Ladies’ Edinburgh Magazine > Volume 4

Where shall 7vego? 23
in the glow. Then the clean, honest, handsome fishing popu¬
lation, so picturesque when busied about their brown boats,
so gay when they dance the ronde up by the farms of an
evening, so kindly always—it is a real pleasure to be among
them. Then the air is most exhilarating on the cliffs above,
covered with short herbage which cuts in soft green against
the bright blue of the high sea horizon. And the bathing
is delicious.
By the Chair. WhdX do you do all day ?
Atiswer. There is the bathing. Small boats lie to seawards
to rest the swimmers. All should swim, as the shore is so
steep that you are out of your depth about the third step
in the water. Half the Monde, smartly dressed, is disporting
itself in the water all the forenoon.
Chair. And the other half ?
A. Looking on. It is delicious swimming in that trans¬
parent water; for when it is still, you can see the weeds
swaying over the sunken rocks and emerald-green sand far
below. You glide over fatal depths,
'Just
An inch from death's black fingers, thrust
To seize you, whom release he must!'
with a pleasant sense of ease, triumph, and safety.
Chair. So much for the forenoon; and in the afternoon ?
A. There is the afternoon bath.
Chair. Just the same ?
A. Just the same, only more people.
Chair. But if you don't swim ?
A. Then you learn to swim.
By the Parson. Are there hotels, horses, newspapers, books ?
A. The hotels are so-so, but nice fishermen's houses are
let by the month. There is the Petit Journal (laughter) and
a book about Etretat, but it is rather stupid; there are some
French novels, and there is a donkey.
Chair. Thanks; delightful. But perhaps some people
might think the life a little special in interest, a trifle mono¬
tonous. Any other suggestion ?
Parson. Go to Italy. After all, Italy has the finest climate,
the most interesting history, the loveliest scenery, the noblest
art of all nations.
Chair. Granted; and we wiU not trouble you to describe
Italy. It has also the most voluminous guide-book literature
of all nations. But we are speaking of summer holidays.
Is it your experience that Italian railway carriages are, in
summer, like hot ovens ?