Daily Republican., 1888-05-19
LETTER Baom VIRGINIA.
ratural Bridgs-rne Bridge as wit.
messed Illuminated st Hight-xhe
Uasende-b1en Look Like Mere
specks Looking Down From tho
Tnn

rtturht DrtuRe-Tne bffnKe as witt
messed Illuminated at NIght-xhe
Oasenae-bIen Look Like Mere
specks Looking Down From ths
Top.
NATURAL BRIDGE, May IT, 1SSs.-On
Tuesday afternoon the pleasure seekers
took the cars from Luray Station en-
route for Natural Bridge.
The special sped along through fer.
tile country, in which good fences and
running streams CT water abound The
soil appeared to be fertile, being of a
rich, black kind, like guano. Away
hew the train at The rate OF nearly mile
q minute, the huge locomotive putting
and blowing big clouds of smoke sky
ward as 1t fairly danced over the iron
rails. We were delayed nearly one hour
by hot boxes. Numerous well known
places were passed where thousands of
dead Union soldiers lay buried without
as much as mark to Identify them to
friends. The church where John Brown
was tried and convicted was pointed out,
as well as many other memorial spots.
After q ride of nearly four hours the
train pulled up al the station. We were
then loaded in and up on top Of Tally-ho
coaches, four horses being attached, and
the ribtons handled with ease by black
son of the soil, who welded long whip,
calling to my mind (the story of the Viz
ginia cracker), and it was cracker, you
can take my wo'd for it. ! imagine |
can hear the loud crack as the Jehu
throws the long lash over his head, as
well as the passengers, br nsing 1t down
with q sh'rp jerk upward, fairly making
the air resound with the echo. Afier a
picturesque ride up moun;aiI GUS road
Of three miles In length we arrived at a
real enchanting spot and were given O
hearty Southern welcome at Foress Ian,
where man and horse are said to fare on
the best that the land affords. Being as.
signed to room we brushed the dirt
from our garments and made our toilet
preparatory to enjoying our supper, as
we were at the time as hungry as the
average growing scho.lboy. Ats O'Clock
we sat down to the table and soon had
bountifnl supply slowed away under our
waistcoats, and thereafter felt in better
humor with the world. In the evening
large bell was rung as signal for all TO
60 down In the glen and witness the IL
Elimination Of the great Natural Bridge,
studied by you In your Biographies when
at s:hool. The earliest mention of the
bridge was made In 1859. A bloody In
dian fight occurred in the vicinity In
1770 The bridge was struck by light
Mug In 1779 aud somewhat des rolled.
1t is said Washington immortalized him
self by carving bis name on 1t whe1 q
young man. The original bridge tract
was granted by the King to Thomas JEFF
ferson in 1774. 1t is 2l5 feet high, 100
feet wide, with 90 foot span. 1t ranks
among the great wonders OF the world, as
pen can hardly depict the grandeur Of
this wonder, one of the Creators handi-
works. 1t approaches Niagara in gran
deur, and exceeds 1t in height and in
awful mystery. 1t is einsle block of
limestone, many shades of color, wide
enough to span Broadway, high enough
TO throw in the shade the spire OF the
tallest church, The wal are as II cut
by chisels. Under it men look like boys
and trees like bushes. You follow 6
tumbling cascade down q line of steps
cut in a precirice, and suddenly find
yourself by swift stream in dark
canon and the bridge far above you You
pass into the awful hush of Its twilight,
into the conscious pr sence OF the Gre.
ator. The place is full of echoes, and
the wind and aters moan eternslly. 1t
is mighty moHolith. Its imposing
height, Joining two mount tins together,
adds to Its interest, and you look up at 1t
with awe and say this is one of the
things not made by hands, but conc iyed
by the Almighty. We, not to be out
done by the immortal George, lsft our
mark on It's face.
The glen, above the bridge, extends for
mile to Lace Water Falls, where Cedar
Greek leaps 100 feet from the upper
level. This glen was probably once an
immense cave. On the right, above the
bridge, Cathedral wall p ojects boldly.
covered with different co ored moses and
lichens. The preciplce on the left is in
color light blue, and delicately traced
with vines snd evergreens. Henlock
Island is an immense pyramid of ever
greens Saltpetre Cave is chiefly inter-
esting b eau, it was worked for nitre
during the war of 1912, and latterly by
the Confederate Government. The Lost
Ri er is another one of t. ose wonders, q
subterranean stream that is reached by
low archway which has teen made In the
mountain side. The waters are clear,
cool and pleas int to the taste. Above
the arch is cut: "Whoever drinks here
shall return
We will give another sketch OF the
glen In our next letter
We wou' d say II you are in search of
more than delightful spot, pleasure seek
ing, you could not find any more to call
forth your admiration of the wonders of
the Omnipotent than at Natural Bride.
.--s". W. y. V.