Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-26
THE ARCHERY TOURNAMENT.
The Bow and Arrow Experts Assembled u
the Natural Bridge.

the Natural Bridge.
Special Correspondence of The Evenins Star.
NATURAL BRIDGE, Va, August "A, 1891.
Every one says that an archery tournament II
sure to bring rain, and it is certainly doing
double duty in that direction here now. II
doesn't rain in the mountains in an everyday
civilized way, but it comes in great waves Of
mist that soak helpless shooter on all sides.
But archers never get a bit discouraged, an
the more it rains the harder they try to have q
royal good time. and Natural Bridge is just the
place to haveit in. There are three big hotels,
all connected by board walks The Appledore
contains nothing but bed rooms, each one
opening out into fine old-fashioned veranda,
with reclining chairs and hammocks. The
veranda surrounds the house for three stories
and is great place to promenade or lounge
and smoke. and il is well filled today, for no
one can step off the board walk or he would be
in danger of an immediate eclipse in the soft
clay mud that lie everywhere. Between the APP
pledore and road stands the pavilion, q long
two-story frame surrounded with porches.
This contains the ball room, which is an eXcep-
tionally good one and in which the band plays
every night from June to October. This item
is impressed on you in the circulars, but after
you come you are very sure that that was no
false alarm. for that band does play every
evening, and not only does it play every even
and if 1t thinks the archers look blue at the
dreary prospect of hunting for arrows in the
wet grass it sallies forth and walls out Home
Sweet Home" or 1.-The Rainy Day." or some
equally enlivening tune.
The Forest Inn contains the Offices dining
rooms and parlors and few extra bed rooms.
The dining room is the real old-fashioned kind,
with long tables for eight people, the castor set
in the center, fanked by butter dishes and
plates heavily loaded with bread. Then the
knives and forks are arranged just so, with your
napkin in your tumbler. But there was moth
ing old-fashioned about the dinner; 1t was just
the kind that appeals to the rayenous stomach
OF an archer.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARcHERs.
The western delegation came through in .
special car from Cincinnati, and Of course had
very lively time of it on the way. They were
met at Clifton Forge by the eastern delegation,
who had taken In Luray cavern on the way.
The real fun came after leaving the train, for
then there is Q rough ride of about two miles to
the hotels, and the archers were piled like sar-
dimes, with bows, satchels and arrow boxes, into
four-horse stage coaches and jolted until every
bone ached from laughing and humping.
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT.
The tournament will commence Wednesday
morning, the weather permitting, and every
one seems to be in goo trim to make good
score. The shooters already outnumber those
OF any previous meet and the association is
very much encouraged over the future outlook.
The Washington delegation is headed by Mr..
Louis Maxon, who is as jolly and enthusiastic
as ever. and carries sunshine in his voice.
The hotels claim that they can accommodate
800 guests and they are almost full now. The
personally conducted Chesapeake and Ohio
excursion will arrive tonight. to remain until
Thursday afternoon, and imagine the state of
feeling Of Col. Peyton. the manager of the
hotels, when he read this dispatch from Mr..
Gregor, who is in charge of the tour: "For
heavens sake save us room for 120 guests to-
night" And there are only fifteen vacant rooms
In the place! The personally conducted" /
fear. will have to bunk on the veranda.
There is one thing the Virginia hills seem
very prolific in. and that is cows-long lean,
lanky animals, all ornamented with huge bells,
which echo and re-echo until you think there
must be at least million.
The omnipresent dollar holds first place here,
and you must pay your little 50-cent piece be-
fore you are permitted to go and gaze on the
most wonderful piece Of bridge building the
world can produce. What right has a small,
puny man to stand up and say that he owns the
rocks which stood for ages before he ever
thought of living and will stand ages after he
is forgotten! you ask, but despite all your high
notions you pay the money and go and feast
your eyes and think it was cheaply purchased
Gee.