The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-08-13


came on Table Rock and looked-grea
Heaven-on what fall of bright gree
water that it came upon me in its full
might and majesty.
"Then when felt how near to my Crea
tor was standing, the first effect and tn
enduring one-instant and lasting-of tn
tremendous spectacle was Peace. Peac
ofmind-tranquility recollections O
the dead-great thoughts of eternal res
and happiness-nothing of gloom or ter
ror. Niagara was at once stamped upon
my heart an image of beauty, to remain
there changeless and indelible until it!
pulses cease to beat forever"
~ never stirred in all this time from the
Canadian side, whittier had gone at first
l never crossed the river again, for knew
there were people on the other shore, and
in such place it is natural to shun strange
company. To wander to and fro all day
and to see the cataracts from all points Of
view ; to stand upon the edge of the great
Horse Shoe Fall, marking the hurried
water gathering strength as it approaches
the verge, yet seeming, too, to pause before
it shot into the gulf below; to gaze from
the rivers level upt the torrent as it came
streaming down to climb the neighbor-
ing heights and watch it through the
trees, and see the .writhing water in the
rapids hurrying on to take its fearful
plunge; to linger in the shadow of the
solemn rocks three miles below, watching
the river as, stirred by no visible cause, it
heaved and eddied and awoke the echoes,
far down beneath the surface of its giant
leap; to have Niagara before me, lighted by
the sun and by the moon, red in the days
decline and gray as evening slowly fell
upon it; to look upon it every day, and
wake up in the night and hear its cease
less voice-this was enough.
81 think in every quiet season now, still
do those waters roll and leap and tumble
all day long; still are the rainbows span
ming them a. hundred feet below; still when
the sun is on them do they shine and glow
like molten gold; still, when the day is
| gloomy do they fall like snow or seem to
crumble away like the front of great
chalk cliff, or roll down the rock like dense
white smoke. But always does the mighty
stream appear to die as it comes down,
and always from the unfathomable grave
arises that tremendous ghost of spray and
mist which is never laid, which has haun-
ted this place with the same dread solem-
nifty since darkness brooded on the deep,
and that first flood before the deluge-light
came rushing on creation at the word of
God"
The Cave of the Winds is situated
on the Canadian side, and is approached
by circular staircase to narrow ledge
of rock, which extends about sixty feet un-
der the falling waters of the Horse Shoe
Cataract. This is called the Cave of the
DIS, and is regarded as always
more or less dangerous to traverse and as
there is nothing to be seen in passage
through it, and nothing to be gained save
good wetting, there seems but little in
ducement to enter it. Goat Island is the
name of tract Of about sixty acres ofland
which separates the American from the
Canadian Falls. 1t is supposed to have
taken its name from the fact of its having
been pasture, years ago, for goats. A
wooden bridge has been thrown across the
rapids to this Island, and thereby access to
it and to Terrapin Tower, which stands on
the brink of the Horse Shoe Fall, is gained
From this Tower o view can be had into the
very gulf o fthe Falls. Almost at the foot Of
the American Falls is flight of two hun.
dred steps, leading to the summit on tor
of the bank. Besides this mode of going
up and down, or to and from the river below
the Falls, there is car by which you car
ride up and down, worked by water pow.
or?
There are many interesting tales and
legends connected with the Falls, but the
most romantic and interesting story thai
the Falls" which is thus told: About
fN,f. CT, 80 @1a e
ly summer. young stranger of pleasing
countenancc and person made his appear
ande at Niagara 1t was at first conjec
tured that he was an artist, large port
folio, with books and musical Instruments
being among his baggage. He was deep
ly impressed with the majesty and sublim
ity OF the Cataract and the surrounding
scenery, and expressed an intention to re
main week that he might survey them a
his leisure.
But the fascination which all minds o
sensibility feel in the presence of that Clio
rious work OF the Creator, grew strongly
upon him, and he was heard to say tina
six weeks were insufficient to become &C
quainted with its beauties. At the enc
of that period he was still unable to teal
himself away, and desired to "build thert
q tabernacle" that he might indulge il
his love of solitary musing, and admire a
leisure the sublimity of nature. He ap
piled for spot on the Three Sisters Islanc
on which to erect o cottage after his owl
model; one of the peculiarities of which
was q drawb bridge, to insure isolation
Circumstances forbidding compliance will
his request, he took up his residence in al
old house on Iris Island, which he render
ed as comfortable as the state of the cas-
would admit. Here he remained abou
eighteen months, when the intrusion of
family interrupted his habits of seclusiol
and meditation. He then quietly Withdrew
and reared for himself q less commodiou
habitation near Prospect Point Whel
! winter came, cheerful fire of wood blazet
upon the hearth, and he beguiled the lon,
hours of evening by reading and music
1t was strange to hear, in such solitude
the long drawn, thrilling notes of the viol
or the softest melody of the flute, gushin,
forth from that low-browed hut, or tn
guitar breathing out lightly amid the rusl
and thunder of the never slumbering tor
rent. Though the world of letters was ia
miliar to his mind, and the living worl,
to his observation-for he had travele,
widely both in his native Europe and tn
East-he sought no association with man
kind, to unfold or increase his stores o
knowledge. Those who had occasionally
oopuoroa6 with hin, snolya with aoua