Travelers' Original Accounts Since 1840 



this greatness, and reflecting themselves in it? I rejoice that so 1850 

 many people see Niagara in the year. Bremer 



Trollhatten, in Sweden, has neither the mass of waters of 

 Niagara nor its majesty, but it has more history, more romantic 

 life. Niagara is a grand scene, a sublime action. Trollhatten 

 is a series of scenes and actions. Niagara is a hymn. Troll- 

 hatten is a Vala-song. 



That which most surprised me in Niagara, because I had not 

 expected it, and that which charmed me every day, was, besides 

 the smaragdus-green colour of the water, the play of the rain- 

 bows over and around the fall, according as the sunbeams fell, 

 or as the wind bore the water-spirit's movable pyramid. This 

 formed a succession of brilliant scenes, continually varying and 

 enchantingly beautiful. There is a something about it which 

 charms and depresses me at the same time, because there is a 

 something in it which I wish to understand better. I feel that 

 Niagara has more to say to me than it has yet said, or more than 

 I have yet comprehended; and nothing can perfectly delight me 

 until it has told me its innermost thought. . . . 



We have been here for three days, and shall remain yet two 

 or three days longer. In the mornings I see the fall from the 

 American shore, that is to say, from the New York side, when 

 the sun, in its ascent, throws hundreds of beautiful bridges over 

 the cloud of spray; in the afternoon and evening it ought to be 

 contemplated from the Canadian shore, when the sun descends 

 on the British side. In the forenoon I bathe in the stream, in 

 the so-called " Mammoth " stream-bath, where the river rushes 

 with such impetuosity into the bath-house that one can with 

 difficulty stand against it. It is very refreshing. In the after- 

 noon, directly after dinner, I sit with my young friends in the 

 piazza outside our room, and see the stream rushing by, and listen 

 to its music. I often stand for a long time upon some one of the 

 little bridges over the stream, merely to inhale the fragrance of 



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