Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-02-28
Niagara,s Fascination.


for his benefit full moon every night and
brilliant sun by day. They tell me
that the grand time to see Niagara is at
midwinter, when huge tons Of ice go
laundering over the cataract and the
lower falls are one mass of sparkling ici-
cles. But one cannot see everything, and
Niagara in summer time is quite good
enough for me. Arriving in the middle
of the night. with the moon at the full, it
was impossible even then to resist the fas-
cination of Niagara's deep diapason
sound of welcome.
We wandered out, the night as light as
day, under acres OF white blossoms, to see
the upper torrent before it falls over the
precipice. This was to be all. The rest
was to be left to the imagination. You
cannot conceive the effect of that mid
night ramble-the eternal thud of the
cataract emphasizing the delicious silence
of the night. Standing as did on the
edge of the green garden on the American
side looking over TO the deep and somber
belt of pines on the opposite island watch
ing and eternally watching these angry
waters lashed into foam and hurryiDg to
their downfall below, it did not seem to
me al first that this comparatively narrow
course could end in triumph Of magnif
cence.
But there was no vestige or shadow Of
disappointment in the morning. How
should there be? The apple blossoms
were waxen, the grass of emerald green,
the sky was blue, the sun was in the
heavens. At last, it was all right with
the world SO | took the picture gradu-
ally, piece by piece, like miser. lifted
the curtain gradually and peeped al the
wonderful scene point by point and bit
by bit. The plan was TO walk by the
side of the torrent and TO pause at every
resting place-frst, the very edge where
the water breaks from its narrow bed into
immeasurable distance and becomes a
mighty cataract; next, little lower
down, where can be seen the effect Of the
great fall, the majesty Of which seems in
comparable then little further down,
where you find that the first falls are
mere child's play compared to the misty
majesty of the Horseshoe falls. The pro-
portions of this indescribable picture are
so equal and admirable that at first, as at
ST. Peters in Rome, you are apt to be
little disappointed. You cannot be con-
vinced of the magnifcence Of st. Peters
unless you go to the top Of the highest
dome. You cannot be completely per-
suaded of the astonishing majesty Of Nj
agara unless you descend TO the very bot
tom.
Modern enterprise allows you this ex.
perience. Formerly you had to stand on
a slippery rock in macintosh and go
literally into the falls. Nowadays
plucky little steamboat pluDges into the
very heart Of the torrent and takes you
SO near the falling mass Of glitieriDg and
rainbow tinted water that you gasp for
breath. This expedition should be miss
ed by no one You cannot see the falls
or understand them without il.
You will ask me, what is the effect OF
Niagara falls on the spectator 10 me
they have an indescribable attraction and
fascination. While resting there / could
not get away from them. The roar in the
distance seemed call which was bound
to answer. All day long was strolling
about Goat Island or standing on the
bridge, or over Oh the Canadian side sit
ting and looking at the rainbow and the
waves OF the opposite fall. Try as l
would, / could not tear myself away from
the attractive cataract. The most hide
ously fascinating corner Of all is the exact
break where the rushing water falls sheer
down the precipice.
One-balf step here and death would
greet you in less than second. This 10
a corner that ought to be barred from
the sight. If it is necessary TO helghten
the barriers Of Clifton suspension bridge,
it should be doubly right TO hide these
fascinating corners Of Niagara, where the
roar soolhes and the rushing water allures.
But for all that hiiher suicides eternally
come. Niagara has been The nepenihe Of
many weary soul If ] we're to visit
the place a hundred times, ! should stiIl
be found all day long walking round and
round the falls and rapids, and watching
the everlasting rush from peace Of lake TO
turbulence Of whirlpool. Niagara is 10
my mind one Of the most fascinating
spots on earth.-London 7elegroph-
OVERLOADED.
y. farrLC