The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-11-13
From oar oRn Cores pondent.l
QUEBEC, C. &.

1t the earnest solicitation of a num-
Der of our lady friends, we were one day
enticed into evadiag. for a while, the
curse of Adam, (fcr the benefit of sucn
Of your readers as are not well up in
Scriptural refereuces,we would Sts.e tlat
said curse consists In earning ones bread
by the sweat OF ole's brov-in August
and SO one bright sunshiny morning, we
started northward from the Monumental
City. After passing through the dusty
and generally unpleasant Capital of the
keystone State, we reached the thriving
town Of Elmira, n. Y, without any al
venture worthy of remark, except the
mysterious disappearance, in the moan
tains Of Pennsylvania, Of an ancient and
agreeable short t-necked comrade, the re-
membrance of which SAD event is all that
prevents our writing in eur usually cheer
ful and elegant style.
1t was about tee middle of the night
that we changed cars at Elnira for Bufia-
10; during which process We made the ac-
quaintance Of one in whom we fondly e2-
pected to find bosom friend, but as is
too often the case in this vaie of tears,w
were sadly deceived, and SO we uncere-
moniously parted with him before reach
ing the last mentioned place, which VIC
would remark in passing is euphoniously
termed "But1er," by the natives. Here
we were forced to lie over few hours,
which gave US an opportunity to dispose
of miserable breakfast at a so-called
frst-class hotel, when feeling a pleasing
sense of duty performed, we proceeded
to reconnoiter this enterprisiDg town.
We discovered, much to our astonishment.
that although the climate is not particu.
larly adapted to the production of Isra-
elites, two-thirds of the signs ON the
main business streets were emblazoned
with such names as Joseph Levi, Benja-
min Solomons, Moses Abrahams, &C., &c.
After mature deliberation, we came to
the conclusion that if ever the inhabitants
of Butler gazed on our graceful per-
sons again, it would be for the simple
reason of inability to pass around:
At Niagara Falls, which we reached in
due time, We obtained fine rooms at the
aCataract House" with an excellent view
of the American Rapids, ,and at once pro-
eeeded to do the Falls in the most ap-
proved style. We found this stupendous
natural spectacle fully up to our expecta-
tions, and spent two days very agreeably
in visiting the ''lions' of the place, con-
sisving of the American and Canadian
Falls, the Whirlpool some miles below
Goat Island, which separates the two Cat
aracts, &c., &c. We experienced new,
though somewhat damp sensation in pas
sing under the great Horseshoe Fall as
far as mortal man could penetrate, ,attired
in costume somewhat of cross between
that of an Esquimaux and Jack tar, on
the whole rather more useful than orna-
mental. Tbo town of Niagara is compos-
ed of Hotels and sundry stores for the
sale of Indian curiosities, which we have
good reason to believe were of Yankee
manufacture. The hackmen, too, form
an important portion of the present pop
ulation. The persistency of these men
is really sublime. They have happy
faculty, somewhat annoying at times it is
true, of obstructing the passage of unso-
phisticated travellers, at all times and oc-
casions, and representing in the most ell
oquent language the decided advantage
of using their particular vehicle in pref
erence to all other possible means Of con-
yeyance.
We would give hint to such of your
readers as contemplate visiting Niagara,
for which we make no extra charge, az
though the information was very expen-
siyely acquired by US. In the first place
an imposing personal appearance, such as
we fortunately rejoice in, is a sine qua
ron. Such of our friends as are not pos
sessed Of said manner, we would advise
to provide themselves on setting out with
o pair of six shooters, navy pattern, worn
outside in belt, big hickory stick, ,and
vicious and unapproachable-b by -stran-
gers bulldog Thus armed, we think
we can guarantee the safe deliverance Of
the traveller for pleasure from the many
dangers that encompass Niagara in the
various forms of hackmen, picture and
Indian. curiosity sellers; boot blacks, wal
iters, and excessively polite guides, who
volunteer invaluable information about
things generally, and expect to be remu-
nerated accordingly.
The run by railroad to Lewiston, whence
we took the boat for Toronto, was with
out incident. The boat being on an ex-
cursion trip, we had an opportunity of
witnessing the festivities of number of
young "Kanucks,' who were engaged in
stripping the light fantastic toe, to the
sounds of an ancient fiddle and dilapida-
ted horn. The display of ankles of all
descriptions was gorgeous. We were to
connect with the Royal Mail steamer for
Montreal, off the harbor of Toronto, but
our appetifes getting the better of our
discretion, we went below at the critical
moment to satisfy the cravings Of the in
ner man, and on reaching the deck again
had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing
the steamer which we should have been
on, moving majestically toward Montreal,
about half mile astern. Putting bold
face on the matter, as soon as we arrived
at Toronto, having been passed, luggage
and all, by the British Custom officials,
we proceeded at once to the depot of the
Grand Trunk Railway and took the first
train to Kingston. Arriving there in the
grey dawn of the morning, and running
the gauntlet of numerous cabmen, we