?.* - A * » * s - : . s ** ■•■ O V ^v o o * ^ ^ - v -"• ' :. .vg 4 O V ^ ^ - J. '** °«. .<£. O ■: .■■ A' Catalogue, free, of the cheapest books ever sold. Address, HENKEL &C0., New Market, Shenandoah Co., Va. — — utym-w HENKEL-&-CO-PRINTERS-NEW-MARKET-VA :• RICHMOND £N&RAVfN& CO • •"-•'< n ASK IFOiR, BITT IRON IRON IRON IRON IRON IRON BITTERS, A ( h-eat Tonic. BITTERS, A Sure Appetizer. BITTERS, A complete Strengtli'ner BITTERS. A Valuable Medicine. BITTERS, Not Sold as a Beverage. BITTERS, For Delicate Females. §1 S CJ V> CO QJ » V SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS. £f| ^w THE BROWN CHEMICAL CO. Baltimore, Md. fee ^-c o £ a c w jc >■ A DESCRIPTION OF THE J* «jii' & mum BY DAVID S- KEHSTISIEIL.. New Market, Va. : Henkel & Co., Printers. 1880. / tf5 Victorious at the Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, 1876.. — Triumphant at the Exposition Universelie, Paris, 1 878. STIEFF Have received the highest encomiums wherever they have been introduced. MADE OF THE VERY BEST MATERIALS THROUGHOUT. They are nevertheless offered at prices that will com- pare favorably with those of any first-class manufac- tory on this continent. The best is always the cheap- est, and hence purchasers of —STIEFF PIANOS— will find a satisfactory equivalent for their money. The lasting quality of the instruments is fully attested by the many Educational and other Institutions, in the Southern States especially, where over 400 are in daily use, and by the unanimous verdict of the best performers of this and other countries. Terms as favorable as is consistent with the times, and every instrument fully warranted for five years. We are also Sole Agents for the Southern States of the "MATCHLESS BURDETT" AND OTHER (MANS. which speak for themselves. A full supply of every style constantly in store, and sold on the most reason- able terms. Fifty Second-hand Pianos alwa3^s on hand at prices ranging from $75 to $300. For Illustrated Catalogue, address CHAS. M. STIEFF, No. 9 North Liberty Street, ""^^ Baltimore, Md. to all those who love the study of nature's Beauties, and to the Patrons of New Market Endless Caverns, this little Book is dedicated. PREFATORY. The author consented to attempt a description of these Caverns with a full consciousness of the peculiar difficulties presented. To keep upon that "happy medium," which so many writers have in vain strug- gled to preserve, has been the principal aim— how well this has been accomplished remains with the generous and competent reader to judge. If any has attempted a like description and "is without sin, let him cast the first stone." The writer has striven to be accurate, as far as pos- sible, and above all things to avoid that degree of ex- aggeration so common in descriptions of this character. New Market Endless Cayerns are situated four miles South of the town of New Market, iu the northeastern part of Rockingham Couut.v, Va. At this point, Smiths Creek touches the base of the Massanutteu Mountain, and winds a lovely silver thread through the lands of the proprietor of these Caverns, Reuben Zirkle, Esq. The entrance is from the western slope of a hill, only a few hundred yards from the creek on the side next to the mountain. At the foot of this hill there is a bold gushing spring of clear water, which has long been a favorite place of resort for summer recreation and amusement. Un- der the protecting shades of the stately oaks, the "light fantastic step" has oft kept time with the "concord of sweet sounds," and many gay and festive hearts have been swelled into rapture with the G merriments of a summers day. Little, however, did they think, that within a few hundred feet from this spot was the undis- covered doorway to a subterranean field of beauty and grandeur, not surpassed by anything- known to mau. Nor did they imagine that the same stream from which they filled their cups, made music for the inanimate, yet growing inhabitants of an underground world. These caverns were discovered by ac- cident, on the 19th day of October, 1879, and have since been visited by hundreds of curiosity seekers, as well as by many per- sons devoted to the study of nature. To the curious the task of "viewing" these caverns is easily accomplished, and a few hours of casual rambling will fully satisfy them; but those who are fond of prying into the mysteries of nature may spend days and even weeks in the study of what they will find to be truly one of nature's master- pieces. Persons from a distance, traveling by rail, get off of the cars at New Market De- pot, where hacks and carriages are always in readiness to convey passengers to these caverns, at the most reasonable rates. The road is good and a little more than an hour's drive completes the pleasant trip. Unlike many other caves, conveyances may be driven to the entrance with entire safety and convenience. For the information of all, I will state, that these caverns may be visited without changing the ordinary dress, and ladies will find less mud and dampness than are usually found in caves. Moreover, these caverns are better ventilated than many residences in the cities, and the most delicate persons need fear no inconvenience from a visit in them. With some persons there is a sort of fear connected with the thought of going into caves. This fear is dispelled at once when seeing the easy mode of ingress, and 8 the great security in the solid arches of rock which form the ceilings. The temperature of these Caverns is pleasant — 56 degrees Fahrenheit, and to avoid taking cold it is only necessary, in the summer, to allow the system to cool to a normal condition before entering, and so in the winter before leaving them. The proprietor has erected convenient and comfortable buildings at the mouth of the Caverns, which afford every facility for chauge of dress if desired, and nothing will be left undone which could add to the pleasure and safety of his patrons. The eutrance is effected by means of an easy descending stairway, and is sixty- five feet to Ante-room. Whatever may have been expected of beauty, grandeur, or sublimity, is fully met? and the most timid heart sweetly glides into a happy forgetfulness of everything else in the world. We look, gaze, wonder, and are lost amid inexpressible delight, and at the same time experience a painful lack 9 of diction with which to express our Dew born sensations. These peculiar impressions arise from a want, of familiar similitudes with which to liken the strange objects by which we are surrouuded. The room is 25 by 90 feet, with a ceiliug 20 feet high. Turning south-east, we may enter a narrow strait 79 feet long, in which are hanging numerous "beefy" lookiug objects, forming a kind of pan handle to the main room. An upward glance is met with thousands of peculiarly formed stalactites, which appear to crowd each other on the ceiling. Some of these forma- tions are gray of age, while others seem to blush with youthful vigor— representing every age of manhood from the cradle, to the grave. On the floor, which at all times is perfectly dry, there is quite a number of servile looking objects, which have fallen from a more exalted plane, or owe their ex- istence to the uu consumed calcareous food of the great army above. The eye is soon 10 attracted to five grand columns which stand proudly grouped against the southern wall. The most beautiful one of these columns stands in rear of the rest, as if to withhold its charms from the mere casual visitor. It resembles clusters of roses bathed in dew— hence the name it bears. " Crystal Rose Column."' On the North west side of this room, is a grand kingly throne protected by an immense arch, most beautifully hung with drapery. From this point turning abruptly to the right, we eater the Sentinel Room, or the Straits of Thermopylae, so called be- cause the room is long and narrow, with quite tall ceiling. Here area tew stalagmites which resemble soldiers on guard. On the lett under a shelving rock is Lot's wile, with a little maid by her side, who seems to lament thesituation of the unfortuuately curious woman. Returning from this room, just in rear of the Kings throne, in a beautifully 11 adorned grotto, we see ;t snow white rat, climbing a brown slender post, and as this is the vicinity in which the "Cave Rats" were domiciled il is supposed that they came here to do reverence to their immortalized brother.* But we musi uot remain too loug here. — Still furtheron, more varied beauties and far grander scenery arc in reserve for us. From this point the pass way is rather too low and narrow to be comfortable, though it may be quite easily traversed, and the promise of new fields for observa tiou and study, so soon to be reached, tend to quickly overcome what otherwise might be regarded as an unpleasaut little journey. The distance by a winding routeis 75 feet to Omnibus Room. This room is ~7() feet When the Cave was firsl discovered Cav< Ra i were seen in considerable numbers, but sine" it has been so frequenl ly visited, they have moved their abode to .1 more secure place. They very much res ■ able the common Norway rat. bu1 are larger with hair on their tails, and have a more ferocious look about the e\ is and head. 12 long, and contains some interesting forma- tions. The ceiling however is quite low, and the average width but a few feet. The ceiling presents a plastered-like appearauce, with an occasional cluster of stalactites, and here and there a slender column. From this room we pass into the ('oat, Room ; thence into the iMilkyway, so called because it is a narrow but beautifully studded arch- way leading to the Duelist. Room. Here we find an immense rock, which at a remote period was precipitated to the floor, called the Band Table, over this is suspended a great Mitten, whence this room has takeu its name. On the right is Lichen Bank, and by turning abruptly to the right at this point, Omnibus Room may be reached within a few yards. Here, in this rather difficult pass way, are some of the most lovely formations in the Cave. From the Duelist Room, we descend a steep declivity under immense rocky falls, into Raleigh Pass. This leads us to the 13 Tobacco Room. This is a large room, as actual measure- ment shows, but the floor being so uneven and the ceiling so irregular, little of the space can be taken into a single view. The at- tention is called at once to the numerous tobacco leaves which appear to be suspended from the walls and ceilings. Everything in this room bears the marks of great age, and while studying the surroundings, the mind is carried back to antediluvian times. We leave this room by ascending a steep stair way, and persons whose avoirdupois is more than 300 lbs. are called upon to contract, as they must squeeze their way through what lias been vulgarly, but most appropriately, called the Fat Man's Misery. At the end of this narrow strait, the visitor's attention is diverted from the main pass way and is directed to the left, a distance of 150 feet beyond, to the Br