Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-08-30
The Falls Of Minnehaha.

A young friend who has lately been
"doing' the Northwest, sends us the
following in reference to the above
named much celebrated water fall,
which may prove of interest TO some
Of our readers and lead other wander
ers who may pass in that direction 10
make a pop call
l wish you could share with me the
pleasures of tho occasion, for such
beauty as these Falls present can only
be seen and felt, not described how
ever an attempt might be of interest.
The Falls of Minnehaha are situated
in q stream Of the same name few
miles distant from st. Paul, in the
State of Minnesota. The reader will
bear in mind that we are now in "the
land of the Dacotah's." But the will
derness, alas, where onco the red man
was want to roam has passed away,
and we find instead the landscape
dotted with farms. But this is not
my theme. I have come to look on
the serene face of Laughing Water, to
muse on the beauty of Minnchaha.
How melodious the sound of this
Laughing Water You do not hear
deafening roar like that of Niagra,
but something similar to the murmer
of bees. In gazing at this unequaled
beauty, you appear to be asleep to all
else that surrounds you; all cares are
forgotten, you read sermons in Mime.
haha, not dry discourses, but full of
poetry, and ofpower, that enables one
"to look through nature up to natures
God.' Viewing from below, there is
bit of blue sky, a silver-hued sheet
OF water flowing smoothly over
precipice, and, surrounding all frame.
work OF verdure, kept green by the
falling waters and ascending spray.
A rainbow, caused by the rising spray,
encircles the base of the Falls, which,
in the careless wandorings Of ones
mind, would suggest the existence of
gold, as we used to think when cbil-
dron; perhaps a golden harp in the
waters, upon which mermaids are
playing, keeping happy time to
Laughing Water. Long grass, such
as you see along meadow streams,
fringes the channel, as if to smooth
passage for the water. These Falls
have with somo truthfalness been
likencd to the pouring of water from
a bowl into basin. To mako the
simile complete the bowl must bo
fringed with graceful verdure, the
basin bordered with pebbles, and
finally the simile of angels resting
upon tho sceno. This would be
of Minnehaha. But Mime.
haha is itself a miniaturc-one of the
small, perfect works Of nature, which
please US all the moro, because they
are not grand and overpowering, but
simply beautiful. The rocks above
arch over, leaving space below, wide
enough for q foot-path behind the
Falls. Perhaps the rocks have been
blasted out by Hiawatha's mittens. /
happened here on a gala-day. A
throng of visitors crown the rocks
above; thread the vale below; pass
under the Fall all wearing looks of
astonisbment and delight. | now
think of my fellow traveller, who
perhaps if his eye meets this will re-
member of sitting behind the Fall,
gazing, maybe unconsciously, but in.
tently into the waters beneath; per.
haps following tho fortunes of the
gentle Indian maiden, as she went
with Hiawatba,
Through the woodland and the meadow,
Len the old man standing lonely
AT the doorway Of his wigwam,
Heard the Falls Of Minnehaha
Calling to them from the distance,
Crying TO them from afar on,
Fare thee we'll, 0 Mnnehaha.
SO do many, If not all, behold in
dreaming wonder this most beautiful
production of Gods hand. We now
leave, MS the fall goes on murmuring,
"Fare thee we'll, 0 Minnehaha."