Iron County Register

NIAGARA SOLILOQUIZES.

For years uncounted I surged on my way,
Rimmed round with rocks and with pearly spray,
wreathed
My white locks in a halo made of mist,
My voice and vigor no man might resist;
All those who braved me were but passing breath,
My
grasp to men, poor moths,
meant in-
stant death.
But now
strange miracles have come to
pass,
Man has put harness on my limbs, alas!
His turbines and his dynamos I turn,
And far away his lights mysterious burn,
His factories hum, his street cars come
and go,
Driven, by my sinews swiftly to and fro.
Little thought I
to round his ways and
curves
Along his system of intricate nerves
Of insulated copper, armored steel,
To flash in light or turn his shaft and
wheel;
Obedient to his lightest touch of hand,
A willing slave to toil at his command.
My voice transferred now makes the busy
hum
Of swift machines where human toilers
come,
Hands clasped in mine to benefit the race
Each rushing at high-pressure modern
pace-
To serve the world, give life or light and
then
Bring other blessings to the sons of men.
Imagine old Niagara lassoed thus,
To light a lamp or haul a city bus,
To whisper mildly o'er the telephone,
To press a feather, lift up building stone,
A giant made a chore-boy by the folks
Who hold the reins and make me wear
their yokes.
But never mind!
I still plunge in the
deep
With mighty anthem and resistless sweep;
What matter little tasks I daily do
To pull these
pigmies and their projects
through?
They dare not meet me when my warriors
all
Flash countless spears and clash them at
my call.
Yet will I serve
them
with
my
surplus
strength,
Perhaps do tasks unthought of yet, at
length;
But here within my stronghold I defy
And challenge mortals with my fierce war-
cry;
They dare not brave my heights and deeps
profound-
I am the monarch. this my battle-ground
L. EDGAR JONES.