The Portland daily press., 1882-03-10
POETRY.
Oscar and Niagara.

The handiwork of the Almighty was not cal
culated to stand the test of such criticism as it
Is getting about these days. The last quarter of
the nineteenth century had to be waited for be-
fore an expert could be produced who could
tell just what was the matter with with it. Os-
car Wilde, after having taken the Atlantic
Ocean down a peg and located it where 1t be-
longs, tackles Niagara Falls as the next victim
Oscar was disappointed in the outline when
he first saw the waterfall. 1.-THE design, it
seemed TO me, was wanting in grandeur and
variety of line" This is hard on the designer,
who had hitherto never had any exception TAX
an to the work. But it is cheering to note that
Oscar commended the colors. They were all
right. The Falls had &C considerable effect
ON him however He wrote in the
Prospect House album: "The roar of
these waters is like the roar when the mighty
wave of democracy breaks on the shores where
kings lie crouched at ease" vi course this had
no local significance, but one would think tnat
it was calculated to make the kings get up. The
ST. James Gazette puts Wilde's apostrophe TO
thesgreat cataract in verse:
Falls of Niagara What shall say to you?
What sort of view of your merits convey to YOU?
You who have so many visitors awed
MOSTLY inferior persons no doubt OF it, -
Shall pronounce you successful or OUT o. lt'
Are you consummate or are you a frauu!
Much as fear that my hosts will be hurt If
Cannot consent to your merits to cerhiy,
Truth which is quite too supremacy d1vlnea
NAV not be blinked without blamefnl impiety;
Where then, Niagara, where's your Variety
Where, my poor Falls is yourIgrandeur VI hne'
Must decide that you scarcely have got any?
Must remark on your painful monotonyI
Must I-since thus you continue TO thrust
Water in floods on ones senses necessarily
Animadvert on this feature unpleasantly?
Worthy cascade, I'm afraid that must.
Tell me, too, pray, is that curve satisfactory?
Are not those boulders perceptIbly packed awryY
Is not the water trihe to fiat?
Look to the left of it, look to the right OF II,
Look at the breadth as compared with the height OF
Is there no room for improvement in that
Still you hare points which may serve you redeem
ingly-
Points Which have won you your worshipers SEEM
ingly,
Since even can allow their delight;
What though your curves may be moulded less Sla'
Yet is your Color distinctly too previously
Toned into harmonies utterly right.
Ave. and in sooth at your stream when look again
More when enter that galleried nook AGAIN.
Something of majesty now do note.
Nor can question the force thatis dashipg you
Over the precipice not to say splashing you
Over my wonde rful fur-collared coat
Yes after all you may win the asthetical
Judgment by-hal the afaatus poetical!
aarS to t that roar as Of mighty Demo ,racy
Beating the shore Of etfete Aristocracy
Where the vain mouarchs lie snoozirg at ease.'
Courage, Americans closed is the ordeal,
Judged Is the cause and with sympathy cordial
Here l,unouree my decision to you,
Justly yet kindly can in this matter act,
Lo! approve of you, fortunate cataract;
Fails of Niagara! pass! you Will do.