Before the Frost, 119 



conclude that it is not necessary to travel to distant 

 parts, in order to drink the various kinds of health- 

 restoring water to be found in German watering- 

 places, whilst we have one like that of the Wells 

 close at hand, containing such ingredients as potash, 

 soda, lime, magnesia, and ferric oxide especially. 

 There is a great similarity in the component parts 

 of the various waters of this class, but the fact of the 

 large proportion of iron in combination with the 

 other ingredients of the water of Tunbridge Wells 

 strikes me as a peculiarly happy feature. If I 

 wanted, or when I want, to recuperate, to use an 

 American phrase, not during the hunting season — 

 because I consider there is no such tonic as a gallop 

 of an hour and a quarter at the tail of a good pack 

 of hounds — but when exhausted nature calls for rest 

 and fresh air, then I would try the dry, bracing 

 climate of this part of Kent. The soil is sandstone, 

 therefore the rain when it falls is quickly absorbed, 

 consequently there is a welcome absence of damp, 

 mist, and fog. It is forty years and upwards since I 

 visited Tunbridge Wells. 



The town has, of course, vastly increased, but there 

 are many old and well-remembered landmarks re- 

 maining. The Pantiles are what they were when I 

 first remember the place, and it seemed but a little 

 while ago that I was passing down them en route to 

 Cramp's riding establishment, in order to obtain a 

 mount, that I might join a party of ladies bound for 

 a ride to Penshurst. There stands the well-known 

 establishment unchanged, with as good a lot of 

 animals as ever. I doubt, however, if I should 

 mount one with the agility of former years ; but I 



