The earlier part of this journey was
performed by means of stage to Toledo, and thence by steamer to
Buffalo. A pleasant bit of personal description, and also of
impressions of Niagara, seen for the first time on this journey, are
given in a letter sent back to Cincinnati during its progress. In it
she says of her fellow-travelers:--
"Then there was a portly, rosy, clever Mr. Smith, or Jones, or
something the like; and a New Orleans girl looking like distraction,
as far as dress is concerned, but with the prettiest language and
softest intonations in the world, and one of those faces which, while
you say it isn't handsome, keeps you looking all the time to see what
it can be that is so pretty about it. Then there was Miss B., an
independent, good-natured, do-as-I-please sort of a body, who seemed
of perpetual motion from morning till night. Poor Miss D. said, when
we stopped at night, 'Oh, dear! I suppose Lydia will be fiddling about
our room till morning, and we shall not one of us sleep.' Then, by way
of contrast, there was a Mr. Mitchell, the most gentlemanly, obliging
man that ever changed his seat forty times a day to please a lady. Oh,
yes, he could ride outside,---or, oh, certainly, he could ride
inside,--he had no objection to this, or that, or the other. Indeed,
it was difficult to say what could come amiss to him. He speaks in a
soft, quiet manner, with something of a drawl, using very correct,
well-chosen language, and pronouncing all his words with carefulness;
has everything in his dress and traveling appointments comme il
faut_; and seems to think there is abundant time for everything
that is to be done in this world, without, as he says, 'any
unnecessary excitement.
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