The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-03


tains of stone. Dismounting, we led our
horses down bluff after bluff, until we
reached a small park skirting the river.
This was covered with grass that reached
to ur knees, and sprinkled over it were
many species of gaudy flowers new to me,
We followed the bank of the river until
we reached coppice of juniper that thrives
wherever the refreshing spray falls, and,
passing through this, found ourselves stand
ing on Lookout Point, directly over the
river where it plunges downward and
from this spot we had magnificent view
of the falls, as we could gaze directly down
upon them, they being only four feet below
US. Glancing up the stream, We could see
that its sinuous course for half mile was
one mass of streaming rapids and small
cataracts, which were numerously dotted
with barren crags and Hower-clad islets of
many forms. By counting the larger leaps,
we made out eight good falls within an
area of two hundred yards, which averaged
from six to twenty feet in height; and no
two were alike in outline. Close to the
shore the water formed deep lanes or ca
mails ofbubbling cascades through the rocks,
and their genteness contrasted strongly
with the turbulence adjoining them. As
these varied and diverging bodies approach
ed the precipicc they swung together to
produce the Grand Falls, which are excel
led only by Niagara and the falls of the
Missouri in volume, while they outrank
all in diversity of form and contrast of
surroundings. Massive in power and vi
gorous in action; warm in color, yet envi-
roned in gloom; picturesque in immediate
accessories yet encompassed by savage
grandeur, they possess all the elements
that make such scenes attractive to the
lover of the beautiful. Their very situa-
tion in the midst of desolate artemisian
plain, and hemmed in by cauons whose
dreary depths are impenetrable to the sun
light for many months in the year, adds to
their interest and enhances their impress
i've magniicence. The main falls are es-
timated by those dwelling in their vicinity
to be two hundred and twenty feet in
height; but this is probably beyond the
bounds, though, judging from appearance,
not much. They have a width of three
hundred yards by following the curve Of
their outline, but in a straight line they
will not exceed two hundred.
They are of an irregular concave shape,
somewhat like reversed crescent; but du-
ring the spring freshets they assume a
convex form, owing to the increased velo-
city of the water. The pretty park, with
its luxuriant grasses, flowers and coppices
of jumpers, give a softness and color to
the falls that are agreeably appreciated by
the eye, as they impart the picturesque
element so much needed, but on the oppo-
site side the dark and towering terraces of
drap, with the inevitable accompaniment
of a heavy talus, looms up against the sky
in black masses, and convey the most i'm
pressiye idea of gloom and rugged wilder
ness. While the falls are grand from
every point of view, it is only at their base
that one can fully appreciate them, and |
found the attempt to reach that position a
most hazardous one, as | had to descend
the sheer place of the boulders, and in sew
eral instances could only find light hold
for my 6ngor.tips and the toes of one foot
Had bit Of the rocks given way, l must
have been dashed to pieces on the crags
below. 1t was only by braeing every nerve
and firmly clinching the teeth that | was
enabled to make the descent; but confess
that even then knee occasionally trembled
despite my utmost effort to be brave. After
a toilsome descent reached PROSTATE tree
that lay against the bluff at a convenient
angle, and this led me into a ravine which
was covered with stunted jumpers, briers,
and large, wiry grass. This even was so
deep that it was only by leaning well back
and falling against trees that | was pre-
vented from being shot downward into the
river by my own momentum. By clam
bering over boulders, vaulting fallen trees,
and making bridges Of PROSTATE, water
polished trunks, was enabled to get within
forty feet of the falls; but further progress
was checked by the smooth and perpen-
dicular crags.
Selecting messy bank covered with
long, dank and PROSTATE grass, | threw
myself upon it, and for two hours gazed
upon the stirring vista before me in a sort
of half dreamy mood; for it was too over
powering to allow the faculties to expand
to full action. The longer | looked the
more desired to, for l was fully captiva-
ted in the grand yet weird beauty that
surrounded me. The water in overleap-
ing, weeping waves of white, and with a
vibrating sound that resembled that pro-
duced by many mills in motion, thundered
steadily downward, and developed splendid
rainbows that extended far above the falls,
and spanned the stream while heavy show
ers of vapory spray slowly upward rose to
height of three hundred feet, then lazily
foated away in clouds of darkish gray
APpleton's Journal.