The times., 1899-05-14
A TRIP TO NATURAL BRIDGE
The Presidential Party spends a
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Hot Springs, Va, May 1S.-The Pres-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley. with a party OF
friends. spent the day in trip to Natural
Bridge, leaving Hot Springs at $3.50 this
morning and arriving here on the return
trip at 6 o'clock. The trip was planned
by Secretary Gage and when at breakfast
time this morning the rain was still fall
ing heavily the prospect of pleasant day
was gloomy. postponement was out of
the question. however, as Secretary and
Mrs. Gage will return to Washington to-
morrow night.
For two hours the rain continued to fall.
but at II o'clock the sun burst forth and
the clouds scattered away and a perfect
May day shone forth. The drive from the
railroad station to the bridge, three miles.
is very rough. so Mrs. Mckinley remained
in the car with DR.. and Mrs. Rixey while
the other members of the party were
driven to the bridge. Several groups of
colored people were passed, who displayed
great enthusiasm as the President saiuted
them.
Postmaster Nair, of Clifton Forge, met
the President at the entrance to the bridge
reservation and escorted the visitors down
the wooden steps through the glen to the
bridge. pretty sight greeted them as
they arrived beneath the arch Seated on
the rocks in the stream that flows between
the walls was group OF thirty bright
faced girls from Hollins Institute at Roam
oke. All of the girls wore straw hats and
they looked so attractive that the Presi
dent shook hands with each of them as
they were introduced by the professor in
charge. Then the eagle in the rocks was
pointed out, the time-worn explanations
made as to how it all happened and the
party turned and under the Presidents
lead retraced their steps up the hill.
AT the top halt was made, while the
President chatted in an informal way with
group Of farmers, to whom he said that
the sight of the bridge had made a great
impression upon him. One of the farmers
told the President the story of how George
Washington had thrown a rock over the
arch from the ground beneath. distance
of PIG feet. and how James G. Blaine had
attempted the feat with silver dollar and
failed. The President modestly said that
he did not think he could do the trick II
Blaine could not, and that he did not mean
TO try.
a call was made upon Mrs. Parsons. the
owner of the Natural Bridge property, at
her residence. which is built on the foun-
dation walls of the cottage once occupied
by Thomas Jefferson. From the Parsons
house trip was made to Pulpit Rock.
Then the party walked across the bridge,
and here taking their carriages started
down the hilly, rocky road to the railroad
station. As the cavaIcade passed the pa
villon. or casino" close to the road the
schoolgirls from Holllns. who we're
grouped on the porch. suddenly. and to the
amused surprise OF everybody. gave In
chorus the Hollins Seminary yell. 1t was
done as cleverly as a crowd of coliege boys
could have done IL, and the girls were ap-
haH haa tlxr F.ll
the President and Mrs Mckinley went on
the trip: Secretary and Mrs. Gage. Mr.
and Mrs. ]. q. Schmidlapp and Col. Edward
Colston. of Cincinnati: Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
Sterry. of Hot Springs. Mrs. p. B. Shum-
way. p. B. Schumway. and William H.
Hoag. of Chicago. and the Presidents
nephew. A. j. Duncan. of Clifton Forge.
No arrangements have yet been made
for MIR. McKinleys Western trip, which
he has had in contemplation for some
time. Ii is not yet known what route
will be taken or when the start will be
made. 1t is quite possible, moreover, that
the President viii hold all his plans in
abeyance until he learns definitely the pro-
gramme of Admiral Dewey's homecoming
Ii is now thought probable that the Ad-
miral Will set sail for the United States
forthwith. arriving here early In July. II
this Is to be the case the President will
pIoDdoIy ueIer MS departure until after
the Admirai,s arrival, as he would not
desire to be away from Washington during
the visit of the nations hero
The President has in mind in a general
way trip of about five weeks duration
taking him to the Pacific Coast by the
Southern route. up to the Puget Sound
country. and home through the West and
Northwest, taking in, possibly. the min
ing districts of Michigan and Wisconsin.
| The President will take few friends with
him, but no definite plans have been made