The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-27
TRANSIENT RATES
SATURDAY........JULN p, 1901.
MORE OBSERVATIONS.

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great treat in store. and during the
next few days the big-heartednesS of
what are generally termed soulless
corporations the railroads made
easy the paths OF the poor editors
and editresSes. Mr.. Bevill. of the y.
4 W. had dispatched his representa-
tive. Mr. Paul Scherer. TO Join the
party at Lurav and arrange for
visit to the Natural Bridge. one OF
the most picturesque rides probably
to be had i'm America l. that ON the
Shenandoah branch of the Norfolk
and Western. Mountain range after
mountain range looms up ahead.
soon to be- surmOunted and left be-
hind. growing fainter and rivaling
the cerulean blue; towns that We're,
are or will be- fit past for the mineral
wealth of a world, almost. seems to
be stored here. Mr. Schercr didnoth-
ING bv halves: the train had been
crowded when it reached Luray. but
a Pullman was soon placed at the
disposal OF the fraternity. and from
its comfortable apartmentsevery adj
vantage was offered for sightseeing.
as we'll as comfort.
Natural Bridge station was reached.
and then began the beautiful mount
ain climb of three miles, behind fine
horses. along the historic James 49,
now way below at the bottom OF a
chasm-and over peaks to that high
altitude OF the Bridge where the Wis
itOr breathes newneSs of life and ban
ishes dull cares. Under the new add
ministratiOn Of Mr. Paxton wefound
successful efforts had been made to
add to the already surprising at
Effectiveness of the Bridge property
hotels and grOunds-as well as in the
culinary department. one who has
visited this grand spot number OF
times. and could still hope To revisit
it year after year, feels that he can
say that there is "A charm about IT
which he has found nowhere else.
With it's hotels and cottages Nesting
among and almost OvershadOwed by
the mountain peaks the pictureis one
hardly to be surpassed by any which
pictured Switzerland affords. Num-
bers OF visitors to this place have
expressed it as their view that its
attractions surpass those of Niagara
in other words there is none to
equal it in America No picture OF
the Bridge itself can begin to portray
its awful sublimity, its immensely, its
hoariness. Across its top rams the
county road to Lexington, and so
wide and rugged are its sides that a
stranger never knows ne is crossing
this viaduct of Nature : building until
his attention is called to it. At its
bottom. more than two hundred feet,
ripples n silvern stream among the
boulders. and a human being below
appears like a big bug crawling over
obstacles. The Lost River, HemlOck
Isle and Saltpetre Cave are attrac-
tions in themselves, to befound higher
Up the stream, and the Peaks OF Otter
are to be seen only a few miles DIS
tant. 1t seems as though Nature was
over-partial to this land and people
in lavishing her gifts.
Such generous treatment was re-
ceived at the hands OF Mr.. Paxton
and his assistants that all were 10th
to leave. but down the three mile
mountain road. with brakes on,
the laughing, rollicking crowd were
wheeled. After providing for the
transportation of the various parties
for now separation began in earnest
Mr.. Scherer returned TO Roanoke,
and this cOterie faced North once
more. At Basic another split-up
came, but the quartette remaining
were Joined by some who had gone
from Luray west on the c. X o., and
the augmented party now were in the
care of Virginia : great throughro
from East to West, the Chesapeake
and Ohio. Messrs. Fuller and Potts
Traffic Managers of the road, had
provided all required accommodate
tions, and feeling secure in this the
party proceeded to feast on the seen
cry of another section. The great
Blue Ridge tunnel, almost at the
summit of the range, gave exit from
the lovely Shenandoah Valley into
Piedmont and Eastern Virginia
There are few sights as inspiring IA
that which greets the vision whel
emerging from this tunnel, coming
eastward The train is more apt t.
be above the clouds than below them
and if so the sky is clear above anC
the mountain peaks are visible
Presently, as the rapid descent pro
crosses, a mist or fog envelops tn
train. the receding mountains ar
visible only through riffs in tn
clouds for what had appeared as I
Jog was now found to be cloud.
panorama of the red hills and iertll
valleys of Albemarle, many hundred
r.. IA b. fhn u1nNV