Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-09-03
,eak directly of that, let US take glance


at the
TOPOGRAPHY AND SCENERY AROUND LURAY.
Luray, the county seat Of Page, is 8
thrifty town OF two Thousand Eve hundred
Inhabitants. II has several excellent in
dustries, hotels, schools, clutches o bank,
newspapers, and all the appointments of a
progressive, industrioas, and cultured peo-
pie. The tanpery there is believed to be
the largest in the sofld, the roof of its
buildings ccyelins a space of nearly four
acres.
The principal stream, other than the
Shenandoah river, is the Havksbill, which
comes down from the watershed on the,
west SIDE of the Blue Ridge Mountain -
the east and flows north westwardiy, pass
ing through the town to the Shenandoah
river. There are other smaller streams
having the same source, which converge to
and fall into the Hawksbill. The latter
furnishes the principal water-power Ter
mills, sc, ia the vicinity. These}valeg Of
the Hawksbill and other straalS aye the
loveliest of natures works. The Blue
Ridge on the East forms p Gres cent and
the Massanutten on the West runs straight
forming the cherd Of the arc, and the town
occupies a site about the centre between
the~ohord and arc, and its expansion has
widened out on~tlse main thoroughfare of
the olden time from Novmarket in Sheuan-
doah county to CulpeBer on line nearly
due East and West, crossing the Page
Valley at right angles.
From every point of view which may be
taken of the Page Valley, extending many
miles South and North OF the town, and at
it's widest places eight or ten miles broad
between the two mountains, with the
Hawksbill andother streams flowing from
| she Southeast across ii, the scenery is
truly enchanting. Farm-houses and highly
cultured fstne, gently rolling surfaces OF
deep blus grass Competing the fields,
barns, oHhards. and livestock, and the
ABUNDANCE of a lsnd "fowing with milk
and heney" are some of the scenes pre-
sentee in To g principal valleys which, with
the hterylingled sunlight Of plain and she
shadows of deep forests, with the noun
tabs as background, form picture Of
tue loneliness. The Cave and Court.
llouse hills and the tower of the Inn are
! three of the elevated points from which the
| eye can survey the enchanting scenery, the
mind be charmed with its surpassin 2
beauty and loveliness, and the soul in.
| spired with devotion as it reverently 'qoolzs
! up from Natures works to Natures God
But what Of a sunset as viewed in that
grand panorama Of clustering vales formed
! q little lower thsn the main surface Of the
undulating fields and DARK old forests
whore running and eddied water, and
pastoral homes beneath, and the high
mountains like walls to guard and protsc;
the contentment that reigns supremacy
along their foot hillsand across The plateaus,
and smiles alike upon the laborer and the
landlord? AS rich as is all cur Valley in
displays Of nature at the opening and close
Of day, there are few if any localities like
uAsS' Ills NC gaps III ING IAaSeanuttOD
are low and the walls are On the lines OF
NORTHEAST and Southwest. When the
sun is far below the high range and peaks
Of the Massanutton, its rays are thrown
through the gaps along the middle
CT it's eastern sides and across On
the western elopes of "Stony-man'
and ajacent elevations Of the Blue
Ridge range. Above these distinct lines
the psarly mist intermixed with sands OF
golden brightness III mingled beauty as.
cend to the clouds, often beneath rain
bow, whilst below it the shadows of even
tide and night, fall throw their mantle over
the quiet valleys. These sre u few OF The
sublime scores OF nature as beheld by the
thrnngs Of visitors who ere &C rest in rustic
seats or pr5menading along the one thou
sand Of lineal feet of bread porcbes which
surround The sides Of the queenly Inn.
THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.