The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-28
NATURE At NIAGARA FALLS.
st. Louis Girl Writes Graphically
: of the Scenes.

1 -
This article on The beauties of Niagara
Falls was written for the. Albany Press
by Miss Evelyn Winchester. daughter OF
the Reverend Doctor James r. Winches-
ter Of 81. Louis:
ITO the mind OF the enthusiastic tour
list there are few more delightful ex-
periences than a visit to the great nat
ural wonder Of this country and of Can
ada-Niagara Falls. The trip is especially
interesting II you happen to be spending
a few summer weeks in Toronto. the Cana
dian Athens, and, ON some bright day
board one Of the numerous lax steamers
bound for Niagara.
you start in the early morning. with
the cool breeze from the north upon your
| cheek and brow. and to the left, the snowy
crests of a thousand waves sparkling In the
sunlight. You lem over the PROV and watch
the picturesque Canadian city fade from
! view; you cast your eyes below, where
the water foams and dashes. leaving behind
a long. heaying track Of angry water; ana
anon you turn to view the vast, ghstening
surface Of Lake Ontario. as 1t stretches out.
| clear and blue before your eye.
A last you have reached the Niagara
| River, q broad expanse Of CLASSY water
| gliding into the lake. Can this be the
river that has rushed around drand
Island: that has leaped precipitously over
| the great chasm? The same river that you
! are about to see dashing with awful vio-
lence in the famous Whirlpool Rapids? The
channel In which the great lakes find their
| narrow but all-suficient outlet? Perhaps II
IL weary, after its thirty-thrce miles OF
| wild upheaval and furious descent. ana Is
| glad to resign itself in peace to the deep.
| quiet lake. Or perhaps the tranquil move
| ment is the expression of its own calm
| majesty. as a hero walks with measured
| tread from a hard-f0ught field.
1.-The old forts on either side stili stanu
| like faithful sentinsls at the mouth OF
the river, guarding the entrance OF the
lake. They are nc longer hostile. oh
| the left, the Rolden-rod Is Haunting It's lux
| uriant brightness and the The s~tar-Span-
| gled Banner comes floating to your ears
on the right reigns supreme The Maple
| Leaf Forever and-the great river ho"s
| peacefully betweer
"At Lewiston YOU land and the steam
err returns northward. It is now noon.
| and you hurry up the steep pank' re-
| memberins that your time is limited. Soon
! the trolley car to the Falls Is ready to
| start on its wonderful journey. This brave
, little American line has laid Its track sc.
rmrelv on the very edge Of the turbulent
| river. while the less entefprtsing Canadians.
| on the opposite side. have been content 10
| rive the view to their travellers from the
| ton Of the steep bank, building dihhcult
| bridges over the terrible ravines.
"At first you move along swiftly from
| Lewiston, then more and more Slowly az
YOU near the whirlpool; viewing the river
In all its grandeur, as 1t dashes over the
| rocks in a seething. heaying mass OF FOAM
| The cold spray dashes upon YOU cheek.
| and the terrible rocks are at arms length:
win an irresistible fascination devoid OF
fear. -
"Now you have reached the Whirlpool
l -. hoNl ,ot,r hrnnfh IN awe AS
! Won see the water stirred and churned to
its depths by some a~ll-powerful inner force.
| Every object that comes within range OF
! that mad. eddying current Is held forever
in the grasp Of a relentless force. These
| few miles of river landscape nave opened
to you a new phase in Mother Natures
| character. You have often seen her In her
| serenity; now you behold a phenomenon.
| Che is beautiful. but-how terrible!
Now YOU pass a curve, where the river
| seems to widen. The falls burst into view!
| On one side the beautiful Bridal Veif OF
| the American. and on the other the Canadt
aE.Horseshoe.' You step to the ground with
a half-dazed sensation and enter the little
| New York town Of Niagara. You turn your
! steps to Prospect Park and, almost In
| stinctly seek the Point. a spot so strange
~ fascinating to travellers. The grass Is
worn away by many footsteps; and. as you
/ stand there gazing down. separated from
/ the great Sneet OIL IdlllnS WdteE Ouiy ny IL
slender railing. your spirit goes out in sym
pathy, to those who shave leaned against
this bar with a great Foad upon their hearts,
looking into the dark, hopeless future. You
think Of the temptation-the fatal attrac-
ion-the plunge.
you turn way sadly and cross the Sus-
pension bridge, that wonderful contrivance
Of American genius. You walk in Victoria
Park of the quaint old Canadian town.
viewing the falls from another point; you
don the rubber garments and embark in tho
Maid Of the MIST
You descend into the Cave of the Winds,
where the rainbows play in the white spray
like sunshine on drifted snow, and the great
sheet Of water from a hundred and fifty
feet above falls before you in all Its terrific
splendor.
"You visit Goat Island and the Three
Sisters. and, late in the afternoon stand
again on the Canadian side, watching the
sunset and the water. 1t is an ideal day.
and you long to see the rainbow in the falls.
Suddenly 1t appears over the Horseshoe.
spanning the snowy chasm like a triumph
ant arch. Long you gaze. as It grows more
and more distinct. showing all its glorious
harmony Of color against the pure. dazzling
background-and things earthly slip away.
at Is the great white throne with a
rainbow about II. in sight like unto an en-
erald: a pure river, clear as a crystal, pro-
Ceeding out Of the throne and resounding
through all the voice OF many waters.'"