The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-01-15
THE ADVENTURES OF a DAY.
NIAGARA FALLS, Jan. I, 1871

NIAGARA FALLS, Jan. l, 1910.
Since everybody at this festive season is
iuclineJ to Indulge III little relaxation from
the ordinary duties of life, in company with
A. +. Manning and j. J. Clark, we donncd
our holiday attire and set out to view the
surrounding country, the scenery OF which is
no doubt, familiar to many of your readers
The weather was mild as las been the case
here all this wintcr--so much so indeed that
the people in these quarters can scarcely b.
lieve that We are now IS far advanced in the
season as we were this time last year, when
the snow was two feet deep, and the sleigh
bells chmed tremendously with the thrilling
peals Of Jack Frost
! We directed our steps towards Niagara
Falls, but had not proceeded far when our
ears were assaulted by such pathetic interro'
cations for which Niagara is famovs) hack.
hack!' Should person show any signs of
acqulescencc, they will gather around you
like a lot of hungry children around u mother
who holds IN her hand warm loaf of bread
One will hang to your coat tail, another seize
goul NdIISc, "HiIc lA!Iu WIZ toA!c UP very
unccrcmoniously, run his cold fingers down
your shirt collar, and say, with an ironcal
curl Of his lip, Cum along, Johnnie; I'll take
you all over the falls for the small sum of
three dollars!' Although We cared little
about going orcr the falls or enjoying cool
bath ut this particular season, yet we engag.
ed the one who appeared to be the least de
sirouS about sending cold dlsagreeable sen
satlols gambolng down our backs
Though the falls of Niagara possess few
soulstirring beauties for an lnhabi:ant of
these parts, they have many pleasing quail.
ties for recommending the stranger to visit
them in the winter season, for then they are
clothed in that romantic grandeur which sun.
shine, flowers and ralubows fail to produce
So many descriptions of Niagara are cxtant,
that | feel it would be foolish expenditure
of labor to Aarass your readers with such an
essay. Two bridges now span its mighty
chasn, beneath which rolls the boisterous Nj
agara river on its way TO Lake Ontario. One
OF the bridges, situated about forty rods below
the falls, was, we understand, condemned not
long since.
My two friends being Of romantic, Jolly
turn of mind, induced me to venture pass
age across the suspending structure, promis-
ing IN the meantime, with a jocOsc smile,
that they would take the lead As the wind
was blowing perfect hurricane precautions
were necessary for the security OF our person.
al property. We dispatched this duty by
pulling our hats snugly about our ears, but
toning our coats cozily under our chins and
tying our shoes. When We got halt way
across the bridge was so violently tossed to
and fro by the wind that to walk straight was
While we were thus ludicrously moving, to in.
crease my horror and excitement, my hair
became so digniiied that it assumed perfect
much so, in fact, that it af.
ment to get beneath nv hat and carry it over
the bridge into the boiling surge beneath, a |
lepth Of 2lj feet Although the fright was
too much for our amount OF spirits, yet we
the Instrument Of our horror We learned
that the bridge itself cost 100000 that the
height Of the towers above tho hoor is 80 feet,
and the length OF the span between the towers
500 feet
Rlnsack as we may Our whole nursery Of
charity, and we cannot say tru,hfully that the
people who compose the village of Niagara
Falls and Suspension Bridge are anything
else than Il dependent people. Industrial
pursuits are perfect strangers to them, while
places of amusement, hotels, institutional es-
Establishments and temples Of worship stand in
amiable, noble prospect all around. AS con.
trast helghtens beauty--as shadow and sun
shine bear their own sorrow and joy-so was
our days adventure interminglcd with pleas
ing AMI dlSagreeablc "reminiscences. We
would say, finally, to everybody whose purse
Is so heavy that 1t is likely TO bend him over
and Cause consumption, TO visit Niagara
Falls, and that before he becomes so cnfee.
blcl Oy Cd age that he Cannot appreciate the
beautiful, the picturesque, the grand, and the ,
sublime; and forget not that the hackman
who has ,ac least audac!tj. and the least re.
sembles a mother.n-law acquaintance of
yours, is The one 20 choose as a guide and
guardian. JACOBUs
The Habit oil Eeauiug