New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-29
VANDALISM AT NIAGARA.
oF sIrBLIME SCENERY.

lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNE'
NIAGARA FALLS n. Y, Aug. 23.-Ihere are
things Niagara Falls which belong to the lowest
and worst world OF which knows anything 70
world whose elements and influences are worse than |
wckedness or positive wrong -doing,-the realm OF ugh
ness and yulgaty OF influences which denle and beiou
what IL beautiful and admirable. and corrupt and
poison the Of life and excellence The tendency
of friendly familiarity with ugness and vuearty is TO
make the people not so much immoral as unmoraii II
leads TO regions conditions OF life where the develop
ment OF the moral sense Of the imagination and OF al
bign Qualities or faculties Of the mind OF man. impos
sble Natures Niagara isor rather was-one OF the
grandest and Oveliest places on the globe some Dor
tons and features OF this original Niagara still remain
enough of them 10 be well worth preserving but they
are nearly all OF them. likely soon to be destroyed
Much of the natural loyeness, OF the old charm OF Nj
arara has already been Oberated and replaced BY
agencies and influences potent to vulgarze and deoase
the young and untaught Of the American people VINO
for any reason visit this spot which nature nade saocd
to beauty and to all high influences
The best place TO visit first, arrival here Is the
point at the top OF the American Fall on the "conti'
mental" side that H. nearest the village 1t IA right
and natural to begin here because tho view from ths
point moderate. less striking and WONDERFUL
than the view OF fa from Goat Island IL y
the true place first view Of the Fails, and the
scene in its natural aspects ia ndescrfDaby Deautru
One Of Americas foremost writer's whose works have
greater number OF readers than those OF any other
American author tes his history Of acertain never
to-beforgotten Journey Niagara Falls, tnat as the
visitors approached this spot they enjoyed at every
instant their feeling Of arrival at sublime destha-
tion :" and he adds In this Niagara deserves
almost TO rank with Rome the metropolis OF history ana
religion with Venice, the chief CITY of sentiment ana
fantasy In either you at made at home by a
perception OF it's greatness in which there Is no quality
Of aggression a. there always seems to be in MINOR
places "a well in minor men, aud yon gratefully
accept its suhimty fact IN no way contrasting Win
your own nsgnifcance."
Let me quote fur. her for have purpose:
In fact that prodlcous presence dos make solitude
silence round every spirit worthy - perceive H. b ~
II gives kind OF dignity TO all IT. belonging 80 that the
rocks and pebbles in The tcrs edge, and the weeds
and grasses that nod above IT, have value far ono
that of such common things elsewhere. IN an thss
ospecs ~ Niagara there seems grave simplicity which
perhaps reflection Of the spectators syn TOT ONO
utterly dismauded OF atfec alon AMI convention -.
The last hues OF sunset fingered Ia the ml.ts that
sprung from the base OF the talls WIN mou5nlu %
nj lus grace ana movement "e'lu a. 'i b Yh mo-
Northern Lights. They were touched WIN tne nosc
delicate purpl,s ana crimsOns that darhened 10 ueeP
red and then FADED from them at second LOCK, anu
hev flew upward. swiftly upward, ike troops or palt
bctfer Than ny Other Tor local color dwclt upon the
| sceue For under the bridge the river smoothly ran
the undercgrrcns forever unfo themes upon 1ng
surface vi u vast ro'ehe tNolllol, ~ tlii tLe
win faint lines 81 white, whErc ne ar hit ll4cl W
on Ia face or cataract was here more Ike riH vera
antique AMI had look o. hrmness almost IKE lnaI ~
d,,n th river fll the curvng shores hid it. These.
sprin -ug abruptly from the waier- Drink ana -nasge'
Win inG aud cedar displayed the tender yerdure 0f
erase and bushes intcrnuuged with the dark "Vergreens
that climb from ledge to ledse Al the,e point Ieit
soeary tops above the crest OF the biuH7; IN 'front.'
where tumbed rocks and eXpan-es oil nahtd cray Yale
the goomier aud gaycr green sprung ,iosT seGraaI
mist. and through them lO0med out IN IT. MANI ma
| irsty NIAGARA with the seemingly lmm"Vaple' Wmle
i, ,,rv ~ the Horseshoe solid and simple and calm
a- an Ely ptan wall while behind ms Win theI W.e
and hi lex expenses broken by darfluaged hue Isles,
fh.. STA
| he tylly wooded shores.
The last paray graph describes the from the new
suspension bridge Just below the Falls These passages
present with the deicacy aud accuracy possible to
pis alone picture Of the scene which il repeated al
! most every evening through weeks ot fair summer
weather every year But now it Is succeeded every nSht
almost before the sunset fully Withdrawn, by
| an indescrbaby painful and deDasng exhibition Lice
trio lights are thrown through varousiy eoored glasses
full upon the white Gothic screen OF the American
Fall and upon the green massive curve OF the Horse
shoe " Blue and red and yellow rays shot sud-
denly hither thither the bllowy rapids ana
! the boys who manage the lgats amuse themselves ny
flashing their ntolerlbe briance In the faces OF peo
pe wherever they be seen within range, and thus
driving them from place place escape the binding
glare when n red glass Is used the American Fall has
the appearance Of tue dschargeway OF an enormous
| beet sugar mandatory. When the yeAowish glass
is interposed the cataract looks much ike the tai
race" OF an old-time wildcat dstlery on the lower
| Maumee.
Twas once riding on horseback near the Maumee
River in company with several Methodist ministers
when the wind brought TO very distinctly the odors
| from a disrilery across the valley half mile away
The foremost in the group was very earnest tenn
perancc advocate As tne scent reached Us he smiled
two or three times then turned in the saddle and OBJ
! served smell hell" We have not this particular
fragrance At the Falls as yet this be here
before many years have passed, for Of tine projects
| " for the development Of the resources OF Niagara
talked OF here is the erection OF mammoth distlery
on Goat Island.
A-things are now the evening exhibition at the Falls
on the American side resembles the combination OF a
moor circus with cheap celebration OF the Fourth OF
| Iuv No description eau give those who have not
seen il an adequate notion Of the abOmnable effect or
tho colored lights when directed upon the Falls
II IS debasing vgarzm-, ana horrible III the extreme
That children and young people should ne exposed 10
tbe influence OF such spectacle Is matter Tor deepest
regret ana sadness It evident that neither tine peo-
ME who make this exhibition those who enjoy It
wond have any rooted obj against the actual de-
Element Of these crystal waters. their taste Is ac
| tualiy So perverted that they have no JOY IN their
purity or beauty but have morbid and diseased pleas
ure IN their being made to look II they were disgust
! t,,lv hefouled and impure. WordswOrth's phrase
vital feelings OF delight" Is most pregnant and sug
oe.tve expression for there deadly feelings OF dc
lb+ A. we'll "a vital ones and young people are not
surrounded by beautiful and ennObhng objects anu
spectacie- many OF them Will come 10 uAsHt III IHAna
thar are false dcba5ing and monstrous These evil in
erences propagate themselves according to natural AMI
universal laws and this exhibition OF Niagara Falls in
colors by means Of electric lights kind Of evil mis-
onary agency education OF the Young people Of
America in the love vulgary and ugness. 1t Is the
fashion praise this exhibition a. something beau
tfl aud artistic" aud is often painful to hear Deo-
nile talking such rubbish ought TO know better But It
l. always little dull the crowd Of those who watch
the lights and any body starts conversation with
companion many Will listen, and proprety admits a.
when a general subject ia discussed will express agree
ment OF approval After had been here for some time
this summer being weary Of hearing notwithstanding
| hon hen iflIll 20 and Isn't