The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-01
Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls Is one of the finest struc'
ures in the known world. I have bee
visiting this favorite watering place re
Gently for the first time, and was we
pleased. A gentleman who was with m
said II was customary to be disappointe
in the Falls but that subsequent visits wer
sure to set 1t all right. He said 1t was $
with him. He said that the first time b
went the hack fares were 50 much highe
than the Falls that the Falls appeared In
significant, But that is all regulated now
The haclmen have been tanned, and mum
bered, and placarded. and blackguarded
and brought into subjection to the law
and dosed with Moral Principle, till the!
are rs meek rs missionaries. They an
divided into two clans now-the Regular
and the rivateers-and they employ theil
idle time In warning the people agains
each other. The Regulars are under thu
hotel banners, and do the legitimate n
two dollars an honr. and the Privateer.
prowl darkly on neutral ground, and picl
of stragglers at half price. But there art
no more outrages and exhortions. Tha
sort of thing cured itself. 1t mado tn,
Falls unpopulal by getting into the news
papers, and whenever public evi
achieves that sort of q success for itself, ii
days are numbered. 1t became apparent
that either the Falls had to be discontinued
or the hackmen had to 'subside. They
could not dam the Falls and so they damn
cd the hackmen. Ono can be comfortabl,
and happy there now.
SIGNS AND SYMBOLS.
drank up most of the American FALL
before I learned that the waters were mo-
considered medicinal. Why are people
left In ignorance Ia that way ? l nigh
have gone on and ruined fine property
merely for the want of little triiling In
formation. And yet the sources ofinform
alton mt Niagara arc not mcagre. Ior
arc sometimes i'm doubt there about wha
you arc to do, but you are seldom In doub
about what you must not do. NO-tht
signs keep you posted. Ifan infant cal
can read, that infant is measureably saf'
at Niagara Falls. In the room at YOU
hotel you will find your course marked
out for you In the most convenient wa!
by means of placartls on the walls, lik'
these;
"Pull your bell-ropc gently, but don
jerk"
"I'olt your door,"
Don't scrapc matches on tho wall"
Turn off your gas when you retire."
"Tic up your dog" =,
"If you place your boots outside the
door they will be blacked-but the house
will not be responsible for their return"
This is confusing and tanglesome pro-
position. because 1t moves you to deliber
ate long and painfully rs to whether II
will really be any object to You to have
your boots blacked unless they are return
cd.]
"Givc your key to the omnibus driver
II you forget to carry 1t of with YOU"
Outside of the hotel. wherever you wan
der, you are intelligently assisted by the
signs. You cannot come to grief rs long
rs you are in your right mind. But the
difficulty Is to stay in your right mint
with so much instruction to keep track OF
For instance ~.
"Kcep off the grass"
"Don't climb the trees"
GLANDS off the vegetables"
ado not hitch your horse to tho shrub
berry,"
.!Visit the Cave of the Winds"
"IIave your portrait taken In your car
riagc." :,
"Forty per cent. in gold levied on oil
peanuts or other Indian Curiosities pur-
chased in Canada" -,
photographs of the Falls taken here
"Visitors will please notify the Super.
intendent of any neglect on the part ol
employees to charge for commodities ol
services" mo inattention Of this kind
"Don't throw stones tlown-they may
hit people below" 4,
"Thc proprietors will not be responsi
bic for parties who jump over the Falls.
TMore shirking of responsibitity-it mp
pears to he the prevailing thing here.
always had u high regard for the sign
crs of the Declaration Of Independence
but now they do not really seem tt
amount To much alongside the signers Ol
Niagara Falls. TO tell the plain truth
the multidudes of signs annoyed me. II
was because noticed at last that they nl'
ways happened to prohibit exactly the
vcry thing was just wanting to do. j
desired to roll on the grass the sign pro-
hibitcd IL. wished to climb tree the
SIGN prohibited II. longcd to smoke a
sign forbade 1t. And was just in the net
IF throwing stone over to astonish and
such parties rs might be picnic
ing below, when sign have just men
Toned forbade that. Even that poor sat
isfaction was denied me(and friendlcss
Drphan.) There was no resource, now,
mt To seek consolation In the flowing
bowl. drew my flask from my pocket.
but il was all in vain. A sign confronted
me which said {:
mo drinking allowed on these prem
ses."
On that spot I might have perishcd OF
thirst hut for the saving words of an hon
,rcd maxim that fitted through my MEM
,ry mt the critical moment "All signs
iail in dry time" Common law takes
of the statutes. / was saved.
TIE NOZZLE RED MAN.
Tho noble red man has always been n
larlins of mine. love to read about him
IN tales and legends and romanccs. 1 love
% read of his inspired sagscity and his
owe of the wild free life Of mountain and
rorest and his grand truthfulness. his ha-
rcd of treachcry, and his general nobility
IF character and his metaphorical man.
,cr of speech and his chivalrous love
or his dusky maiden and the picturesque
Domp of his dress and accoutrement.
When found the shops Mt Niagarn Falls
'ull of dainty Indian bcad.work, and stun
,ins mocassins, and equally stunning toy
ig,ircs representing human beings, who
,arried the weapons In holes bored through
heir arms and bodies. and had feet shap-
.d like u pie. was filed with emotion.
knew that now Mt last was soing to
,omc face to face with Noble Red Man.
4 lady clerk in shop told me. indeed.
hat all her grand array of curiosities
we're made by the Indians, and that there
we're plenty about the Falls. and that they
y.r,, friendly, and IL would not bc danger