, and the arch is about 40 feet
thick. A road passes over the Bridge,
and a person could pass over it without
knowing that he was on 1t. The
Bridge and l57 acres Of land were
granted to Thomas Jefferson in IVA by
King George the Third. Since then it
has been owned by ten different persons,
being finally purchased in 1881 by Col.
H. C. Parse ns, the present owner, who
built the fine hotels and made many im-
proyements. Col. Parsons has added to
the estate until it is now composed of
two thousand acres, laid out in drives
and walks and with many interesting
features.
Leaving the Bridge, we follow path
up a wild glen. passing Saltpetre Cave,
where the Confsderates made gunpow-
der during the war, it is said. Further
on is "Lost River" hole in the rock
that forms the side of the hill, in which
can be seen and heard a hurrying stream
Of water. Where the water comes from
or where it goes no one can tell. But
there it is. At the head Of the path,
more than mile from the bridge, is
Lace Water Falls, where Cedar Creek
pours down rocks hundred feet high in
waves of feecy, foamy lace. At the head
of this fall is the ruin Of an old mill
how old is not known.
Retracing our steps down the pictur-
esque canon, we again pass under the
bridge and up the path, where we ex.
anime with interest the largest arbor
vita trees in the world, one Of which is
IS feet in circumference. Later, we 60
to the observatory on Mount Jefferson,
from which we have most magnificent
view Of the panorama nature spreads
before us.
Friday evening we left Natural Bridge
and went to Salem, where we spent the
night at Lake Spring Hotel, a beautiful
summer resort half mile from town.
Saturday morning we of course visited
Roanoke College, which is so well
known to our people. Here We met
President Dreher and Professor Fox,
who showed las through the College.
The Bittle Memorial Library is some
thing that the College has good reason
to be proud Of. A handsome and con-
venient building, it is filled with rare
and costly and interesting books, aud
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