Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-06-11

which you are admitted by a
temporary ladder. BY hard climb.
ing, you soon penetrate to the end
Of the recess, where you find the
source Of the Nile This is "a
beautiful, limpid spring, covered
over with a thin pelllcle of stall
agmite, yet sufficiently strong to
bear your weight in this crust,
there is perforation that gives
you access to the water beneath.
] have thus veiy cursorily de
scribed, as far as it is practicable,
this wonderful cavern, but feel
convinced that no pen can ade.
quately describe an object so ex
tensive, so magnificent, and so
varied in its beauties. shall only
add a few remarks in explanation
of the motives that induced me 10
prepare this sketch, and some
general facts that could not, with
propriety, have been stated in the
description of individual portions
of the Cave. TO settle dispute
relative to its depth, ! was induced
to make a full and accurate survey
Of the whole Cavern, which | found
had never been done. This was
undertaken solely for my own graft
flcatiOn, but the solicitations Of the
Proprietor, and others, have IN.
duced me to construct a sort Of
Map, which is now before the pub.
lie. This Description therefore,
may be depended upon, as being
as accurate as possible, for the dis
tances, heights, elevations, &c, are
given from actual measurement.
The dotted line in the map, repre-
sents what has so often been called
the "main path and if we measure
this line the length of the Cave is
one thousand six hundred aud fifty
feet. BY following its windings.
the distance may be more than
doubled.
AT all times, the air Of the Cave
is damp, but the dampness Of the
floor depends much upon the sea
sons ; if you except moist place
near the Fly-trap, there is no stand
ing water in all the Cave. The
temperature remains invariably at
fifty-six degrees, in all parts, from
which it follows that the air feels
quite warm, to a visitor in winter,
and directly the reverse in summer,
and 1t is therefore important that
in the summer he should become
perfectly cool before he enters, and
in winter, before he leaves it. The
spring and fall are the best seasons
for visiting the Cave, for then the
atmosphere without, is nearly of
the same temperature with that
within, and it is more dry at these
times.
The question is often asked -
which of the two great curiOsities
Of Virginia is the greatest, Weyer's
Cave or the Natural Bridge. This
is not a fair question, neither can
it be easily answered; for they are
totally different IN themselves, aud
in their effects upon Observers
You visit the Natural Bridge in the
full blaze of day, and when
you reach the object Of your curl
osity, it bursts at once upon your
view, in all its magnifcence and
grandeur, you comprehend at once
the magnitude Of the scene, and
you turn away, Overpowered with
a sense Of the majesty Of Him who
has spanned that gull, and thrown
His arch across it. Visit it as often
as you please, this feeling returns
upon yOn with unabated force-but
no new impressions are made-yOu
have seen the whole.
You visit the Cave by the dim
light of a few candles; of course
no impression will at first be pro-
duced, or il any, an unfayorable
one. AS successive portions of the
Cavern are presented to view, they
produce successive and varied emo
tions. Now you are filed with de.
light at the beauty of the spark
ling ceilings again, this feeling
is mingled with admiration, as
some object of more than ordinary
beauty presents itself;-and anon
you are filled with awe at the
magnitude of the immense cham
bers, the hollow reverberatiOns of
the lofty arches, and the profuSe
display OF the operations Of an
omnipotent hand. lndistinctncss
of vision, allows free scope to the
Imagination, and consequently
greatly enhances your pleasure.
Many persons go away from the
Cave disappointed they hear of
rooms and ceilings, and if they do
not expect to see them plastered
and white washed, they think at
least they will be able to walk in
them with as much ease and see as
many wonders as they would in a
visit to Aladin's palace \ visit to
the Cave is not unattended with
fatigue, but the pleasure you de
rive from it, isample compensation.
THE author of this pamphlet has
omitted to notice what I consider
one of the greatest and most beanti-
fnl of natnre's curiOsitieS IN this