Year: 1879




l must begin my account of the cave
of Luray with Warrenton, because it was
from here we started on our expedition
to the cave, and Warrenton is well
known to the people of Norfolk, so many
of whom have pleasant memories of
visits TO this charming place.


l think many have felt as l have,
when, after climbing our mountain here
and standing under the 50 View Tree,
they have looked westward to the tow
ering heights of the Blue Ridge, won
dering and longing to see what beautiful
land lies beyond those blue mountains,
whose outline seems melting into the
sky. i had been told of the Valley of
the Shenandoah-that land of


Fertile plains and dcwy meads,


around which the great mountains stand
protectingly, but it was not the Shenan-
doah Valley that we beheld when, one
evening after driving all day towards
those mountains, whose turquoise hues
turned to emerald us we approached, we
finally surmounted the gap and looked
down upon the fairest little valley that
ever the sun shOne On-Or moon either,
for both sun and moon beautified it when
first we saw it, the one with warm, rich
tints of sunset splendOr, while as the
gorgeous colors faded away the full
moon in its perfect beauty shed over it
her gentle light.


Beyond us lay lower range of noun
tains, the Massanutton hiding the
Shenandoah, and below us lay little
happy valley-the Valley of Luray. A
pretty stream flows through it like a sill
yer thread in the landscape The little
town, gayly decked with flowers, seems
to be the abode of peace and tranquility
Near it is little hill-a most unpretend-
ing little hill. So demure it looks,
how could one ever guess the secret ii
has kept these hundreds of years? Yes, a
mighty secret has been hidden in that
quiet valley. Farmers have bought rich
land and plowed and titled and raised
their golden harvest, and have scorned
the little barren hill where only pine
trees and scrub oaks grew; and children
have for ages played over it, little
dreaming of the depths of wonder and
of mystery that lay beneath their feet
Sun and moon have shone on that little
hill. Sounds of human Joy and woe
have been heard there from the town
close by, while down below, in perfect
silence, in utter darkness, a work has
been going on that is startling in its re
semblance to the work of human hands
and the shapes and forms of those fal
depths are surprisingly like those of the
upper world.


The night we arrived tho cave was
lighted up for gay party, who went
there TO enjoy the novel entertainment
of dance underground. We did moi
care to see it in that way-at all events
we preferred a nights rest after a drive
of - hours over mountain roads. The
next morning we were impatient to be
wonders eh no 10,
vealed. A short walk brought us to tn,
hill, where Il house has been built owe
the entrance to the cave. tits proposed
to have hotel there; the site is perfec
no one could wish n lovelier view.
long flight of steps led down to tn,
door through which we passed with ou
guide, each one provided with candle
with a tin reflector. Our first sensation
was of darkness; we realized what wa
the 4" darkness that might be felt"
seemed to close around us, and our littl
candles made scarcely any impression
upon it with their feeble flames. Afte
while our eyes accustomed themselve
TO the strange darkness, and we coul'
then see dim passages through whicl
we went, mysterious shapes around us
We came to an open space; the roof wa
high above our heads; from it hun.
stalactites great and small, and folds Q
drapery like curtains partly concealinj
gloomy caverns black as night Stalao
mites rose like giant columns from tn
ground. Some were of yellowisi
earthly color; others were white an
glistening. Here we decided to bur
some of the red fire we had brought wit
us. The rosy light flashed over fantas
tic forms, giving them new. beauty
The cave was filed with warm, bri
liant illumination. We gazed around
breathless wonder NJ the scene di:
closed, and then the light ws
gone, and smoke, dense, suffocatin
smoke only remained. There was I
way for it to escape, and so there it stai'
making thick fog. "This will not do,
said the guide; . no more red light
here!' So ours was the first and las
may say just here that after sever
hours of wandering and exploring Il
intricacies of the cave, when we T
turned 70 the scene of our little illumin
ton, we found the smoke still there.


hope IN time it found its way out, but


Fnust have been work Of time. II