Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-11-06
Fanny Eissler at the Falls of Niaga ara
NIAGARA FAILS, Oct. q, lS40

Fanny Eissler at the Falls of Niagara.
NIAGARA FAILS, Oct. q, lS4O.
MR. BESSErT:-
DraR sin--Travelling from Albany to Mia
CARA Falls, il was my good fortune, for the last
few miles Of the journey, to fall in with the far
famed Fanny Elssler; and as remained at the Falls
the whole Of the time that she was here, and ac-
companied her la several Of the same sort of
sions which you made in and around this charming
spot, thought you might wish to know the effect
thatthe Falls had upon la belle Fanny" There
fore, I write you.
For the last thirty or forty miles, before she
rived at this place, her anxiety TO reach Niagara
Falls was intense. Once between Lockport and this
the cond stopped the enable her 90 hear
the Of the eternal cataract and the delighted
expression Of her eyes exceeded anything ever
saw. 1t surpassed any language which she
uttered by speech or looks on the stage, and her
whole face lighted up with joy as she listened, and
exclaimed " That Is the music Of Thunder :"
On arriving at the Falls, she would scarcely enter
the hotel, so impatient was she tn see them. The
indis pensable Mr.. Hooker, the intelligent guide,
having been sent for, she set out, accompanied by
her cousin, the guide, myself, and another gentle
She elspped her hands together with the
wild delight ofapleased child, as she came nearer
and nearer the roaring cataract At last she began
to descend the staircase. She about to turn
her head with the impatsnce Of woman's curiosity,
to look at the Falls GO" Stop, stop, Miss Fanny"
exclaimed the guide, don't turn your heal yet;
don't tuin your head till I tell you. Then, down
these stairs not yet; then look out Of that window
now
She turned her head and the full view Of the go
rious wonder the world burst upon her sight And
il would have de lighted you, Mr. Bennett, glowing a
great effect you do) to have that first look Of
Fanny Elsslers at the Falls OF Niagara One strong
desire Of her heart cherished for years told
was then grati6ed. Her gaze at the grand scene
steady, earnest and intense in the extreme. And
after following with her expressive eyes that superb
sheet Of foam from rock to sky, and ontemplating
with feelings ofawe,-depicted ON her countenasce,
the everlasting incense Of the waters ascending to
pay a grateful tribute to the God OF nature, she
withdrew her head and buryins her face in her hand
kerchief,-burst into tears. She sat down, and in
answer 70 the enquiries OF her friends she replied
s'ye me trours I'm peu nof"
Such was the fret meeting OF the water. Of Mia.
CARA and Of Fanny Elsslerj and such wa. the effect
Of her first look at the master work Of the foam god
What added 20 the interests " this little was
that there no study, no rehearsal about II; no
straining for effect as sometimes seems apparent in
the preparation for difficult pas ], ala sylph dc"
II was purely NATURAL and therefore the effect was
four fold. On being asked by Mr.. Hooker, the
guide IL she would proceed any further at that time,
she replied "no that look is enough for now" She
| then retained to the hotel TO dinner.
At dinner time, she seemed exceedingly duh: but
after the dinner, little conversation had occur
red, she recovered her spirits. A little party was
then formed, and of we went, a second time tina,
day to see the Falls. We crossed the bridge, mas,
the cottage Of the old ladyy mentioned in your
interest ing letters, (and by whom you are and ap-
parenly will always be, freshly and favorsbly re-
membered) ard crossing Goat Island, reached the
Round Tower, or the very brink Of the rushing,
foaming, everlasting cataract. Mam'selle Fsany's
excitement Of a totally different charac err.
She was elevated" exalted, . as the French say,
aroused and enlvened TO the highest degree. She
strained forward her beautiful neck and gazed earn
estly At the mighty mass Of rsshing waters as IL
foamed and doomed int the abyss below and seem
ed to feel a. though, like Byron, she could wish to
take the fatal leap She put herself in the attitude
II 49,. ,Doatent for the tan of edrum