The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-26

- He Indians who 100 years ago roam
ed the primeval forests of Southern
~ Canada and what Is now New
York state had legend that the venge-
ful Spirit Of Niagara Falls demanded each
year a sacrifice. And so on certain date
every twelve months a perfect maiden
the handsomest young woman in her
tribe-was set adrift In canoe above the
Falls. 1.-the and graceful. a living statue
In bronze, she stood erect IN the frail
craft, bobblng about in the turbulent
waters, and was carried-now slowly,
now swiftly-to the brink OF the mighty
chasm and tossed to certain death. In
dian story has It. too-and certain old
redskins yet alive remember having
heard It from their falhers-that in
esacrihciaI lot fell to an Indian maid who
dearly loved an Indian youth much as
the modern squaws OF popular dirty love
the noble warriors Of the song writer's
Imagination. The heart Of this young
Iroquois was filled with love, and he had
no thought to let his sweetheart die. So
when the shades of evening had fallen
be stole away to the wigwam where his
little copper love was confined released
her, and they stole softly to the South
When the morning Of the sacrifice dawned
bright and clear they were many miles
away and the tribe knew them no more
Oh, how the mighty waters fumed and
roaredl Oh, how the little Maid of the
Mist sighed and weptl She tossed her
spirit arms about her and dashed her
tears in every direction. The day was
bitter cold, and her tears, falling upon
the trees, froze to them and clothed the
shiTering limbs in an armor OF ice Every
winter now tourists come from afar to
see the beautiful forests of ice on the
banks OF Niagara and to marvel at the
anger Of the whlrling waters. For the
Maid OF the Mist still cries at the loss of
her victim. and the vicious waters still
thunder in impotent rage against the
shores OF the land that cheated them. A
few nights after the escape, so the story
goes, the chief of the deserter's tribe be-
held a vision. The spirit of the Father
OF Waters appeared unto him, and in
tones that sounded like the eeaseless hum
OF the Niagara Falls swore, by the COM
bined expanse of the Atlantic and Pa
eiac Oceans, that unless the fugitive was
eaptured and sent to keep the promised
sacrifice the waters Of Niagara would be
dried to nothing and the forest would be
ehriveled to punish man. where now
the mighty waters fow." said the dream
er's spirit little streams Of fire will
glow They viii stretch out their tiny
tongues and dart hither and thither to
distant parts Of the land, burning and
deadeninR all whom they touch"
And the years rolled on. Where for
ests we're factories stand. Where tepee
stood cities rear their modern heads.
Where nature In all its glory ran riot In
wealth Of beauty md color steel rails
and dirt roads stretch their way that
commerce may be carried on. And the
citizen Of today stands face to face with
the alarming possibility Of the fulnlEent
Of the Indian chiefs dream.
Civilization must be served. Deserts
are becoming farmyards. Prairles are be-
coming pastures. Forests are becoming
lumber yards. Here and there man.
6ouched bv a bit Of sentiment. snatches