Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26
Thomas Jefferson Was Original Owner of
Tract Containing Famed Natural Bridge

Of the bridge. Visitors were lowered
in this carriage by means of a wind.
lass while colored flddlers played tune.
full Southern melodies. The trip was
as thrilling as an excursion over
Niagara in barrel, according to
some of those who made the descent.
Thomas Jefferson, in one of his
diaries, describes the Natural Bridge
In this way: 1.-THE Natural Bridge,
one of natures most sublime works,
Is on the ascent Of a hill which seems
to have been cloven through its
length by some great CONFUSION. This
assure. at the bridge is 212 feet deep,
45 feet in width at the bottom and
double that distance at the top. The
bridge is composed Of one solid lime.
stone rock, which weighs thousands
Of tons. The arch is almost semi.
elliptical in shape. The sides of the
structure are provided with rock
parapets, but few men have resolu.
ton enough to walk there and look
down over the abyss. Looking down
from that height for l minute gave
me a violent headache. The view from
the wooded glen below is delightful.
1t seems as though the elevated arch
springs as it were up to heaven"
FAR below the bridge. where Cedar
Creek flows peacefully, men look
like boys and trees like bushes as
viewed from the summit Of the span.
The glen above the bridge is | mile
long and extends to Lace Water Falls,
where Cedar Creek makes a spectacu-
lar 100-foot leap from an upper level.
Lost River is a subterranean stream
ne u-hi ic tell
a low archway in the adjacent noun
tainside. Two of the largest arbor
vitae trees in the world, reputed to be
$50 years old, are also outstanding
features. The trunk of each of these
forest giants is more than IS feet
in circumference at the butt.
Natural Bridge is accessible by au.
tomobile from Washington by inn
proved permanent highways. The best
route leads over the Lee highway to
Fairfax Court House, Middleburg and
Winchester to the valley pike, which
bisects the Shenandoah Valley and
penetrates some of the most pictur-
esque pastoral country east of the
Mississippi. The marvellous caverns.
which are open to visitors both day
and light, are other points of inter.
est which may be visited during an
excursion to Natural Bridge Those
who desire to camp along the way
will find superior facilities provided
for tenting parties near the leading
towns and cities.
An unknown poet. using his pen as
a brush. has painted q pleasing visu-
aiization of the Natural Bridge of Vir.
gina in verse, which is reproduced
here:
How wonderfully weird and picturesque
This masterpiece of natures handiwork;
Not Pharaoh Solomon nor Michaelangelo
Did eer conceive such splendor Of display.
Such high cathedral walls and lofty towers
Such turrets. terraces and mimic oattie
ments.
Qerlooking all. the pulpit. high In air -,
From which the God OF nature dotn ols-
To ,worshpers within the wales below.
IN language eloquent. we'll understood.
Yet written only in the hearts of men.
Behold the picture! Listen to the choir!
" silver cascades leaping from the clHs
From crag 10 crag. down through the WOOD
Under the rlIstiing foliage OF the trees,
H. In which the merry songbirds play their part,
While the bright. CLASSY stream along the
GORGE
Mirrors the every VARYING tints and shades
with which the scene Is penctled by the sun
All hail the Mighty Architect divine
Who Is and was and shall forever be:
Science Is SILENT Art itself 10 dumbI
we know not how or why or when
This work was done. We only know
1t Is and we must wonder and be STILL