American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-09-29

scription we republish some extracts Civ
en- by the CRAYoN.
SCENERY .--Beftre Invent 10 America, l
bad heard much. Of natural scenery but I
confess was sadly disappointed when
came to see for myself. l have traversed
the country from the colonial dependen-
cies Of her most gracious Majesty in Can.
ada, to the Rocky Mountains. and | saw
nothing that could be called worthy the
artist's or poets observation. 1t is true
that Canada has much charming scenery,
which has been improved by British taste
and art--the natural consequence OF the
refinement and cultivation Of the inhabi
talts; but whenever one crosses into the
States. the country exhibits, eitherwild for.
ests or naked praries, both Of which are
dangerous TO travel through, in conseqence
Of the vast quantities Of voracious animals
they contain;a distinguished member of the
United States 2 Parliament informed me that
a railroad train was last year attacked by a
drove of raccoons while crossing prairie
and every passenger destroyed. These
raccoons are the terror Of this wild country
and have depOpulated thousands of miles
Of its surface. A1r1
The scenery Of the Hudson river is more
like that Of the Thames than any have
setn here. and it pleased me somewhat
because it reminded me Of England. The
river is navigated by steamboats, almost
equal in size and neatness to those Of our
own country; but they are apt to burst
their boilers, rs they very often do. de-.
estroying thousands of refined and cutiva
ted English travellers, who are tempted
tocome over here from the stories they
hear of the charming natural scenery Of the
oountry-all Of which have no truth at ell.
The scenery Of the Hudson is varied; but
the variations have but few charms-,the
landolying on its banks is either too high,
or too Iowa fault usualwith American
scenery everywhere. The mountains are
are too rocky, and the plains too wet for
successful cultivation, which accounts for
the salow complexions, and meagre, at.
tenuate6 and rickety forms of the Ameri
caus-a noticeable fact to every foreigner
who lands upon these shores.
NIAGARA FALLS The fitst impression
Of stranger visiting Niagara, is that there
is an extraordinary quantity Of water roll
ing over the precipice. The spray rises
in majestic superfuity, ard falls upon sur
rounding objects, such as trees and rocks,
and rolls hack TO the parent stream in sill.
very cascades, msking sweet usic in their
flow. Nature participates in this extraor.
diuary dampness, and as the clouds ofmist
ascend. they are carried by currents Of air
in various directions, spreading fertility
and beauty on every hand, This extraor-
dinary phenomenon is confined entirely to
American scenery, and although I have
read many descriptions, by various English
travellers who have written upon the sub
ject Of Niagara Falls, am not aware tina
any of them have made the same observa
ton; indeed, travellers seem to be satisfied
when they have attempted description
Of these wonderful Falls, which as we al
know must under any circamstances, ia!
fat short of'the reality. !.
The country around, Niagara Falls il
considered very beautiful! In my opinion
there. Is too much rock and too little pas
ture land-which circumstances Will, ac
count for the thinness of the sheep and thu
poor quality Of, the wool produced there
The British government, l learn, have, haC
their attention drawn to this singular fact
and have, increased the duty on raw wool
in order to aid the producers ofthe article
whose plantations are in the vicinity Of Nj
agara Falls. III :
,aAt the Falls, / was struck with Aaeri-
can enterprise. from the fact of steamer
having. been built BY an incorporated mu
ttial ASSURANCE company for the. purpose
of ascending The catatactl / did not ven
ture to embark myself, but observed, with
hStrof; that American gentlemen, with
their wives aud families including chill
dren and nurses, did not shrink from graf
flying their hazardous curiosityl There
is1nothing have yet seen in this country
which convinces me so strongly Of the
bold and daring character ot the Ameri
cans. | was told by distinguished
American, member OF Congress. tba
this boat had actually ascended as far as
half way up the Horse Shoe Falls, and a
time. too, when itwas filled with tender
ladies, and small children. ."The bost," be
added, "was near the summit. and haying
struck a rock. it remained fast for seyera
minutes. The captain desifed TO return
but the passengers were 50 determined
that they threatened to shoot him if he did
not proceed and accomplish the voyage
and be would certainly have done So, bad
not bis steam and the power Of his ma
chinery failed himl' The decent was
very rapid, and they were all landed in
safety az the foot Of the bill, which leads
on the Canada side, to her Majesty's col
onial dependencies 10 North America
Now, this fact illustrates the nature o
the American character better than al
entire volume could do, They are mos
extraordinary race ofmsn, and one from
whom. great things may some day or oihe
1 be expected. Still in its infancy, lh
nation has proved itself worthy Of it
mother, and may (soms day hence) emu
4 late both the example and the greatness o
4 the parent stock.