Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-08-02
Charles Dickens's Beautiful
Pen Picture of Niagara.

N%AANsA A@A1 A(A1aASAAS -
Pen Picture of Niagara.
No subject is more hackneyed than
Niagara, and the beauties of the place
have been exploited by tongue and pen
for period of three hundred years at
least; but Dickens has left behind in
his American Notes piece of prose
poetry that showed the novelist to be
able to rise to dignity of his subject,
We reproduce his description, feeling
that it will be read with pleasure:
Between five and six the next morn
ing, we arrived at Buffalo, where we
breakfasted; and being too near the
Great Falls to wait patiently anywhere
else, we set OF by the train, the same
morning at nine o'clock, to Niagara.
1t was a miserable day; chilly and
raw; a damp mist falling; and the
trees in that northern region quite
bare and wintry. Whenever the train
halted, listened for the roar; and was
constantly straining my eyes in the di-
rection where l knew the Falls must
be, from seeing the river rolling on to-
ward them every moment expecting
to behold the spray. Within a few
minutes of our stopping, not before,
saw two great white clouds rising up
slowly and majestically from the
depths of the earth. That was all
At length we alighted; and then for
the first time, heard the mighty rush
of water, and felt the ground tremble
underneath my feet.
The bank is very steep, and was slip
perry with rain, and half-melted ice.
hardly know how l got down, but
was soon at the bottom, and climbing
with two English officers who were
broken rocks, deafened by the noise,
crossing and had Joined me, over some
half blinded by the spray, and wet to
the skin. We were at the foot of the
American Fall. I could see an i'm
mense torrent OF water tearing head
long down from some great height, but
had no idea Of shape, or situation, or
anything butsvague immensity.
When We were seated in the little
ferry-boat and were crossing the
swollen river Immediately before the
cataracts, began to feel what it was;
but I was in manner stunned, and
unable to comprehend the vastness of
the scene. 1t was not until / came on
Table Rock, and looked-Great Heav-
ems, on what a fall OF bright-green
water!-that came upon me in its full
might and majesty.
Then, when l felt how near to my
Creator / was standing, the first effect,
and the enduring one-instant and
lasting-of the tremendous spectacle,
was Peace. Peace of Mind, tranquility
calm recollections of the Dead, great
thoughts OF Eternal Rest and Happi-
ness; nothing OF gloom or terror.
Niagara was at once stamped on my
heart, an image of Beauty; to remain
there, Changeless and indelible, until
AS pulses cease to beat, for ever.
Oh how the strife and trouble of
daily life receded from my view, and
lessened in the distance, during the ten
memorable days we passed on that
Enchanted Ground! What voices spoke
form out the laundering water; what
faces, faded from the earth, looked out
upon me from its cleaning depths;
what Heavenly promise glistened in
those angels tears, the drops of many
hues that showered around, and twin.
ed themselves about the gorgeous
arches which the changing rainbows
madel
To wander TO and fro all day and SCI
the cataracts from all points OF view
to stand upon the edge of the Grea
Horse Shoe Fall, marking the hurried
water gathering strength as it aD
preached the verge, yet seeming u
pause before Il shot into the gulf be
low; to gaze from the rivers level M
at the torrent as il came streaming
down: to climb the neighborini
heights and watch It through the trees
and see the wreathing water in tn
rapids hurrying on to take its fearfu
plunge; to linger in the shadow of tn
solsnns rocks three miles below
watching 1the river as. stirred by d
visible cause, 1t heayed and eddled ant
awoke the echoes, being troubled yet
far down beneath its surface. by it
giant leap; to have Niagara before me
lighted by the sun and by the moon
red in the days decline, and gray a
evening slowly fell upon il; 10 IoOl