The Arkansas banner., 1843-09-16
THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.

The following beautiful and vivid description of the scenery on the Hudson and of that grandest cu- rlosIy oi nature the Falls of Niagara merits atten- tive perusa it is from the pen of one whose hte- rary taste is highly appreciated. It was private letter, written by J.W. Cooke, Esq, one of our esteemed and talented fellow-citizens, while on a tour through the north, in the summer of lSSS and sent to some of his friends in this city, without how ever, any view to publication. We take the liberty of giving it publicity, deemng that it will be inter- esting to every reader
 The accuracy of the sketch will be seen by those who have swept over the quiet bosom of the Hud- son. or been wrapt in wonder at witnessing the glo ries of Niagara. We believe the word ..Nagara' is derived from the Iroquos, and with that tribe sign- fled the thunder of auoterS." This is but another evidence that if the language of the children of the forest is not rich and copous as ours it is magn- fcent and sublime, embracing more of the real poet " of nature than the language of civilized nations, and combining all the dignity of the Roman with the beauty of the Grecian.
 July lOh, 1858.
 l was prepared to expect much of sublime and beautiful scenery upon the banks of the Hudson- I knew 1t aspired to rivalry with the far-famed
 
 knowledged its claims to equality with that cele- brated river. But high as my antici ipations were pitched, they not disappointcd 1t Well merits all the admiration that has been bestowed upon it. There is too much of sameness upon the banks of our great western rivers; the eye becomes wearied with the monotony. But here the prospect, like the images in a kaleidoscope, Is ever varying The beautiful, the picturesque, the sublime, rise up in alternate succession before you your admiration of one charming scene has not subsded before another equally, perhaps more enchanting, opens to your delighted view. At one time you are sailino bv continuous wall of froWning and preeipitous rock at another, the banks rise from the waters edge by an easy and long drawn slope with various undula- tons, covered over with green pastures cultivated fields, beautiful parterres and flower gardens, and stately mansions; again 1t swells into the lofty mountain and the towering precpice with it's iae- ged and impending rocks; and yet again. it declines away into gentle hills, gracefully undulating, with here and there wide and heightened vstas through which you see the towering peaks of distant moun- tains, 'robed in azure hue.' All this seen upon bright day, and its expression heightened by that ad- mirable arrangement of light and shade. that rich and peculiar tinting which nature alone can give, and you will have before you beautiful and love ly picture as the eye could look upon. Art, too has contributed much towards embellishing and beautifyng the banks of this great river. Besides the many private residences, with their highly cul- tivated grounds, there are number of large towns and fourishing villages romantically situated which contribute greatly to increase the beauty and effect of the whole.
 reached Albany in the evening, and left the next morning, for Utica, in the rail-road cars, passing through the beautiful and highly cultivated valley of the Mohawk; and from thence proceeded by pack et-boat upon the grand canal to Rochester, where remained the greater part of day to visit the Gene falls the first of which is near the town and is about 90 feet perpendicular The second is some thing more than mile below, and is only about 80 feet 1 thought the lower falls the more majestic and imposing. The water is contracted within a narrower space and tumbles over the precipice in heavier masses. There are some projecting rocks too after the fall commences, by which it is broken giving to 1t an angry and impetuous character, and greatly increasing the effect. In the upper fals the river spreads wider surface, and the column of falling water is not so heavy or dense at any point thus giving to it lighter, more graceful and romantic expression. The awakens in the mind deeper impression of power, and grandeur and impetuous force, while something of fairy beauty and picturesqueness are the more prominent characteristics of the other.
 l left Rochester about o'clock in the evening" and the next morning arrived at the falls of Niagara And here find it almost impossible to 90 on It would be an easy task to detail what may be called the mere geography and statistics of the alls-to tell you of the number of little islands with which the stream is here dotted over, the breadth of the river and the perpendicular fall of the waters and the most eligible positions for the observer to obtain commanding view-to tell you of the tremendous rush of the waters the deafenng of the cataract the boiling, and foaming and wheeling of the flood beneath, of the mighty dashing of the spray, and the radiant and beautiful rainbows which arch over the awful chasm But to describe the effect of all this--to embody in forms of speech, and make dis tinc and palpable to the minds of others the feel ings with which the heart swels in beholding this awfully sublime and stupendous sceneis not in the power of language. Its strongest and most express I,,+, the deep and overpowering impression. The mind is completely overwhelmed, and looks on in wonder, admiration, and awe Goat Island, which is about mile in circumference, and makes down to the very edge of the precipice from which the waters leap, divides the river into two branches, the main body of water passing between the island and the Canada side A bridge has been thrown across the stream, from the American side to Goat Island, from differ ent points of which you obtain some fine views of the fails remained here one day, and on the next crossed the river, about one-fourth of mile below the falls, to the Canada side. It is while crossing the river and upon the Canada side that you obtain the most imposing and magnificent view It is then, that the eye enabled, at glance to take in the fails on both sides. Ali the descriptions have ever read, or any could give, would furnish but mea- gre and imperfect conception of the deep and thrill ing feelings awakened, as you stand upon Table Rock, and look upon the of grandeur and sub- imity before you. After remaining here for several hours, enraptured and spel-bound, determined to undertake the perilous passage, under the mighty sheet of water, to Termination Rock. Before set ting out you change your clothes, and put others prepared and kept by the guide especially for that purpose. As you may suppose, but little regard is paid either to the eXactness of the fit, to the fash ionable cut of the clothes you now put on. In my case, there happened to be most wotul and laugha ble incongruity and could you have seen the bur lcsque and ludicrous figure presented, when sally ing forth for my adventure, you would have had an opposite illustration of the old adage that the sub lime and the ridiculous often in close juxta-posi ton.'' We now descended long spiral staircase to the foot of the precipice. Upon reaching the point where you commence your passage, you are met by dashing shower of spray, driven against you with fearful violence, by the fierce rushing of the wind from the falls Immediately you wet to the skin and feel your whole system shocked, as by shower-bath but with ten-fold more intensity. Your breath is taken from you, and the violent eff fort to regain it, produces, nvoluntarily, that con vusve action of the muscles of the throat and face, resembling the snubbing of child after long fit of crying. The blowing of the wind and the dashing of the spray continue throughout the whole passage, so that you scarcely, at any time, more than three or four feet before you but the shock and the