The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-19
Special Correspondence. !

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Special Correspondence.
NATURAL BRIDGE. August l1-Even
after a s0iOum Of TWO weeks in this
glorious country. I find II difficult to
carry out nv as vet unfulhlled promise
ia tell Won gu have seen and enjoyed
Nv trip up was uneventful, and | was
Glad 10 reach my destination, feeling
ouite Al home when welcomed by tones
nj sweetest French accent from my prof.
fered chaperone We drove up to the
hotel where passed the night com
forlably I'm my cosy room, and dreamed
Of the wonders which with the morning
light would meet me on every side.
First. all honor is due 10 our kind host
and his charming family, who no, only
enjoy thoroughly the pleasures OF their
beautiful home, their horses, their dogs,
ami all surrounding, but add in every
way % the enjoyment OF their friends
and guests.
The morning after my arrival, Ma
dame accompanied me on long and
raf fuHM jaVGt. ~ course We
wendell oar way at once 20 The mighty,
ever changclcss Natural Bridge, 20 whose
grand subimily is greatly due the repu-
tafion which this section will always
sustain. For our first view, we vent
past the Parsons home, a pretty aud
attractive cottage almost eycrhanging
the Bridge. There, before we are
scarcely aware of our surroundings, we
find ourselves standing directly over the
Bridge. and see stretched far below ami
extending AS far as eye can reach. the
lovely glen, through IL trickling Win
cadence clear and sweet, the mountain
stream. 10 whose erosiye powers these
wonders are sometimes attributed.
To describe the glory Of the Bridge in
standing beneath il, is truly "a hopeless
task. to me- all language is inadequate
10 DO honor 10 this greatest achievement
in natures architecture. With its ire
mendous height and breath, no picture
or other representation can ever give a
lust conception of its overwhelming mas
siyeness, we must see-then wonder
then oelievei The rock is limestone,
varying in every shade, through the deep
blue and purple tones TO the brilliant
clay stained reds and yellOws, which
sparkling under the touches OF the sun,
blend with the green foliage 10 'ohe
bright glow Then, it as artists have
said colors sing. certainly there is music
here. and with The murmurlng waters
below, We hear the sOng-tO nature,
Alleluia.
Until the las. few years, beyond the
Bridge. The glen Law as yet undisWrbrd
bat of late thanks 10 The fine taste, and
uuiirmg energy of the presence owner
t.u Glen ~. MGrc ,Ldn q allC Aa. Dc-n
made easy of access, giving us many adj
dti0uai points of interest. Passing
through the great archway, we soon came
Ia Saltpctrc cave. (Which was worked for
nitro during the war of 1912 then on to
Lost River a strange subterranean
cavern through which the waters dash 10
and fro with no apparent outlet nor in
let. Having come to this spot 10y means
of moderately long walk, We were glad
to avail ourselves of the friendly dipper,
and imbibe some of the water which Is
delicious and Of icy temperature. over
the mouth of the cave is inscribed, "Who-
ever drinks here shall return Who is
there who would not gladly accept that
challenge
Further on, still wandering listlessly
along the pretty mountain path, we
reached as our last point of navigation,
the place where Cedar Creek from above,
throwing its waters 100 feet over the
rocks. forms so beautiful and delicate
cascade that it bears the fitting name OF
Lace Water Fall. There now | almost
forgot 20 tell you of our other cascade,
which is certainly beautiful, even through
60 a certain extent, made with hands
As we approached the Bridge a little
streamran beside the path, flowing through
bed of rock, tumhling from one mass 10
another, till it finally leapt into the river
at the foot Of the precipice. The lake AT
the top of the hill being allowed TO flow
of, throws itself with great rapidity over
this rocky bed, thus forming cataract
which is one of the most beautiful sights
ever bcheld. Several nights ago the
management gave US grand Illumination
OF the Bridge and lis Surroundings, and
standing on the rustic bridge which
shows the cascade at a low point, and look
ing up, the red lights which were thrown
on, made the foliage beyond like seeth-
ing mass of flame, the water as it rOared
past US, catching the light fairly sparkled
as with Jewels. The whole was lovely
picture framed as it were by the dark
bOughs interlaced over our heads.
We have spent many hours in quiet
rambes finding in each, new scenes of
beauty and grandeur. Through the groves
of the Hundred Oaks and thousand
Pines are some Of the most attractive
drives ever imagined. The Peaks of
outer stand out clearly in the distance,
aud at other points four distinct ranges
OF the Blue Ridge can be seen.
70 those who love nature rs ! DO.
there cannot be found a more soul salts
flying resting place than this, where we
find in our hotels every comfort OF re-
fined home life and sOciable guests. 30
We live on in an easy independent way,
splitting fashion, and the weather
Besides the tennis court which promises
much pleasure, We have one OF the finest
ball rooms in the country, cool, well
lighted, ana in this many hours are spent,
quickly and-but there, the music on the
lil begiLs. Az RsroT \. ".