Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-05-28
Yours Truly.
EMMA ERvANA BOWEN.

NIAGARA IN SPRING AND WINTER
To fully appreciate the grandeur and
marvellous beauty of Niagara, one should
see it in storm and sunshine. in summer
and winter. l remember very distinctly
one visit made to Niagara some yea rs
ago. 1t was cold. stormy day in the
month of May; one of those dreary, cheer
less days when the rain falls not in gentle
showers. but comes driving pitilessIy
against your face. while great gusts of
wind sweep up from every quarter, laden
mere with the breath of November than
of May; the contrast Is more sharply re.
allied because of the soft, balmy spring
days which have gone before. Despite the
weather, was determined to visit the
Three Sister Islands; walking across Goat
Island and the first of the s'Sisters,"
stopped on the bridge which connects the
two smaller islands, and leaned on the
railing tc watch the waters below. The
river-bed appeared to be composed entirely
of huge rocks, and the water dashing
against these boulders sent a continuous
shower of spray high into the air. It
seemed to my fancy that the river-drops
sprang up to meet the rain-drops. and
uniting, fell back upon the waves to 90
hurrying together off toward the great
sea.
Standing on the last "Island" and look
ing about me, realized as never before,
the terrible force and power of the River.
The rain was falling steadily; the tiny
spring flowers we're trying to hide beneath
the shelter Of their green leaves, and the
lilies, which in the sunshine would unfold
ing heads swaying to and fro in the wind
The sky was gray and cold, few white
clouds went flying off toward the north
driven by the rising wind; round on every
side the waters dashed and leaped IN fury;
like pack of hungry wolves the waves
sprang upon each other, their low sullen
growls echoing from shore to shore. Far
out in the River single pine tree, half
fallen, was striving for existence; as the
restless waters whirled and eddied about
it, feeling of awful desolation, sense
of the mighty irresistible power of the
river, swept over me. | was bowed down
and filed with awe at the Allmightiness
in nature.
Descending the inclined railway, and
going on board the ''Maid of the MIST" I
waited for the trip up the river. Slowly
the little steamer swung round, and pulled
its way through the water; the banks rose
high on either side; a few loiterers in
Prospect Point, looked at that distance
like mere pigmies; the Falls loomed up
before us like vast horseshoe and our
boat rocked to and fro at it's opening, the
whistle blew, the bells rung, but the deaf
ening roar of the waters covered all sound.
1t was as Thoughts child with a toy whistle
were trying to drown the shrill scream of
locomotive. High boulders were piled
up about us; and above, hugh gigantic
rocks. seemingly ready at the slightest
jar, to fall with crushing force into the
waters beneath. The mist rose, a mass OF
dense white vapor, and hoated just at the
edge of the Falls. For moment, the
clouds parted, and the sun shone out
upon the waters; those waters whose pc
culiar tints artists have tried in vain to
reproduce; it changed the falling drops
into sparkling crystals; it left on the edge
of that broken circle of falling water a
rim of FURNISHED gold. and hung across
the clouds of mist, that token of Gods
promise, the rainbow. 1t was the grandeur
and the beauty of nature combined.
Those who have stood while the red
light was thrown upon the Falls, and
watched that immense volume of water
pour over the ledge, like river of blood
weird and terrible to look upon; or lave