The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-08
NIAGARA IN WINTER DRESS.
THE FROST PRODUCES A COR
GEoUs SPECTACLE AT FALLS.
Much Comfort to he Had There at
Reasonable Cost Before the
Crowd Comes Crossing the
River Afoot on a Bridge Of lee.

There Is so much real comfort TO be had
In a visit 10 Niagara now and SO much an
noyance to be avoided that quiet people
who like real things without a mixture OF
sham ought TO know II. Winter has come
In all its finery. with nobody 10 see II. one
may cross the river afoot where ice has
choked the gorge and take In the cataracts
from that choice viewpoint accompanied
only by his meditations. The hot drink
warming pan peddlers have dumped their
ahanties on the ice bridge. but Ii has not
yet paid to stock up. and this years in
fancy OF that nuisance is noise.ess and
peaceful.
Canadian paws insist on closing on the
American half dollar az Clifton for a ride
down the blun on the ramshaokie freight
elevator which does service at that place.
u pays the visitor 10 give up coin for what
this ride makes accessible. Reckoning by
the standard Of elevator service. he has
TO do about 81 worth OF work after leav-
ing the elevator TO transport himself along
the path to the Horseshoe. but he really
gets II back IN the end. The slippery way
II oyerhung with icicles big as inverted
church steeples. and resembling them.
Some of them reach below the path.
and touching Its edge In their descent,
form a stately colonnade. As the visitor
IN these days has the path to himself-the
guide not counting-he feels almost as II
tho Whole thing had been devised for his
henont.
When he has quit crouchlng in the dark
tunnel al the southern edge OF the cliff and
finds himself sound OF limb. though badly
winded, on climbing up the glossy steps
into daylight, he may well be thankful
that the crowd is AT home. Looking on
and holding his tongue IL the only thing
that lts the surroundings. II the sight
could be spoiled that would happen II some
one were along TO say How loveyl' as
at thcater or fine arts gallery or a
flower show.
The Ice has done everything that natures
cunning can devise. field of powders.
all OF Ice, fills the immediate foreground.
spreading outward and below. They lap
and overlie in mammoth shapes. massed
together. while each holds ITS form, as IL
the walls OF herculesn temple had been
struck to the foundations, but the giant
stones had refused TO be crunched Strewn
all around are the pillars, the columns the
minarets. prone. topping, many aslant.
some yet erect, witnesses In their fallen
state to the surprising skill that fashioned
them. Niches. cupolas and arches rest
unmarried on the stricken mass and al
though the crash has Uttered the field with
fragments. Gothic here. Corinthian there
and fiamboyant touches In all directions,
there Is no loss OF master effects Along
the gray cliff groined roofs project. held
support slim miuarets garlandcd with bal
comics. ready for the muezzin TO call the
faithful TO prayer The sun, smiling in
heavens own blue, sheds tints OF onyx
and rarosi opal over this scene. one needs
only In moderate degree the faculty Of
reconstruction to build anew for the minds
eye the temple. which could hardly have
been grander than In It's ruins.
Beyond tho immediate view Is Niagara
In fun glory. unfettered by winters grasp
and plunging resistless,y on its way. West
ern breezes, prevailing OF late, have car
ried the mists from the falls to Goat ISL
and and the American shore. II has fallen
on the woodland there converting the
branches OF the trees into swayinc ici-
cles. An ice coating from the same source
also envelopes the tree trunks covers the
paths and slopes and presents a BIT OF ma
iure In its frostiest mood The wind must
turn about to give the Canadian shore this
decoration.
An annoyance that may be avoided In
going close TO the Horseshoe now is that al
rubber suits, They are OF no use In this
weather. The drip from the cliff which
makes them necessary at other times is
frozen. and. depending in rainbow icicles.
II becomes a thing OF pleasure by adding
10 the scene. From the same cause the
pain along the cliff is simply a snow ard
ice pain on which one is amply protected
by ordinary rubber shoes
quite as acceptable as the absence OF drip
en- the Chiffon side Il the complete sub
servieney OF the guides As Niagara visit
ors Know. the typical guide Is akin 10 the
typical barber. with weakness for telling
the story OF his HE on an occasions. When
a guide has yea at the edge OF a prectpl,e
where his footing Is strong and yours shakv
hts tale Of woe has TO be endured. even "a
tho neglect Of the thing you came 10 aee
An open winter, with the babies wearln.
out shoes as usual and credit az the general
store renplng low, has taught the guides