VILLAGE AND HOTEL AT NIAGARA. 251 



groups, which, as I formerly stated, stretches beyond 

 the Niagara Eiver far into Canada. As seen here, it is 

 a clayey region, on which the system of thorough- 

 drainage is destined hereafter to produce most beneficial 

 results. 



I reached the Falls of Niagara, on the American side, 

 at a quarter past ten, in time to hear service well per- 

 formed in a new, nicely-finished, though small Episcopal 

 church. This village of Niagara consists chiefly of 

 hotels and churches; and the running of a morning and 

 evening train to Bufi'alo is considered indispensable to 

 the success of at least one of these sets of establish- 

 ments. 



At dinner at the Cataract Hotel, we had a large party of 

 about a hundred and twenty, though not half as many 

 as the room was fitted to accommodate. This universal 

 dining in public, in the United States, of all sexes and 

 ages, is one source of the forward boldness of so many of 

 the young people. And although the mingling of all 

 classes at these tables teaches the use of silver forks to 

 persons who would never meet with such things at 

 home, yet it roughens the general tone of speech and 

 manners of all, and makes those who really know better 

 fall into customs they would at home be the first to 

 reprove. 



I may remark, however, that perhaps too much Is said 

 by travellers of the solecisms of guests at the American 

 tables. I doubt very much if a similarly indiscriminate 

 assemblage of persons of all classes at an English table 

 would, on the whole, behave so well. Besides, the cus- 

 tom In the American hotels of loading the table at 

 breakfast and dinner with a countless number of small 

 dishes, not half of which are furnished with knives and 

 forks, or spoons to lift their contents, leaves the majo- 

 rity of the guests no other resource, than either to be 

 helped with their own, or probably to deny themselves 



