“Isabel，yourignoranceofallthatanAmericanwomanshouldbeproudofdistressesme。Haveyoureally，then，neverheardofthemanwhoinventedthesaying，’Somethingscanbedoneaswellasothers，’andproveditbyjumpingoverNiagaraFallstwice？Spurredonbythisbelief，heattemptedtheleapoftheGeneseeFalls。Theleapwaseasyenough，butthecomingupagainwasanothermatter。Hefailedinthat。
　　Itwastheonethingthatcouldnotbedoneaswellasothers。“
　　“Dreadful！“saidIsabel，withthecheerfullestsatisfaction。“ButwhathasallthattodowithRochester？“
　　“Now，mydear，Youdon’tmeantosayyoudidn’tknowthattheGeneseeFallswereatRochester？Uponmyword，I’mashamed。Why，we’rewithintenminutes’walkofthemnow。“
　　“Thenwalktothematonce！“criedIsabel，whollyunabashed，andinfactunabletoseewhathehadtobeashamedof。“Actually，IbelieveyouwouldhaveallowedmetoleaveRochesterwithouttellingmethefallswerehere，ifyouhadn’thappenedtothinkofSamPatch。“
　　Sayingthis，shepersuadedherselfthatachiefobjectoftheirjourneyhadbeentovisitthesceneofSamPatch’sfatalexploit，andshedrewBasilwithanervousswiftnessinthedirectionoftherailroadstation，beyondwhichhesaidwerethefalls。Presently，afterthreadingtheirwayamongamultitudeoflocomotives，withandwithouttrainsattached，thatbackedandadvanced，orstoodstill，hissingimpatientlyoneveryside，theypassedthroughthestationtoabroadplankingabovetheriverontheotherside，andthence，afterencounterofmorelocomotives，theyfound，bydintofmuchasking，astreetwindingupthehill-sidetotheleft，andleadingtotheGermanBierhausthatgivesaccesstothebestviewofthecataract。
　　TheAmericanshavecharacteristicallyborderedtheriverwithmanufactures，makingeverydropworkitspassagetothebrink；whiletheGermanshaveascharacteristicallymadeuseofthebeautyleftover，andhavebuiltaBierhauswheretheymayregalebothsoulandsenseinthepresenceofthecataract。Ourtravellersmight，inanothermoodandplace，havethoughtitdrolltoarriveatthatsublimespectaclethroughaBierhaus，butinthisenchantedcityitseemedtohaveapeculiarfitness。
　　Anarrowcorridorgaveintoawidefestivalspaceoccupiedbymanytables，eachofwhichwassurroundedbyagroupofclamorousGermansofeithersexandeveryage，withtallbeakersofbeadedlagerbeforethem，andslimflasksofRhenish；overheadflamedthegasinglobesofvaricoloredglass；thewallswerepaintedlikethoseofsuchhauntsinthefatherland；andthewedding-journeyerswerefairtolingerontheirway，todwelluponthatsceneofhonestenjoyment，toinhaletheminglingodorsofbeerandofpipes，andofthepungentcheesesinwhichthechildrenofthefatherlanddelight。Amidsttheinspiritingclashofplatesandglasses，therattleofknivesandforks，andthehoarserushofgutturals，theycouldcatchthewordsFranzosen，Kaiser，Konig，andSchlacht，andtheyknewthatfestivecompanytobeexultinginthefirstGermantriumphsofthewar，whichwerethentheday’snews；theysawfistsshakenatnosesinfierceexchangeofjoy，armstossedabroadinwildcongratulation，andhealth-pouringgobletsofbeerliftedinair。
　　Thentheysteppedintothemoonlightagain，andheardonlythesolemnorganstopsofthecataract。Throughgarden-groundtheywereledbythelittlemaid，theirguide，toasmallpavilionthatstoodontheedgeoftheprecipitousshore，andcommandedaperfectviewofthefalls。Astheyenteredthispavilion，ayouthandmaiden，clearlylovers，passedout，andtheywereleftalonewiththatsublimepresence。Somethingofdefinitenesswastobedesiredinthespectacle，buttherewasamplecompensationinthemysterywithwhichthebroadeffulgenceandthedenseunluminousshadowsofthemoonshineinvestedit。Thelighttouchedallthetopsoftherapids，thatseemedtowritheswayfromthebrinkofthecataract，andthendesperatelybreakingandperishingtofall，thewhitedisembodiedghostsofrapids，downtothebottomofthevastanddeepravinethroughwhichtheriverrushedaway。Nowthewatersseemedtomassthemselvesahundredfeethighinawallofsnowycompactness，nowtodisperseintotheirmultitudinousparticlesandhanglikesomevaporouscloudfromthecliff。Everymomentrenewedthevisionofbeautyinsomerareandfantasticshape；anditslovelinessisolatedit，inspiteofthegreattownontheothershore，thestationwithitsbridgeanditstrains，themillsthatsuppliedtheirfeeblelittleneedsfromthecataract’sstrength。
　　AtlastBasilpointedoutthetable-rockinthemiddleofthefall，fromwhichSamPatchhadmadehisfatalleap；butIsabelrefusedtoadmitthattragicalfiguretothehonorsofheremotions。“Idon’tcareforhim！“
　　shesaidfiercely。“Patch！Whatanametobelinkedinourthoughtswiththissuperbcataract。“
　　“Well，Isabel，Ithinkyouareveryunjust。It’sasgoodanameasLeander，tomythinking，anditwasimmortalizedinsupportofagreatidea，thefeasibilityofallthings；whileLeander’shascomedowntousasthatoftheweakvictimofapassion。Weshallneverhaveapoetryofourowntillwegetoverthisabsurdreluctancefromfacts，tillwemaketheidealembraceandincludethereal，tillweconsenttofacethemusicinoursimplecommonnames，andputSmithintoalyricandJonesintoatragedy。TheGermansarebraverthanwe，andinthemyoufindfactsanddreamscontinuallyblendedandconfronted。Hereisafortunateillustration。Thepeoplewemetcomingoutofthispavilionwerelovers，andtheyhadbeenheresentimentalizingonthissuperbcataract，asyoucallit，withwhichmyheroicPatchisnotworthytobenamed。NodoubttheyhadbeenquotingUhlandorsomeotheroftheirromanticpoets，perhapssingingsomeoftheirtenderGermanlove-songs，——thetenderest，unearthliestlove-songsintheworld。Atthesametimetheydidnotdisdainthematter-of-factcorporeityinwhichtheirsentimentwasenshrined；theyfeditheartilyandabundantlywiththebanquetwhoserelicsweseehere。“
　　Onatablebeforethemstoodapairofbeer-glasses，inthebottomsofwhichlurkedscarcethefoamofthegenerousliquorlatelybrimmingthem；
　　someshredsofsausage，somerindsofSwisscheese，bitsofcoldham，crustsofbread，andtheashesofapipe。
　　Isabelshudderedatthespectacle，butmadenocomment，andBasilwenton:“DoyousupposetheyscornedtheideaofSamPatchastheygazeduponthefalls？Onthecontrary，I’venodoubtthatherecalledtohertheballadwhichapoetoftheirlanguagemadeabouthim。ItusedtogotheroundsoftheGermannewspapers，andItranslatedit，alongwhileago，whenIthoughtthatItoowasin’Arkadiengeboren’。
　　“’IntheBierhauagartenIlingerBytheFallsoftheGeneses:
　　FromtheTable-RockinthemiddleLeapsafigureboldandfree。
　　AloofintheairitrisesO’ertherush，theplunge，thedeath；
　　OnthethrongingbanksoftheriverThereisneitherpulsenorbreath。
　　ForeverithoversandpoisesAloofinthemoonlitair；
　　Aslightasmistfromtherapids，Asheavyasnightmare。
　　InanguishIcrytothepeople，Thelong-sincevanishedhosts；
　　Iseethemstretchforthinanswer，Thehelplesshandsofghosts。’
　　“Ioncemetthepoetwhowrotethis。Hedranktoomuchbeer。“
　　“Idon’tseethathegotinthenameofSamPatch，afterall，“saidIsabel。
　　“Oyes；hedid；butIhadtoyieldtoourtaste，andwherehesaid，I
　　’SpringtderSamPatschkuhnandfrei’，’Imadeit’Leapsafigureboldandfree。’“
　　Astheypassedthroughthehouseontheirwayout，theysawtheyouthandmaidentheyhadmetatthepaviliondoor。Theywereseatedatatable；
　　twoglassesofbeertoweredbeforethem；ontheirplateswereodorouscrumbsofLimburgercheese。Theybothworeapensiveair。
　　Thenextmorningtheillusionthathadwraptthewholeearthwasgonewiththemoonlight。Bynineo’clock，whenthewedding-journeyersresumedtheirwaytowardNiagara，theheathadalreadysetinwiththeeffectofordinarymidsummer’sheatathighnoon。ThecarintowhichtheygothadcomethepastnightfromAlbany，andhadanairofalmostconsciousshabbiness，griminess，andover-use。Theseatswerecoveredwithcinders，whichalsocrackledunderfoot。Dustwasoneverything，especiallythepersonsofthecrumpledandwearypassengersofovernight。
　　ThosewhocameaboardatRochesterfailedtolightenthespiritualgloom，andpresentlytheysankintothecommonbodilywretchedness。Thetrainwassomewhatbelated，andasitdrewnearerBuffalotheyknewtheconductortohaveabandonedhimselftothatblackestofthearts，makingtime。Thelongirregularjoltoftheordinaryprogresswasreducedtoanincessantshudderandaquicklateralmotion。Theairwithinthecarswasdeadly；ifawindowwasraised，astormofdustandcindersblewinandquickgustscaughtawaythebreath。Sotheysatwithclosedwindows，swelteringandstifling，andallthefacesonwhichalivelyhorrorwasnotpaintedweredullanddampwithapatheticmisery。
　　Theincidentswereinharmonywiththeabjectphysicaltoneofthecompany。Therewasaquarrelbetweenathin，shrill-voiced，highlydressed，much-bedizenedJewess，ontheoneside，andafat，greedyoldwoman，halfasleep，andaboywithlargepinktransparentearsthatstoodoutfromhisheadlikethehandlesofajar，ontheotherside，aboutaseatwhichtheHebrewwanted，andwhichtheothershadkeptfilledwithpackagesonthepretensethatitwasengaged。Itwasaloudandfiercequarrelenough，butitwonnosortoffavor；andwhentheJewesshadgivenafinalopinionthatthegreedyoldwomanwasnolady，andtheboy，whodisputedinanironicaltemper，replied，“Highlycomplimentary，I
　　mustsay，“therewasnosignofrelieforotheracknowledgmentinanyofthespectators，thattherehadbeenaquarrel。
　　TherewasalittlemoreinteresttakeninthemisfortuneofanoldpurblindGermanandhisson，whowerefoundbytheconductortobeafewhundredmilesoutofthedirectcoursetotheirdestination，andwerewithsometroubleandtheaidofanAmericanizedfellow-countrymanmadeawareofthefact。Theoldmanthenfellbackintheprevailingapathy，andthechildnaturallycarednothing。Byandbycametheunsparingtrain-boyonhisrounds，bestrewingthepassengerssuccessivelywithpapers，magazines，fine-cuttobacco，andpackagesofcandy。Hegavetheoldmanapackageofcandy，andpassedon。TheGermantookitasthebountyoftheAmericanpeople，oddlymanifestedinasituationwherehecouldotherwisehavehadlittleproofoftheircare。Heopeneditandwassharingitwithhissonwhenthetrain-boycameback，andmetallically，likeapartofthemachinery，demanded，“Tencents！“
　　TheGermanstaredhelplessly，andtheboyrepeated，“Tencents！tencents！“withtiresomepatience，whiletheotherpassengerssmiled。Whenithadpassedthroughthealien’sheadthathewastopayforthisnationalgiftandhetookwithhistremulousfingersfromtherecessesofhispocket-bookaten-centnoteandhandedittohistormentor，someofthepeoplelaughed。Amongtherest，BasilandIsabellaughed，andthenlookedateachotherwitheyesofmutualreproach。