Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-13
AN EXPERIENCE.
WITNESSING A MooNRIsE FROM FLAG
ROCK.
A NIGHT on the warm-spring Moantains--
Evcr-Changing rictureS-fhc steep
ing valcy-one Rig Family
rs,An oorrn.ponaenco Of lhe Oepatch.l

[Stafi correspondents OF inc bEpa'ch'I
WARM SPRINGS. VA, Sept. IL, 1889.
SceiDg the moon rise as saw 1t rise last
NIGHT is an experience that one VIII NOT
have an opportunity OF enjoying more
than once in n lifetime. les'erd%y Juugo
of tho moon from Flag Rock. The party
consisted Of the Judge, Mr.. Oliver of Ma
,vland Mr. Elliot, Mr. Wines of CUlpeper.
AIR Sclatcr. and myself. The rock ~ $500
feet above sea level and about ] goo feet
above this valley. and 60 reach II by the
most accessible route involves climb ol
fully two miles. The party started az ESQ
from the hotel and reached the gap " al
Tor awalk Of a mile and a half, just III time
20 catch the aftcrglOw of the sun as II
sank IN the gorge leading 20 Jacksoh
river and enjoy misty view oi tho warm
and Germantown as they lay a picture OF
perfect peace in the cleaning of the valley
below Us.
on TO THE ROCK.
Then commenced the climb 10 the rock
over the stiGest and stccpcst part 81 re
road and beneath an arbor formed ny th'
;ufcrlocliuo branches Of the trees on cithct
eide of the route. The shadows dccpenCu
M nearly every step, and before hall the uls-
lance between the gap and our oblccuNe
point had been covered II became neCeS-
say ~ nick our way very carefully. men
=
strong westerly wind wa, blowing, when
brought our oycrcoats into rcqustlon. Al
fins hour there was no sign of the moon,
md there was nothing 20 DO hut loil on
the cast side of the rock so as to secure
protection from the wind and smoke ana
talk and watch. -,
Tho Bedouius Maneam describes IN hrs
"Sncctre Caravan" never watched more
eagerly for the coming dawn that should
paint the SKY
In GOLD and crimson vest
than we watched for Luna Ia the mean
time a discussion took place such as per
hans never before was known on Virginia
uouutaiu-top at night.
so HURRY.
You cannot hurr, the moon. That soon
became apparent 10 all. II was Of no use
t. strike matches and look at watches ana
wax impatient. The moon Il IKE "A IadN
dressing for party-she Will not MAKE
her aYueaIancc until she Is fully arfayel.
She is also conservative. She las an utter
contcnlpt for General Greedy and Keeps
almanac time.
The atmospheric conditions We're pccu-
lar. Overhead il was a. clear rs crystal,
the stars shining with steely brliiiahcE
That SUGGESTED winters night But all
around the horizon was broad belt QI hAI'
IL was about SID O'Clock when M the east
the FIRST FAINT glow tin-ed the upper edge
OF tins belt and announced the coRinG 81
the moon. Then gradually the Queen OF
Night could bc seen making her way
through he mist clothed III deep orange
hue and rnced with clouds ia manner
that reminded every one present OF the
mixtures in the school books Of Saturn. As
sle cleared the cold gray mist and SHOOK
of her rings she put on pairr garments
and the picture for brief while hnd every
characteristic of % moon-Ilsc AT sea. III"
bank of mist and the sheen upon the Vast
eXpanse Of mountain were perfect suS-
pcstlon ~ water.
EVER CHANGING.
Yet hardly bad one picture fastened IT.
self upon the mind or the imagination De-
fore another formed and took ITS place
one moment mountain ranges winch We
knew 20 he miles of would appear 10 DE
mere shadows within stones throw ana
skirtiuc vast meadows Of -ilycTv grass ; the
next these shadows would fade away. and
the whole cXpansc as the tret-tops waved
in the wind would be rcyel Of phantom
shapes forlornn SNeador and gloom, the
realistic aud fantastic seemed 10 boz en-
gagged in great struggle each stir
rng for the mastery of the fancy
This was on the east sldo of the mountain
As the moon rose higher and the lght be-
gan to get over the ridge We turned our
faces westward 10 witness the eject upon
y
ALWAYS beautiful 10 me, but never saw II
when IL was So beautiful as Lost night. The
scene was IN striking contrast WEN that &c
the east. Looking towards Alnlooro' al
WAS weird uncaunv. shifting and 20 the
imagination tumultu0us IN TIE valley ~
was peace and rest. A. far rs the eye could
reach up and down the valley proper and
along the gorge 10 Jackson's rlycr the
country was bathed in flood of soft ycl-
low radiance. II was field Of pale gold
through which the brook ran Ike wind
jng ribbon OF shimmerng silver, and the
only indications that the people were lot
sleeping the slpepOf cnchantm Ht were the
lights thai twiukled IN the hotel aId VII
lage.
TIE TIP DOWN.
The trip down the mountain was made
rapidly. Judge Harlan set the pace oud Il
shook up some of the younger members Of
the party 20 keep up with him. supper
was not ready wucE We started up, $50 ho-
fore reaching the gap on the rciuln
Journey We sent a messenger ahead bN the
short cut 90 tell Patrick We were coming
with Dugali Dagettv appetite. bid hin
kill the " tatted calf and stir up tie chl'i
cook Patrick could not find the lated
calfn on such short notice, hut ne found
the fitted mutton and various other
things t. which We did iuil just zee. Inc
marty were u little faded when the hotel
AH
that would not have spent the night on
the mountain rather than miss our eNpe-
IiCnce.
MOTIFS.
The season holds on very well-indeed
better than it has done for years, and the
prospect Is for good company until the
LIST Of October.
Miss Nancttc Hopkins, daughter of Or.
d. +. Hopkins. the resident physician
here. left to-dnv for pccator, Ca, where
she takes charge of a large female school
a. principal
The Bath politicians tell me that the
Democrats OF the county viii give good
account Of themselves in November. Court
day indicate that the campaign was gong
70 be warm IA tins section.
The Warm sustaius is reputation TO-
being like one big family. and tins year
there are more pretty and sweet girls ana
moro afahle matrons here than / ever
knew 20 be the case before. G.. W. ).
LOUDOUN COUNTY.