Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-06-10
gVndaU under Niagara.

The oil.cloth covering was great in
cumbrance; it had been made for much
stouter man, and, standing upright after
my submersion, my legs occupied tho
centres OF two bags OF water. My guide
exhorted me 10 try again. Prudence
was at my elbow, whispering discussion;
but, taking everything into account, il APP
pearsd more immoral to retreat than 10
proceed. Instructed by the first misad.
venture, once more entered the stream.
Had the alpenstock been OF iron it might
have helped me: but as it was. the
tendency of tho water to sweep it out OF
my hand rendered it worse than useless.
!. however. clung to it by habit.
Again the torrent rose. and again |
wavered; but, by keeping the left hip
well against IT, remained upright. aud
at length grasped tho hand Of my leader
at the other side. He laughed pleasant
ly. The first victory was gained, and no
enjoyed il. mo traveller" he said,
"was ever here before" Soon aitor-
ward, by trusting to q piece OF drilt
wood which seemed firm, was again
taken off my feet, but was immediatel!
caught by protruding rock.
We clambersd over the bowlders tn-
wald The the lhickest spray. which soon
became so weighLy as to cause us to
stagger under its shock. For the most
part nothing could be seen; we were in
the midst OF bewildering tumult, lashedhy
the water, which sounded al times like the
cracking of innumerable whips. Under.
meath this was the deep, resonant roar Of
the cataract. tried TO shield my eyes
with my hands, and look upward; bui
the defence was useless.
My guide continued to move on, bus
at certain place he halted, and desired
me TO tako shelter in his lee and observe
the cataract. The spray did not come so
much from the fall upon ledge as from the
rebound OF the shattered water when II
struck the bottom. Hence the eyes
could be protected from the binding
shock OF the spray, while the line Of Wis
ion to the upper ledges remained TO some
extent clear.
On looking upward over the guides
shoulder could see the water bending
over the ledge, while the Terrap:n Tow
er loOmed fttully through the intermit
tent spray. gusts. We were right under
the tower. A little farther on. the cataract
after its first plunge. hit a protuberancc
some way down, and flew from it in pro
digious burst of spray; through this we
staggered. We rounded the promontory
on which the Terrapin Tower stands.
and pushed, amid the widest commo
tion. along the arm Of the Horseshoe
until the powders failed US and the cala
racl tell into the profound gorge OF the
Niagara River.
lie my guide sheltered me again, and
desired ME to look up; did SO, aud
could see as before, the green OF The
CLEAN OF the mighty curve sweeping
over the upper ledge, and the iitiul
plunge OF the water as the spray be-
tween US and it, alternately gathered
and disappeared.
An eminent friend OF mino often
speaks to ME OF the mistake OF those
physicians who regard mans ailments as
purely chemical, to be met by chemical
remedies only. He contends Tor tho
psychological element oil euro. BY
agreeable emotions, he says, nervous
currents are liberated which stimulate
blood, brain, and vscera. The influences
raiued from ladies' eyes enables my
friend TO thrive on dishes which would
kill him If eaten alone. A sanitive Of
feet of the same order | experienced
amid the spray and thunder OF Niagara.
Quickened by the emotions there aroused,
the blood sped exultingly through the
arteries, abolishing iEtrospection. clear
ing the heart of all bitterness. and en-
abling one to think with tolerance, il not
with tenderness, on the most relentless
and unreasonable foe. Apart from its
scientific value. and purely as moral
agent, the play, submit, is worth the
candle.
Ny companion knew no more OF me
than that enjoyed the wildnessi but as
bent in the shelter of his large frame.
he said. 81 should like to sec you attempt
ing to describe all this" He rightly
thought it indescribable. The name OF
this gallant fellow was Thomas Conway.