Niagara Falls 



1851 water, reading the most dreamy of romances, and soothed by 



Curtis the huge roar, as if you were the vice-gerent of the prophet, and 



the flow of the cool, smooth river but the constant caressing of 



troops of slaves, and the roar of the Cataract but hushed voices 



singing their lord to sleep. 



But if in your reading you pause, or if the low ripple of talk 

 subsides, in which your soul was laved, as your frame in the 

 gurgling freshness of woodstreams, and your eyes are left charmed 

 upon the current — or if your dream dissolves and you behold the 

 water, its own fascination is not less than that of the romance. 

 It flows so tranquilly, is so unimpatient of the mighty plunge, that 

 it woos and woos you to lay your head upon its breast and slide 

 into dreamless sleep. . . . 



Niagara has but one interest, and that absorbs all attention. 

 The country around is entirely level, and covered with woods 

 and grain fields. It is very thinly populated; civilization seems 

 to have made small inroad upon the primeval grandeur of the 

 spot. Standing upon the western end of Goat Island and looking 

 up the stream the wooded banks stare back upon you as in a 

 savage silence of folded arms and scornful eyes. They are not 

 fair woods, but dark forests. They smite you only with a sense 

 of magnificent space, as I fancy the impression of Rocky Moun- 

 tain scenery, but which is akin to that of chaos. 



The beauty of Niagara is in its immediate neighborhood. It 

 is upon Goat Island — upon the cliffs over which hangs the 

 greenest verdure — in the trees that lean out and against the 

 Rapids, as if the forest were enamored of the waters, and which 

 overhang and dip, suffering their youngest and softest leaves to 

 thrill in the trembling frenzy of the touch of Niagara. It is in 

 the vivid contrast of the repose of lofty trees and .the whirl 

 of a living river — and in the contrast, more singular and subtle, 

 of twinkling, shimmering leaves, and the same magnificent mad- 

 ness. It is in the profuse and splendid play of colors in and 

 around the Cataract, and in the thousand evanescent fancies 



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