Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-31
FOR THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
visit 10 the Great Falls.

Once The recent lGteIest which The neswpa-
pers have taken 10 the Great Falls Iropertv,
have bccn tempted 10 visit iha, section and Of.
fer the suhjoiued account, although | can az.
sure y"u no Void painting eau DO ADEQUATE
justice to the sublime beauty of the place, and
Which, without possessing any legal claim to,
We are all permitted TO enjoy, by laws which
have bceu 10 force siuce before The time Of
Richard the tlist. | must tell you that nv
approach to the Fails Was tium The NIaryIaud
sid time, suoset. The evening was bright
aHd beautiful, aud naturt Refreshed by recrut
showers, wore her sweetest aspect. As | eau
tered along this romantlc and picturesque route
1t would be difficult to imagine the exunisite
sense Ut pleasure which was derived trum the
charmlug rural scenery with its rich barvests of
golden sheavcs doltipg the hiltsiles 10 prc.ry
contrast with Verdant meadows and waving corn
fields; the soft evening air and the balm V
fragrance of the woods had each its peculiar
charm. As the shades of evening were gath.
erlng about me | reached the heights which
command a hoe view of the beautiful Potomac
as 1t winds Its devious course along, leaping
from crag to crag. The golden beams of the
NNN'SS - W. SuSu lOStlluSsS
lit ny the sparkling waters of the river that it
seemed like a sea of euchantmeut with its nv
Rad fountains in full play, forming a successiuD
OF gorgeousIy tinted raiubows. Que can but
gaze with delight upon the soul filling beauty
ut the scene. The las: retreating rays of the
setting sun had vanished behind the Western
hills and the moon rising 10 cloudless spleudor
cast her soft tremulous light over the grim bat
Elements OF nature ranged along the shore,
whose rugged ironts irowued back the "silvery
sheen to the ripping waves as they hurried
past 10 sportlve glee. The sweet mellow ca
dence OF the boatman's horn and the merry
jingle of the mule teams warns Us that your
hour has come, and dism unting | started 90
rather a perllous trip over the rocks. which re-
qu!res soneIhlOg of the agility of the cham is
hunter to surmount. At length the perpeo-
dlcular rocks we're reached that jut over the
roaring cataract which rushes with wild and
deatenlog fury, and with quick rebound dashes
the sparkling spray IN fantastic beauty as it
gllsteDs tor d moment under the moonbeam.
a lew steps more and the whole scene burst on
my view. What words cau describe There
Is a power and a beauty; yea, a dignity 10 rush
log waters felt by all VIM claim any sympathy
With nature. The mountain stream roaring
from rock to rock, winding and glauclug in it's
devious, stony %caunel, arrests the eye of the
most careless beholder and sings to the heart,
and bauots the memory of the cultured and re-.
hoed, but a noble majestic river like this pour.
log Its toamlng angry waters with thunderiue
sound over Jagged, precipitous rocks, ~elevatcs,
aud, at the same time, subdu,s the soul az in
an awful and heavenly presence-Dei,y the
broodlng, commanding spirit is there! "Dscp
calleth TO deep!' 1t is with reluctance one can
tear himself from such a spot, aud | wished for
some kindred spirit to enj, W with me tue
exceeding beauty Of these failing waters
g QUI?