Connecticut western news., 1886-08-18
What We Saw at Albany. Niagara Falls, New York and Manhattan
 Beach.

Falls, New York and Manhattan
 Beach.
 On Tuesday, July 20, a party of four left the little romantic, hill-environed hamlet of West Cornwall, Conn.,, for a trip. ."Around the Empire State in Five Days, arriving early in the afternoon at Albany to attend the bi-centennial exer cises of the day in the charming and beautiful Washington park. The city presented very lively and gaudy ap- pearance with its bright-colored decora- tions of bunting, festooned and arrang ed in almost every conceivable design, intermingled with flags of all nations and words of Welcome" to greet the thousands of guests at nearly every street entrance. Joyous strains of martial mu- sic inspired the vast crowd at intervals, with parades, addresses, games, etc., to wind up the publication of the day.
 Then we were attracted toward the new state capitol and strolled through the corridors of the colossal structure full of admiration at the many highly interesting features it contained. Later we wended our way to the banks of the farsfamed Hudson, to watch the fine ar ray of fast steamers ply up and down its crystal waters, elaborately trimmed in gay colors. in accord with the day. Then to the Grand Union depot to await the arrival of the Chicago fast express which landed it's carloads of excursionists safe and sound early the next morning in the midst of the bustling village of Niagara Falls, which contains a population of about 3700 and proudly boasts of many elegant hotels, stores, fine residences, churches and the largest paper mill in the state. At this season, however, the broad and well-shaded streets are scenes of much life and animation.
 After good square meal at the cozy Cottage hotel our carriage and guide was engaged and soon in readiness, driving first to Goat Island over the new iron bridge, costly and imposing structure, over 36O feet in length. From no point are the American rapids so attractive as here, as the waves are constantly break ing high in the air into new forms, each successive change refecting the sun ight-and throwing 1t back in some lovely transfusion of color. On the isl and, which is not the largest, yet by far the most beautiful and romantic in Niagara, we ''cooly" enjoyed its wind ing drive-ways and secluded footpaths through the thick colonnade of forest trees with the fierce and distracted rapids on either side madly hurrying on to make the awful leap just beyond. Our onward course was one of extreme ad- miration and wonder, as the deafening roar became more audible. Leaving the carriage on the brow of the hill we cautiously passed down the winding stairway and across the shady rustic bridge, where, suddenly We stood upon . lovely spot called Luna Island, in closest proximity to the edge of the fearful precipice where we beheld for the first time this grand and magnif- cent amphitheatre of struggling cata- racts in all thelr glory. The impressions of sublimity and grandeur that silently stole over us are inexpressible, as we stood on the very brink of the stupend- ous chasm, viewing the towering crests where the ever-changing torrents make the terrible plunge of 16O feet with such gigantic strength and majesty, ac- companied by whirlwind's roar and sending up its wreaths of bridal spray high in the air as the smoke from an in- mense confagation. Far down beneath us, amidst the hissing and seething waters of the river, we occasionally caught glimpses of the fairy steamer ''Maid of the Mist" ploughing her peri lous way gracefully through and around the boiling eauldron, wrapped in blind ing sheets of mist, with her merry cargo of living freight. Almost under us lay the celebrated sCave of the winds, ," reached by the long, descending stairs and curtalned in deep azure folds by the American falls. Taking the we'll protected pathway along the precipitous steep to the westward their came to view the delicate texured rainbow ill all its beauty, trembling on the angry surge, 8 most radiant and rapturous picture.
 Not mentioning the many points of interest passed, we soon arrived at Ter rapin bridge from whose giddy height the best view of the Horseshoe falls Is obtained. A short drive ard we were at the Three Sister Islands, connected to each other and Goat Island by three costly and substantial bridges, giving grand views of continued cascades toward the Canada shore, un- equaled from any point, and even from this miniature Niagara arises spray quite similar to the great falls beyond. To pass through this wild and varied scenery amply repays the visitors for an extended trip. From here we were driven across the new sus- pension bridge, the longest in the world, it's roadway being 1900 feet in length, spanning the mighty chasm 19O feet above the rolling floods, fully impressed with the thought that we were "strang- CTS in foreign land, yet were delight ed with the whole panorama of Niagara now spread out in bold relief before us.
 fastening to the remains of the cele-