12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



A small fall known as " The Hermit's cascade " lies between Goat 

 island and the First Sister. In the pool at the foot of this fall Fran- 

 cis Abbot, the Hermit of Niagara, was wont to take his daily bath. 



From the bridges and from the islands unsurpassed views of the 

 upper rapids are obtained. These are particularly impressive when 

 seen from the rocks of the Third Sister. Of these rapids as seen 

 from the Terrapin rocks, the Duke of Argyle wrote : 



When we stand at any point near the edge of the falls, and look 

 up the course of the stream, the foaming waters of the rapids con- 

 stitute the sky line. No indication of land is visible — nothing to ex- 

 press the fact that we are looking at a river. The crests of the 

 breakers, the leaping and the rushing of the waters^ are still seen 

 against the clouds as they are seen in the ocean, when the ship from 

 which we look is in the trough of the sea. It is impossible to resist 

 the effect of the imagination. It is as if the fountains of the great 

 deep were being broken up, and that a new deluge were coming on 

 the world. The impression is rather increased than diminished by 

 the perspective of the low wooded banks on either shore, running 

 down to a vanishing point and seeming to be lost in the advancing 

 waters. An apparently shoreless sea tumbling toward one is a very 

 grand and a very awful sight. Forgetting, then, what one knows, 

 and giving oneself to what one only sees, I do not know that there 

 is anything in nature more majestic than the view of the rapids 

 above the falls of the Niagara. 



On returning to Goat island the visitor may take the reservation 

 carriage for a return to Prospect park, or he may continue his walks 

 around or across Goat island. 



In front of Prospect park the electric cars may be taken to cross 

 the river, the bridge-toll which every foot passenger has to pay, 

 being included in the car fare. 



Views from the Canadian side 



The Canadian side is reached either by bridge or by the steamer 

 Maid of the Mist} Every visitor to the falls should obtain the views 

 from the Canadian side, which are in many respects superior to 

 any obtainable on the New York side. Several rustic arbors have 

 been constructed along the brink of the gorge in Queen Victoria 

 park, and here the visitor may tarry for hours and not weary of 



^If the visitor plans to take the belt line ride — Niagara, Queenston, 

 Lewiston — he will have opportunity to stop off in Queen Victoria park, 

 and need not make a special crossing. 



