Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-06-24
NATURAL BRIDGE.
Trip TO One of KentuCky'S Won
ders of Nature and Beauty
by Our Correspondent.

Especial Letter to the Kentucky Irish
American
FRANKFORT, KY, June pa perfect
day, congenial crowd, splendid railroad
coaches, courteous railroad officials, a
remarkable spot at the journeys end of
whose beauties, attractions and natural
wonders the half has never been told
these were a few of the many features
which went to make the excursion to
Natural Bridge on Sunday last a delight
while it lasted and something which will
live as a pleasant memory to the writer
for a long time to come. Nothing was
lacking for the days pleasure, everything
connected with the occasion being well
nigh perfect Our train, which pulled
out of Frankfort at $3.50 a. M, was COM
posed of eight well-filled coaches of jolly
excursionists. After short run of TWEEN
ty-eight miles we reached Lexington, the
gem of the blue grass, at 1920 a. III. Our
train was then switched from the l.. & n.
railroad to the L. & +. railway and three
more coaches added, and at 1926 we left
over the Lexington & Eastern railway
for Natural Bridge. A ride of sixty-two
miles up this road is rare treat and a
diversion in itself. The condition of the
road is now such that all the unpleasant
features of travel have been reduced to a
minimum, while the facilities afforded
for comfort and enjoyment are many and
marked. Leaving Lexington for a time
we passed through glorious fields of
growing grain and agricultural activity,
blooded stock browsing in blue grass
pastures or lolling beside some limpid
brook, beneath the shade of wondrous
forest trees, bespeak one great unrivaled,
unquestioned glory of Kentucky. Con-
tinuing the journey we passed out of the
blue grass region into a section of the
State not so famed, although marvellous
in the grandeur of its rustic beauty. This
is what is commonly called the mountain
region of the State, upon whose crags and
knobs and beneath whose finty soil un-
told millions of timber and mineral
wealth repose. Here the scenery is pict
uresque and often inspiring in its rugged
ness. Towering timber-crowned peaks,
madly rushing torrents, startling yet
beautiful cascades, these tell of the age
upon ages gone when Nature battled with
herself, of the tabled days of giants and
gnomes, and hold subtle suggestion of
the weird and wondrous strains of 30
hengrin."
At Natural Bridge few people alight-
ed, but nearly all went on to Torrent the
Wonderful, that gem of wild mountain
scenery, that strange and startling prank
which Nature played upon her own coun-
tenance in some day of awful antiquity.
Manager Frazier, of the Park Hotel was
ready and waiting to receive the crowd,
and with true graciousness he did so.
The uniqueness and grandeur of the
scenery surrounding this arch of Nature S
torrent battles description. One can look
upon them long and marvel at their
strangeness and beauty, and with the
looking the wonder grows. All too soon
did the pleasant moments speed away
and the time tor departure come. With
reluctant farewell look the departure
was finally taken and goodbye said to
Torrent.
Arriving at Natural Bridge in few
minutes all left the train to find amusc-
ment for two hours in inspecting the
attractions of this wonderful place. Many
of the excursionists climbed the noun
tain and viewed with wonder and delight
the grand exhibition of Natures handi-
work, Natural Bridge. Volumes descrip-
tive of the magnihcence of the scenery
surrounding this wonderful place might
be written and the half no. be told. II
simply defes description and shall moi
endeavor to do it. AT O'Clock we left
for home, feeling fully repaid for having
ridden 100 miles in crowded coaches.
The return trip was pleasantly made and
we arrived home at 10 O'Clock, happy in
the knowledge of having spent day
viewing Natures wonders. d. J. M.
Fraser has been pitching good ball for