Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-06
Mrs. M. E. GORMAE, Editress.
Letter from the Editress.

oH61N
hoping they are somewhatinterested in these
letters, | will give them as entertaining an
account as can, Of what l saw on the Cana
da side-having now crossed over the great
Suspension Bridge and been refreshed by a
good dinner and an hours rest at the Clifton
House.
It Is said that the depth Of the river Mag
ara has never been ascertained, as the waters
are so rapid that it cannot b. sounded; a line,
nevertheless, has been sunk 200 feet without
finding bottom. Some idea Of its depth can
be gained from the fact, that from being full
a mile wide, as l should judge the river to
be q little above the Falls, it is contracted be-
low into q channel less than one-sixth of that
width. Another idea of its depth, and also
the momentum the water acquires from fall
ing such a height, can be gained from the fact,
that p~lunging from the p~recipice to the bot
tom Of the channel below, it does not again
appear at the surfaee ti near the Bridge, and
probably some Of II not then, by that mo-
mentum forcing its passage at the bottom of
the river for nearly won miles.
But perhaps the most sublime view of Mia
CARA is to be seen from "Table Rock" lean
truly say with Dickens, in his description of
this view, that it was not till l came on Ia
BILE Rock, and looked on the fall of bright
green water, that it came upon me in its full
might and majesty" Then Niagara was for
ever stamped upon my heart, an image of
beauty, to remain there, changeless and in
delible, until its pulses cease to beat forever.
liable Rock derives its name from its fiat
surface, being on the same level with the
Falls. Very large portions ofthe Rock have
already fallen away; and from existing ap-
pearances il is evident another crash will
soon occur. After viewing the scenes from
above, I descended Table Rock by a circuit
Gus fight Of stairs, and passed behind the
laundering waters. Words cannot describe
my feelings there. | stood raptin silent won
der and amazement at such a sight and dis
play Of power rs there Witnessed A vast
cavern, hkesome mysterious recess ofNature,
stretched out in seeming safety before u.s.
Being informed there was no danger before
reaching Termination Rock, l proceeded until
the spray completely blinded and drove me
back. As we passed out l could but think
that here was the temple of the living God;
here the sanctuary of his awful greatness
Well might the proud and ambitious here
Judge Of their own excessive littleness, in the
great presence of this sacred shrine. Stand
ing once more upon Table Rock, / was for
chilly reminded Of the following beautiful
lines Of Mrs. Sigourney:
"Thou dost make the soul
A !, Mo TasIi Ig Wins sR If ntA AEyr Rajsst 10y
To tread thy vestibule, dost chain its step
And check its rapture, with the humbling view
OF its W nothingness bidding it stand
In the dread presence Of the Invisible,
As il TO answer to its God through thee"
As intimated above, Table Rock is no Ion
ger the extensive platform that it ono
was, large portions of it having fallen fror
time 10 time. in 1918, was told, a mass of 0
feet long and 40 feet wide broke off and fe
into the boiling food and in 1928 three in
mense masses fell in with the shock Of a
earthquake. In 1929 another fragment fel
and in 1850 a portion Of about 200 feet Ion
and 100 feet thick, and again in 1857 anoth'
portion fell. On one of these occasions son
forty or fifty persons had been standing {
the rock q few minutes before it fell.
Standing on the verge Of Table Rock al
looking down on that angry whirl of mi
and heaving waters, we beheld a steambo
battling with the food It is the 'Maid
the Mist" This little steamer starts ty
miles below the Falls and ascending the r
er passes the American Falls and penetrat
boldly into the dense cloud Of mist close
the foot Of the Horse Shoe Falls. This t.
mile trip is one Of a most thrilling charact
Passing between the steep cliffs on each 81
Of the river, the excursionist obtains a ml
nilcent view Of the whole line of the Fa
In all positions, until everything is shut
from our sight by the drenching spray,
the boat dashes, to oil appearance, into
very jaws Of the Cataract. But there is II
ly no danger, for she wheels gracefully rou
and energies from the white curtain glitt
ing in the diamond drops she has snatch
fLom the rainbows Of Niagara
Our next visit was TO the Burn
Spring. about two miks highera zap the
er. The water Of this Spring being char
with sulphurated hydrogen gas, takes
when a light Is applied to it and burns v
a pale blush fame. Il was to me q '
singular spectacle. The water has much
taste Of the Warm Springs, in Bunco
county, N. G.
We thought we could not return wit
viewing the battlefield Of Lundy's Ian
Ordering the coachman to drive us there
passed through a fertile and highly GUILTY.
section of country. AS the battlefield il
ly two miles from the Falls we were
there; a large tower has been erected
the centre OF the field, whose summit
reached by q drcuitOus fight of ST
Here we found an old veteran soldier,
took All active part in that bloody bait
As we stood there, listening to his sto
other days, W G could almost hear the s
Of the fife and drum, and the clash OF
He pointed out all objects of interest I