Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-03
Correspondence OF tho Cleavalsnd Herald.
NIAGARA Falls, u. G. .
No~as,ahar . f2ifl

November ., 1910.
DEAR SIR--The visitors at the Falls
had a fine treat on Wednesday morning
last, and very unusual one at this sea.
son Of the year, namely, winter view
OF the great cataract.--The weather was
so cold on Tuesday night that the spray
from the falls, as il settled upon the rocks
and trees, was almost instantly converted
into ice and as the sun rose bright aud
beautiful on Wednesday morning, the
whole scene was one of fairy enchant-
ment.
During the night il had showed heayi-
Iy, and the ground was clothed in com
plete suit Of virgin white, save where the
huge black rocks reared their heads from
under their spotless covering--like giant
monsters whose hdeousness Is too great
for even the mantle of charity to conceal.
The trees and shrubs in all tho rich and
varied hues Of autumn, ben, their branch
es to tho stream, borne down by the
weight of snow and frozen spray upon
their leaves, looking like dissipated youth,
on whom the irosts Of premature winter
had descended, and whe were just sink
ing into the flood of time upon whose re-
sstless surrent they would DO carried on
ward to the ocean Of eternity.
The thousand gems that spnrkled IN the
Joyous rays Of the morning sun as they
fell among the dark foliage Of Goat Island,
seemed to crown the hoary head oil the
cataract with diadem of glory and
well may il lay claim to sovereignty, for
it has not its equal upon earth. Man
boasts of his ,riumphs over the elements,
but no has never conquered Niagara
True he boasts Of having erected upon
its brow a puny town, which ono dash OF
its name would hurl into the fathomless
abyss, and plumes himself in having trod
upon the rocks, behind its rushing tide,
but nothing more for he might as well
attempt to serd comet flying through
the vast expanse Of space by steam pow
err. or put in motion the solar system by
means of cogs and wheels, aud other COM
bina,ions Of machinery as to undertake.
for ono moment to stay the progress OF
old "thunder water" to its ocean home.
Niagara needs no alteration, no improve
ment it stands alone, unriyailed, without
its fellow! unchangng and unchanged
tho same thundcrs that awakened Crea.
tons dawn, now call forth the echoes
from its rocky caverns. The same din Of
winters that in the olden time awoke the
+" deer from his wild forest DREAM now
rouses poor, frail man from the delightful
visions Of the past or future TO the stern
realities Of the present.
A beautiful emblem of time is here fur.
nished us. Now pausing TO toy and sport
among the oddies Of pleasure, aud anon
rushing with impetuos,y among the rocks
and shoals Of adversely and then plung.
ing with resistless fury into the deep cav.
ems Of an unknown future, roll swiftly,
deeply, and majes,ically towards IT'S dis
tant home. As the waters take their n
nal leap they send aloli column Of spray
which is collected and waited BY the gale
into gentle showers, which descend upon
the earth, nourishng and supporting the
tender heritage within their influence
and happy the man who like them, as The
tide OF time roll him over the preciplce OF
fare, sends towards heaven the hight OF n
bright example, that all who gaze upon
the towering column may DO instructed
and enriched.