LURAY CAVERN, PAGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA. 457 



collection of these immense stalactites at this portion of the cavern re- 

 sembles a great inverted forest of blasted trunks. The only spot in all 

 the abyss where a sense of danger and utter helplessness seizes the ex- 

 plorer is when he stands beneath these magnificent stalactites, weighing 

 over 500 tons each, held to the roof only by their own cohesion, and capa- 

 ble of falling, as evidenced by the prostrate giant before him. This feel- 

 ing quickly subsides, however, when, upon closer inspection, he sees the 

 fluted sidesof the ftillen one supportinglong rows of secondary stalactites 

 which indicate that perhaps centuries have elapsed since the crash of its 

 downfall reverberated through these lonely halls. Drooping over the 

 column to the right is the Angel's Wing, a formation of alabaster white- 

 ness, nearly 10 feet high by 7 wide, and flecked all over with feather-like 

 wrinkles. Truly one may be pardoned for giving his fancy loose rein, 

 as he here beholds in this wing drooping over a fallen stalactite an em- 

 blem of the flight of centuries. 



The Throne Room and the Throne, Chapman's Lake, the Tower of 

 Babel, and Katie's Secret pass quickly in review as the path leads on 

 to the Giants' Hall, the chef d'oeuvrc of this fairy underworld. On the 

 verge of a towering cliff the beholder faces this chamber of wonders. 

 Stretching away to the right is a seemingly interminable row of prodig- 

 ious, glittering columns. They rise from out the depths of shade and 

 are lost in the overhanging gloom. The magnesium light successfully 

 combats these hosts of darkness and drives them into the alcoves and 

 recesses above, beneath, and on either side, revealing forms of giant 

 dimensions, weird outline, and infinite variety of ornament. Many feet 

 below are the Chimes, — long sheeted stalactites, which on being vi- 

 brated give forth a deep, tremulous peal of varied tone. 



The Empress Columns, the Sultana, the Double Columns, the Frozen 

 Cascade, the Chalcedony Cascade, and the Hanging Eock being i^assed 

 and admired, the scene opens into the Amphitheater, a large high-ceiled 

 rotunda which has been tightly floored and fitted up with seats and 

 chandeliers for a ball-room. Here on special occasions the citizens of 

 Luray assemble to "chase the glowing hours with flying feet.'' Around 

 the amphitheater are the Tombs of the Martyrs, Cinderella, and an end- 

 less number of robed and spangled heroes and heroines as yet un- 

 named. An ascent of two long flights of stairs leads from this rotunda 

 to Campbell's Hall, an oblong chamber, about 200 feet in the long di- 

 ameter and 50 feet high. The chief attraction of this room is the rich 

 variety of coloring in the stalactites, including red, yellow, black, white, 

 blue, gray, brown, with an infinite number of intermediate shades. 



The returning path leads through the Bridal Chamber, where at 

 least one couple sought their introduction into the mysteries of wedded 

 love. l!^ear at hand is the hollow column, a cylinder of great size, which 

 rises from the floor and disappears through the ceiling as a stove-pipe. 

 The column is hollow, as its name implies, a stream of water having 

 worn away the center, through which, by means of a rope, an ascent can 

 be made to a chamber nearly GO feet above. 



