Niagara Falls 



1833 moral certainty of meeting at the very day and hour specified, 

 Latrobe ^ y taking advantage of the improvements of the age, and the 



well-arranged mode of conveyance by steamers, railroads, canals, 

 and coaches. In short, Niagara is now as hacknied as Stockgill 

 Forge, or Rydal-water, and, all things considered, the observa- 

 tion of an unimaginative ' Eastern man ' is said to have made, 

 addressing a young lady-tourist, who was gazing breathlessly for 

 the first time at the scene, was not so far out of keeping with it: 

 " Isn't it nice, Miss? " Yes, all is nice, that that active little 

 biped man has done, or is doing. 



But do not suppose that we grew peevish at the sight of the 

 blots upon the landscape to which I have alluded, and departed 

 in wrath and disgust. We soon found that there is that in and 

 about Niagara which was not to be marred by busy man and 

 all his petty schemes for convenience and aggrandisement; and 

 I may truly say, with regard to both our first and second visit, 

 and stay within its precincts, that we were under the influence of 

 its spell. While within the sound of its waters, I will not say 

 that you become part and parcel of the cataract, but you find it 

 difficult to think, speak, or dream of anything else. Its vibrations 

 pervade, not only the air you breathe, the bank on which you sit, 

 the paper on which you write, but thrill through your whole 

 frame, and act upon your nervous system in a remarkable, and it 

 may almost be said unpleasant, manner. You may have heard 

 of individuals coming back from the contemplation of these Falls 

 with dissatisfied feelings. To me this is perfectly incompre- 

 hensible, and I do not know whether to envy the splendid fancies 

 and expectations of that class of travelers, to whom the sight of 

 Niagara would bring disappointment, or to feel justified in doubt- 

 ing whether they have any imagination or eye for natural scenery 

 at all. How blank the world must be, to them, of objects of 

 natural interest! What can they expect to see? 



As to expectations, ours were excited and warm, and I shall 

 never forget the real anxiety with which we looked out, on our 



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