SOME OBSERVATIONS ON NIAGARA. 215 



until the bowlders failed us, and the cataract fell into the profound 

 gorge of the Niagara River. 



Here my guide sheltered me again, and desired me to look up ; I 

 did so, and could see, as before, the green gleam of the mighty curve 

 sweeping over the upper ledge, and the fitful plunge of the w T ater as 

 the spray between us and it alternately gathered and disappeared. 

 An eminent friend of mine often speaks to me of the mistake of those 

 physicians who regard man's ailments as purely chemical, to be met 

 by chemical remedies only. He contends for the psychological ele- 

 ment of cure. By agreeable emotions, he says, nervous currents are 

 liberated which stimulate blood, brain, and viscera. The influence 

 rained from ladies' eyes enables my friend to thrive on dishes which 

 would kill him if eaten alone. A sanative effect of the same order I 

 experienced amid the spray and thunder of Niagara. Quickened by 

 the emotions there aroused, the blood sped exultingly through the ar- 

 teries, abolishing introspection, clearing the heart of all bitterness, and 

 enabling one to think with tolerance, if not with tenderness, on the 

 most relentless and unreasonable foe. Apart from its scientific value, 

 and purely as a moral agent, the play, I submit, is worth the candle. 

 My companion knew no more of me than that I enjoyed the wild- 

 ness ; but, as I bent in the shelter of his large frame, he said, " I should 

 like to see you attempting to describe all this." He rightly thought it 

 indescribable. The name of this gallant fellow was Thomas Conroy. 



We returned, clambering at intervals up and down so as to catch 

 glimpses of the most impressive portions of the cataract. We passed 

 under ledges formed by tabular masses of limestone, and through some 

 curious ojjenings formed by the falling together of the summits of the 

 rocks. At length we found oiirselves beside our enemy of the morn- 

 ing. My guide halted for a minute or two, scanning the torrent 

 thoughtfully. I said that, as a guide, he ought to have a rope in such 

 a place ; but he retorted that, as no traveller had ever thought of 

 coming there, he did not see the necessity of keeping a rope. He 

 waded in. The struggle to keep himself erect was evident enough ; 

 he swayed, but recovered himself again and again. At length he 

 slipped, gave way, did as I had done, threw himself flat in the water 

 toward the bank, and was swept into the shallows. Standing in the 

 stream near its edge, he stretched his arm toward me. I retained the 

 pitchfork handle, for it had been useful among the bowlders. By wad- 

 ing some way in, the staff could be made to reach him, and I proposed 

 his seizing it. " If you are sure," he replied, " that, in case of giving 

 way, you can maintain your grasp, then I w r ill certainly hold you." I 

 waded in, and stretched the staff to my companion. It was firmly 

 grasped by both of us. Thus helped, though its onset was strong, I 

 moved savely across the torrent. All danger ended here. We after- 

 ward roamed sociablv anions: the torrents and bowlders below the 

 Cave of the Winds. The rocks were covered with organic slime which 



