Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-07-04
For the Herald and Tribune.
In OLD VIRGINIA.
Among Some of Natures Interest
ing Scenery.
A Trip TO the Natural Bridge and
Luray Cayerns.

A drive across Botetourt to the bridge
not made with hands, was one of the
pleasures of last week. Though ad-
moniohed before that the tourist often
passes over before he thinks of being
near it, l too rode over what sup.
posed to be hill for the span is only
ninety feet and the width is one hun
dred feet with trees on either side.
One can see on either side that there is
a deep hollow, but if one does not go
near the edge the trees prevent the
view.
The visitor follows a tumbling cas-
cade down to the swift stream of Cedar
Creek into a dark canon and short
walk brings him in sight of the great
bridge in mid air above him. He pas.
ses into the awful hush of its twilight.
Birds high in air pass under the blue
arch. The story of its building has
never been told.
1t is at the bottom of the precipice,
by the side oil the babbling brook un-
derneath this immense arch that we
must judge of its astonishing structure.
Here rude and shapeess neture which
art attempts in vain, attacks at once
the senses and thoughts and excites
awe and admiration. AT the bottom
of the stream there appear no ruins, no
trace of violent earthquakes. Here
travellers from both worlds have stood
and gazed upon this phenomenon of
nature. Under it, linen look like boys
and trees like bushes"
But to return to the top and follow
the bride paths along the cliffs is more
romantic. From wild overhanging
rocks the bridge and glen can be seen
to advantage. Many are cool and de-
lightful places at which one may rest
and look below. Here l sighed for the
soul and skill of the artist. If the
traveller seeks place where there are
no fogs or mosquitoes, gnats or mala
ria, or seeks in nature the wonderful or
the beautiful, sparkling springs, or
shady places by still water, or would 60
to windy hilltops and to wider skies,
he may turn his footsteps hither.
Few there are who have the resolu-
ton to walk to the edge and look over
into the abyss. You are more inclined
to creep upon hand and foot. If the
view from the top is painful, that from
below is delightful. Walking along
the glen in cool and shady bower, sub
lime emotions fill the soul. So beauti-
full and rich, SO lofty as it were up to
heaven! The rapture of the spectator
is indescribable. The ravine above
and below the bridge is narrow and
deep for some distance. 1t affords a
public highway over valley which
could not be crossed elsewhere for a
great distance.
Here one hears many traditions of
heroism. Some have climbed dizzy
nights for notoriety and inscribed their
names that others might know of their
coming and going.
1t is claimed that Washington while
a surveyor visited it and carved his
name where it may now be seen. But
the writer fails to find it. Clay beauti-
fully wrote of it. "The bridge not
made with hands, that spans a river,
carries highway and makes two
mountains one."
Excursion to Luray Caverns-The
Y. M. c. A. of Roanoke City, gave an
excursion to Virginia's famous under
ground wonder. The number of ex-
curSionists was 800 requiring two
trains. The train pulled out from
Roanoke at Z AM. and arrived at Lu-
ray, $50 miles distant ,at about O clock
and from that time until after the
quaint little town was overrun with
men, women and children. Looking
to the east, where up the lucid sky the
morning climbs, we passed rapidly
by the grand valley of Virginia. A
hot sun poured down its rays from a
cloudless sky and reflected splendor
from two of the lovely rivers of Vir-
ginia-the majestic James and the pla,
cid Shenandoah. The mountains were
blue and imposing and the beautiful
farming lands of this favored garden
spot of the Old Dominion were weighted
with the varied products of the soil.
But l was to tell you of the Caverns Of
Luray. Wonderful as they are am
told they have been known but sixteen
years. The caverns beggar description.
Words are not at my command to ex-
press the wonders of these famous sub
terranean passages.
The visitors are divided into parties
OF tifties each and at the word ready"
we followed our guide down a stairway
to natures depths where the mind
must accustom itself to monstrous
shapes, to the silence and weird influ-
ence of subterranean world. The
marvels are seen by the light of elec-
trio lamps and tallow candles. How.
ever hot above the surface, below there
is difference of 26o in temperature.
Glittering stalactites, draperies in
broad folds and many tints, cascade of
snow white stone and beyond back
ground of pitchy darkness greet the
eye of the sstonished beholder. Fancy
is dazed at these novel forms. Around
us is silence that speakes. Awe