The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-10
THE WATERING PLACES.
Our Niagara Correspcndencs.
CLIFTON HousB,
NIIGkEl FAILS. August g. 1882


CLIFTON HOUSE,,
NIAGARA FALLS. August 3, 1852,
IN Interior Sumner Rstreats-H ow People Lounge
for Neutrality-suspicious. al the Falls, &C., &c.
An my former communications to you, from this
place have been of political character but think
should not leave without saying something of Nj
Agara in its legitimate role fashionable summer
resort. In no past season has it attracted 30 many
visiters-I mean regular ones-as it did this. The
hotels were ell full, and were hut lily able TO make
satra accommodation for those who came to the po-
Etieal fets II is not to be wondered at that the
romantic scenery Of the Falls should attract very
visitors from al parts of the country put
i confess do not understand what induces shem ~
remain longer at most, than week. Wltnn that
time all points of interest within the vleinity can
hsve been admired, and nothing worth seeing may
have escaped exploration. And then ! should say,
let those who make summer excursions for the be-
nest Of their health go to the sea shore, or to the
mountains, for herel there are no inducements to
stay. With the exception Of the island, there is no
place to tempt ones steps TO ramble about, and
verify believe there is more loungng in the salons Of
Ne clifton and the International, than there is in the
palaces Of the Fifth avenue in New York. For
nearly week that have been here, / have not met
= party walking at sixty yards distance from the
hotel Perhaps the principal for this is that
The roads are bad, and that there are no romantic
walks in the neighborhood; but certain it is that
fparties do venture out of doors, il is not Ia
Yssd they must have carriage; and thus all the
health and the interest Of sojourn in the country,
are neutralized by those lazy habits which we in
aulge in. don't know whether this fashion OBJ
taiAs by the side in the mountains, as it is
"cus.om more honored in the breach than in the
observance p but whether it is so or not, few
weeks residence by either mountain or strand is
much more salubrious and conducive to health
Man the fashionable mode of killing time at Nj
agara can possibly be.
i must not omit, in this connection, to say few
words about the ferry. The small boats are the
village on the American side to the Clifton House
opposite. And these answer very well all the requi-
SITES OF transit except SO far as the hour ut which
they cease plying. The ferry on the Canadian side
Is owned by the government, and person wishing
to cross from that side cando so at any hour That
On the American side belongs TO private Individuals
but regardless they of consulting the wants
or wishes of those by whose patronage they make
an immense revenue, that they stop running their
boats after twilight, and no one can cross then,
cept he happens to find out the oarsman and is able
to coax HIM into compliance with his wants. But
that is all matter of chance, and many stranger
has to turn back to the village and endeavor to pro-
bed in Of the hotels. The fight of stairs
which leads down to the river sde-numbering some
three hundred steps In one straight procivty, with
out turn or winding-is left unlighted by a single
lamp, though covered in, and as dark as Erebus;
there is no hand rail to guide one down; or worse,
the rail is broken off in various places; the steps
allowed to become dilapidated for want of repair;
dark should miss his foot and fall would be most
rs certain death as if he were dropped inso the
stream a dozen feet above the cataract. And yet
the propretors OF these stairs received from them
revenue Of IS 600 last season. Now | look upon
this policy of theirs as extremely illiberal and
under the circumstances, unjustihabe. They reap
rich harvest of profit, charging lS4 cents for
each fare, and they ought TO extend equivalent
eonveniences to the public. They might have some
night hands employed, and charge increased fare
after a certain hour in the evening; but they have
right, monopolists of ferry, to close it alto
gcther early rs eight or nine o'clock in the
evening.
j notice good many Englishmen stopping here
John Bull, no matter what disguise he may assume,
il an unmistakeable animal. We have q great
variety of specimens Of the gcn'lS. We have the
sporting younagentemen whom Punch delights to
show up with dogs, and stable jacket aud Jim
Crow hats-and we have the pompous gentleman,
with his shepherds plaid pantalo and straps
and we have the rotund, well.fed looking animal
But if you would not know John Bull by his cx terror
all you would have to do TO make sure of his identy
would be to sit near him at meal times and then
you may feel morally convinced that the man who
makes the most FUSS and gives the waiter the most
trouble, and consumes, at q most surprising rate
the hot rolls in his vicinity, expressing himself all
the time dissatisfied. is an Englishman
The visiters are beginning to leave. Alboni has
gone to Saratoga, and Catherine Hays 10 Canada
West-so that there now no notabilities at the
Falls.