An Ocean of Azure 



of very pale blue muslin. It will appear to be 

 white. But yards upon yards of the same, 

 folded together, will become quite a deep 

 blue. 



A single thin layer of ocean-water, in like 

 manner, has too faint a hue to be visible to 

 ordinary eyesight. It is only when layers are 

 piled upon layers that the blue becomes distinct ; 

 and the deeper the water, the deeper generally 

 will be the colour. Some yards of water- 

 thickness may be said to correspond to a single 

 thickness of lace or muslin. 



While, however, we may say with tolerable 

 confidence that the blue of the ocean is a " True 

 Blue," this alone will not explain all the varieties 

 of tinting, seen at different times and in different 

 places. 



Sea-water is sometimes a rich profound blue, 

 and sometimes a pale sickly blue. It is some- 

 times dull, sometimes brilliant. It is some- 

 times green, and sometimes almost black. For 

 these variations, even while accepting the new 

 explanation, it has been found needful to revert 

 to the old theory in quest of added help. The 

 sea is blue, because it really and truly is blue. 

 But that is not all. It is a deeper or less deep 

 blue, a duller or brighter blue, a greenish blue 



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