Niagara Falls 



1848 COOPER, JAMES FENIMORE. The oak openings; or, The bee-hunter. 



Cooper . . . N. Y.: Burgess, Stringer. 1848. 2:216-2f7. 



In one particular, touching which we do not remember ever to 

 have seen anything said, we were actually astonished at the sur- 

 glory of Niagara. It was the character of sweetness if we can 

 so express it, that glowed over the entire aspect of the scene. 

 We were less struck with the grandeur of the cataract, than with 

 its sublime softness and gentleness. 



1848 HlNE, E. CuRTISS. A night on the Niagara. (In his The haunted 



Hine barque, and other poems. Auburn: Derby. 1848. Pp. 67-70.) 



The poet, who has gone down to a boat in the river to enjoy the beauty 

 of the night, awakes from dreamy sleep to find himself drifting down 

 stream without oars. After the most agonizing reflections, he finally saves 

 himself by jumping on an island. 



1848 Kelsey, Richard. Niagara. Jephthah. Remarks upon the de- 



KeUcy fence of Wessex by Alfred the Great; with other compositions, in verse 



and prose. Lond. : 1 848. 



A poem of extravagant apostrophe often to be found in London book- 

 shops. 



1848 ♦ Niagara, a poem, by a member of the Ohio bar. 



N. Y.: Edward O. Jenkins. 1848. 



Describes the Falls from above, from below, gives the reflections inspired 

 By the sight. It rises to its best in the last lines, beginning, " Then so live — 



Even now 

 When life appears most joyous, and its waves 

 Take up a brisker dance, thou may'st approach 

 The dreadful cataract. No power averts, 

 No prayers postpone thine advent. Then so live, 

 That when in the last fearful mortal hour. 

 Thy wave, borne on at unexpected speed, 

 O'erhangs the yawning chasm, soon to fall, 

 Thou start not back affrighted, like a youth 

 That wakes from sleep to find his feeble bark 

 Suspended o'er Niagara, and with shrieks 

 And unavailing cries alarms the air, 

 744 



