Virginia illustrated : containing a visit to the Virginian Canaan, and the adventures of Porte Crayon and his cousins . To those whosefancies are more exclusively American, they look like the chim-neys of a deserted iron foundry, and, altogether, the picture pre-sented is in a high degree unique and interesting. From no pointcan all the towers be seen at one view. The northern one is thetallest, the most completely detached from the hill, and in all re-spects the most perfect. Its round, regular stratifications, gradu-ally narrowing toward the top, show like successive galleries and cornices,
Virginia illustrated : containing a visit to the Virginian Canaan, and the adventures of Porte Crayon and his cousins . To those whosefancies are more exclusively American, they look like the chim-neys of a deserted iron foundry, and, altogether, the picture pre-sented is in a high degree unique and interesting. From no pointcan all the towers be seen at one view. The northern one is thetallest, the most completely detached from the hill, and in all re-spects the most perfect. Its round, regular stratifications, gradu-ally narrowing toward the top, show like successive galleries and cornices, such as are representedin the old pictures of the Towerof Babel. This structure is abouteighty feet in height, and thirtyin diameter near its base. It istunneled below by a wide arch-way, through which is the mostconvenient approach to the basesof the other towers ; and, fromone point of view, this huge massajDjDears supported only upon twopillars. The southern group, consist-ing of three towers, united forabout half their height, is alsoperforated by a cavernous pas-narrow at each entrance,opening to a chamber of. THE GREAT TOWER sage,but 122 PORTE CRAYON AND HIS COUSINS. some size in the centre. None of the Chimneys are completelydetached from the hill; and the view from every quarter is inter-cepted by a heavy growth of timber, much to the annoyance ofthe artist. Although these rocks are highly 2:)icturesque, curious, and notwanting in grandeur, our travelers, having lately seen objects ofsuch surpassing interest, expressed their gratification here in mod-erate terms, and were soon seated under some opportune apple-trees, discussing their lunch with a zeal and earnestness whichneither custom nor daily repetition had in the smallest degreeabated. Not so Mr. Crayon. He spent his time walking curiously about,examining the towers and caverns at all points. Having madeseveral unsuccessful attempts to ascend the rocks, he at lengthsucceeded in reaching the summit of one of the low
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License: Licensed
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectvirginiasociallifean
