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Show 194 NATURAL BRIDGE. should leave the steamboat at Guyandotte, on the Ohio River; thence, by stage, to the Springs. For Route from Guyandotte to the White Sulphur Springa, see page 149. Travellers from the South will reach Richmond, Va., by railroad, from Wilmington, N.C., at which place they will take conveyance as before described. THE NATURAL BRIDGE of Virginia is one of the greatest natnral curiosities in the country, if not in the world. It consists of a stupendous arch of limestone rock, over an unimportant and small stream, called Cedar Creek. The view from the top is awfully grand; yet one should go to the brow of the precipice that descends to the level of the creek. w~e re ~he vie~, equally sublime, will be founrl far more interesting, being divested, In a great measure, of the a've which is sensibly felt on looking from the bridge down into the dreadful gulf. The height from the streaf!l to the top of the bridge is 215 feet, its average width, 80 ~eet, and ~ts extreme .length at the top, 95 feet. The chasm over which Jt p:1sses 1.s 50 feet Wide at bottom, and UO feet at top. The bridge is covered WJth earth to the depth of about five teet, which is made firm hy tree~ and shrubb~ry, whil.st its sides are p~·otected by ro.cks, forming a natUta.l wall. It ts 156 miles west from Rtchmond, 2 rrules north of James River, 41 from Lynchburg, and 63 miles south-east from the White Sulphur Springs. . MOUNT VERNON and the Tomb of Washington are situated in VirgHlla,. ou the west bank of the Potomac, 15 miles south from the city of \tV_aslungton, and 8 miles from Alexandria. Conveyances ruay be ob· ta,!ned, at w.as.hington, at the rate of $6 00 for the trip, with the privile,., e o.f rcmaimng at Mount Vernon for an hour. The best plan, howe~ er, ts to take the ferry-boat from Washington to Alexandria, which WJII cost 12k cents, and. occupy about lJalf-an:hour. At the latter place a C?n_vcyance may be h~red for the trip, which will cost from $3 to $-!. This I~ the least expens1ve route, and besides adds variety to the travel Occa~wnally during the summer season steamboats ply between Ale~: andn.a and Washington and Mount Vernon-fare, $1 00. This route 'is certatnly preferable to all other~. Visitors, although permitted to walk over the grounds, ~re not admitted to the mansion, unless they have letters to the propnetor. At.Aie~andri~ may be seen Braddock's ltouse, built in the year 1752 The J n tenor, WIth the exception of " Braddock's Room " has been re: m?delle<~ :. the old wainscoting, in the room referred t~ is preserved With rehgwus care, and is very curious. ' F THEh WARM S.PRINGS, N.C., are situated on the east bank of the irene Broad ~·v.e r, 282 miles west from Raleigh, the capital of the ~tate. These Spnngs, toget.her with the road leading down the above ~~ver, are wort.hy the attentiOn and arlmiration of the tourist. It is a ne r:'acadam1zed !oad~ and follows the course of the river alonO' its hank, and a~ the .nver IS ~hut in on both sides by mountains in d;an P.laces .rounrlJ~g h1~h, bluff points, the road has its foundati~n on th~ nver, hesembhng piers. It is a noble monument of the conquest of art oyet ~ e obstacles of nature . . The scenery is very wild, rugged, and pte Uiesque. The Warm Spnngs afford a very deliohtful waterin - r~:c~~i~~~o~~~n mg ~~~/esorle~ to b:,;: invalids, and othe.:'s from this a.fd f; . es. ew tn1les helow the Warm Springs are the amous Paznt Rocks and C!timneys. The climate of this section is one MAMMOTH CAVE. 195 of the most salubrious in the world; its crystal water, pure air, and exercise among the mountains, cannot fail of being beneficial to those who pay it a visit. MAMMOTH CAVE, KY ,-This remarkable cave is situated in Edmondson county, Ky., about 130 miles from Frankfort, midway between Louisville and Nashville, and near Green River. It is said to contain 226 avenues, 47 domes, numerous rivers, 8 cataracts, and 23 pits, some of which possess a great degree of grandeur. The atmosphere of the cave is serviceable to those afflicted with pulmonary complaints, and in some cases has proved beneficial. Visitors wishing to explore lhe cave are furnished with guides, and every necessary direction given. The cave is entered by descending several steps; all is now darkness and gloom; a light is obtai ned, and following our guide we reach the rot.unda, which covers about half an acre of ground, and is not less than 30 feet high. The church, which is a spacious hall, derives its name from a ledge of rocks resembling a pulpit; it is three-quarters of a mile from the mouth of the cave. The next place is the Gothic Avenue, which is reached by ascending a flight of steps about 20 feet. We next pass in succession the Haunted Chamber, Got/tic Chapel, Devil's Arm-chair, and .11mmctt's Dome. Goram' s Dome is 620 feet from the surface, and is the deepest part of the cave. The Bottomless Pit is a fearful looking place, two miles from the entrance. A hole apparently sunk in at one side of the cave, marks the first appearance of the river: it is termed the Dead Sea. The River Styx, a short distance beyond, crosses the cave, the ground over· it forming what is termed the Natural B'ridge. Martita's Vineyard is an apartment so named from its being covered with a beautiful lime formation resembling grapes, which, when lighted, reflects great beauty. The visitor passes through and by ravines, ha~ls, &c., of great beauty:-Cleveland, Cabinet, Spear Hall, Snowball Rav1ne, &c. &c.; the latter JS one of the most beautiful places imaginable: the whole is covered with sulphate of lime, resembling flowering balls. After leaving the lime formations the visitor approaches the Rocky .Mountains. This is an apartment where the rocks have fallen from the top of the cave, forming a very large hill or mountain of rocks, some 100 feet or more high, which is very steep and rough. To stand on the top and look down into the hollow beneath, is the most solemn and dismal sight ever beheld. Its name, Dismal Hollow, is very appropriate. After leaving this, we approach the end of the .cave, to arrive at which, ·we go down a steep and easy des?en t, to what IS called Serena's Ha'rbor, which is filled with large stalactites. RouTEs To THE MAMMOTH CAVE.-It can be readily reached from Cincinnati 0. Louisville Frankfort, and Lexington , Ky., in the north, and from Nashville Ten~ .. in the south. The accommodations will be found durinO' the travelling season, to be very good from either place, and f~rc s m~derate. Steamboats, also, during seasons of high 'vater, ascend Green River, a distance of about 165 miles from the Ohio, landing in the vicinity of the cave. It is about 1.30 miles .fr~m L exington, 98 frorn the Harrodsburg Springs, about UO from LouiSVIlle, and the same distance from Nashville, Tenn. THE FAllS OF ST. ANTHONY are situated ~n the Mississippi .River, some 300 miles from its source, about 800 m1les abov~ St. ~ou1s, a~d 2,097, by the course of the river, from the Gulf of M.exJCo. 1he. fall JS only about 17 feet, yet it is considered more beauuful than Niagara, |