The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-03
a Curious Incident,

a Curious Incident.
young girl from Georgia. in visiting
Niagara Falls recently, had an adventure
more sensational than pleasant. She was
locked up all night in the observation
tower on the State reservation three hun
dred feet in air. 1t CHANGED that she was
the last person on the tower when the
elevator stopped running, and the super
intendent forgot she was there and failed
to come up for her. 1t became dark. and
the girl waited in vain for the car TO ap-
pear. She stayed there all night. and as
bowling rain storm occurred after dark
| her situation in that unroofed place was
not only unpleasant. but very nearly dam
gerous She was rescued in the morning,
however, and will probably get over her
unusual experience in time.
But there is enc feature of the story, az
| reported in the yellow journals, which is
somewhat difficult to believe. Tie girl ls
| reported TO have said that her only con-
ISOLATION was her Bible, which she began
to read as soon as it grew light enough
to see. 1t is not to be supposed that the
Government keeps Bibles on top of the
observation tower for the edification of I'M
fortunate castaways. SO the inference is
that the young lady read her own. Now,
is it reasonable to suppose that the aver
age American girl carries Bibles about
with her on her sightseeing tours? Is it
likely that, IN visiting Niagara, she would
provide herself with copy of even the
New Testament? She is reported to have
said that she suffered much from the rain,
having only thin summer clothing as pro-
lection. If she had visited Niagara as
an episode in longer journey, and had
her valise with her, she might possibly
have had Bible n that; but in that case
she would certainly, if girl OF sense,
have provided herself with some sort OF
wrap when travelling in Canada in the
early part Of June.
If this marooned traveller had been
man, secretary Of the Y. NJ. C. A. or
something like that, it would be different,
for man can carry small Testament in
his coat pocket for use in case of emer-
gency, and perhaps some men do. But
girl has 10 pockets. Are we to infer that
this Georgian young lady went about
sightseeing with Bible in her hand, in
the middle of the week. when there was
no camp meeting or Chautauqua assem-
blage going en-? Or was that little episode
of the Bible due to the too active and en-
terprising imagination of some reporter?
II this thing is true, and not dramatic
invention, then some suggestions to the
young lady who was the heroine OF the ad-
venture, and all other damsels like her,
are certainly in order. 1t may be very
handy and pleasant to have a Bible 20
read in case of being left alone all night
on top of an observation tower, but II
girl prefers Bible to jacket as pro-
lection in a heavy rainstorm she must
be more ethereal than most human beings
Any girl who goes travelling in such
climate as that of northern New York
without adequate protection In the way of
wraps and umbrella, needs common sense
considerably more than she needs religion.
And there is still another point to be con-
sdered in this narrative. If the maid in
question did not have some sort of means
of shielding herself from the fury of the
elements, how in the world did she keep
that Bible dry enough to read? Any ordi-
nary book, after an experience of that
kind, would have been sop of wet pulp.
Are We TO suppose that there was miracle
in the case?