The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-22
n Little dodrney
TO Niagara Falls

|
Il place on this continent not now alone,
| u when the City Of Rose and Gold adds Us
| glory, but always, SINCE Buffalo existed. No
European of note or otherwise visits America
| without sceing Niagara. lie may he a royal per
| sonage taking a tour Of the British possessions,
| or hunting big game on the western pratries,
| or he may he q gentleman Of title hunting
! bigger game among the hciresses OF eastern
| cities or. perhaps just plain scientist looking
| for freaks, some other great man taking
| three weeks trip over the country with the
| intention Of writing a book on America, but,
whatever he is or docs, about the first thing
| is to hasten to Niagara Falls. Naturally he sees
| Buffalo, clean and beautiful, and he goes away
remembering that city as long as he remembers
| the Falls
Foreign visitors deal more anxious To
see this marvellous spectacle than are most
| Americans. II is to he wondered why every true
| American does not make this the first pilgrim.
age of mature life There are things we can
afford to miss seeing in this hg country Of ours.
| but not Niagara Falls, II it were far out
| on tho Pacific Coast W. would make ali kinds
| Of sacrifices in order to reach its vicinity. but
because It is near. 40 familiar in our speech,
| we are apt to put of the day Of our visit
We ought to feel special interest in Mia
| CARA Falls at this time. II is scranton man
who was an important factor in the work Of
| harvesting this mighty force for the benefit OF
mankind and II for nothing else than ~ learn
something about Lou Stillwelrs thought and
| engineering skill we should the colossal
| power plant at Niagara. There other things
| that we can pass hy--i' Is said TO he a naughty,
naughty town, particularly on Sunday, but the
| power plant is an interesting object
| OF course there are many things OF which enc
| can see too much-hores, yellow Journals, the
| Midway, cyclones, mosquitoes and the like-hut
Niagara Falls belongs in the category Of the
| eternally enchanting. No matter what rude
| shocks ones sensibilities may have received in
| the way Of spooning brides and grooms. or of
| the gushing young woman with startling pom
| pidour, who excaims How awfuliy NICE" AT
| her first view, one really never has enough Of
| that absorbing scene. This + the miracle OF it
| all II is soul satisfying vet never GLOWING;
calming in Us unquiet, insiStent in its inspira.
| tion to 20 away and do something grand and
beautiful.
| There are several ways by which to reach the
| Falls from Buffalo. Whichever you take, you'll
| probably wish it another. for that is the
| perversty of the human. II you are in a terrific
| hurry the railway train is the most expeditions.
| The fare is fifty cents for a round trip ticket,
and the run is about half hour. The same
| rate prevails the trolley, but IL consumes
| more than hour
| To be sure, IL You are some horribly rich
parsonage you can take the tally.ho coach Red
| Jacket" single seat, round trip, is only $40
| or $500 for one way. You can pay the latter
sum and walk back, or take the trolley for
quarter
| In my opinion the most satisfactory choice u
| the steamboat which leaves the wharf at Ferry
street frequently, the hours OF 10 a.. and II 80
| being exceedingly popular. The fare is IS cents,
and will permit return by either boat trolley.
The sail is delightful, down past Grand Island
| with its sumptuous boat houses and luxuriant
bits of woodland between widening shores ever
| DINNER in outline until Slaters Point is reach.
| ed. where the trolley is taken, the steamboat
ticket being legal tender and permitting you to
| aight as often you please and Tor as long
| time, any passing car being taken when
you wish to proceed.
| II YOU are Cannv. you will stop az Chippewa
| and dine at a certain Baltimore House" Low.
browpd and old and picturesque is this way
| side inn. and il contains much antique furniture
| which you will earnestly covct There is
queer old buffet in the dining room. oddly
| enough fanked by modern "sidehoard," brave
| in its array Of cut glass and "hand.panted''
| china \ handsome caw.post davenport in the
| parlor is a genuine piece Of the Eighteenth cen
| turr, while quaint chair fills quiet corner.
There are other things, too an up.to.date grand
piano, over which gyratcs wierdlv huge
| gull with pale gray wings outstreched He is
| suspended securely by wire, but when you
| first notice him CrCng sedately above your
head in Difference to the day and the country
| you play "God Save the King" (although mur.
| muring under your breath the words of "Amcr-
| ica'O You are Just little startled. You get
a good dinner for fifty cents, which is more
than you can do at the town of Niagara.
The trolley ride along the river to Table Rock
and the bridge is lovely beyond description 1t
runs through the open park, whose secluded
walks, rustic bridges and majestic trees r the
senses with delight. That is one most com
mendahle trait in the Canadians They recognize
| the value Of appropriate settings to the grearest
show on earth. They don't lumber up the banks
| along that glorious river with all sorts OF
fendish and unsightly buildings and msnufac
| tories. They leave the landscape much to nature
| all along that wonderful gorge route and far
| above, hut they do not countensnce sordid and
| dishGuring atrocities, erected to make money
| They will get as much OF your money as pos
| Sihle, but they do leave the landscape IN.
| scared. All along the American side such
| marks Of good tastes characterize most Of
| the noble river fronts in cities. Dumping
| ground for garbage and ashes are the banks Of Nj
| agara, and wherever an ugly monstrosity Of an
| engine house or a shed can gain foothold, there
| it sticks like the brand Of Cain. Trees, blasted
| by lightning or the hand of man, are allowed to
| lie year after year in withered helpless shame
along the bleak sides Of the sleeper slopc
| stumps. neither useful nor picturesque are not
| removed, and all along down to the very brink
Of the Whirlpool effort is made 10 heautifv
| the surroundings, II ever Town Improvement
| society were sorclv needed, it is on the American
| side Of Niagara Falls
| In Canada il is different The steep banks
| rising 10 stupcndous height are softened with
| thick underground thst clothes them with a
| velvcty mantle intenSlying the rapture OF every
| glance. Splendid trees, the relics of a century
are left 20 add majesty to the scene There are
no sordid details, bare cliffs whose wounds lie
forever unsslyCd by the tendure verdme OF the
| forest.
The park on the American side is well kept
and attractive, hut it is little in evidence from
| across the stream.
Standing here on Table Rock, with the roar
| OF the mighty waters in ones ears, with the
| glory Of the rainhows lifting above the spray
and the wonderful green of the Horseshoe Falls
| fascinating the eve, one suddenly feels the real
| permanence Of things. The world nas aiways
| been here II was not whirled of into space
| in the ncbulle of distant ages II not
| tortured by fire. and furrowed and fretted by the
| plough of furious forces but always il has been
| cool and green and fair, ard the water, ex.
hsustless in its translucent food, has always
nung itself over this precipice and viii always
| always, always flow down 10 the sea and some
| where back Of II all is hand which holds the
| waters and the spinning bali Of a world and
ourselves, and the Infinite IS here today.
%
II is about ono hundred years ago since Tom
Moore stood in this spot and wrote:
| 81 hear Nisgsra's distant roar.
| ! sigh for home Alas these feet
| Have many mile 10 Journey"
| | wonder what he would say now II he could
see 'fhe little village Of Buffalo upon Lake
| Erie" and see what is done by