BEAUTIFUL DARTMOUTH. 15 



become generous; while those less well off will try 

 their luck at the intricate and highly interesting game, 

 " Tommy Dodd," and by it decide who is to be 

 victim. 



Those who possess yachts, or who have large 

 revenues, know our coast so well that even to speak of 

 beautiful Dartmouth may not interest them ; but all are 

 not gifted with the sinews of war, and by far the largest 

 portion of our population have not seen, possibly cannot 

 imagine, the beauties of Devonshire and Cornwall. I 

 do not allude to the female beauties and they are 

 wondrously brilliant and well-bred looking but to the 

 counties themselves, which possess a wealth of foliage, 

 a brightness of vegetation, a greenness of hill-sides, 

 truly astounding. And then within their area what 

 snug little valleys nooks without rivals for the pic- 

 turesque resting-places of cottages and villas are to be 

 found ! Here is the land for the old storm-tossed 

 mariner, or the worn-out hero of a hundred battle-fields, 

 to repose. And how many sailors and soldiers know it, 

 and make it their retreat when cognisant that age is 

 hurrying them to their last parade ! The little country 

 churchyards of these charming counties too ominously 

 tell this tale. But why feel sad on the subject ? They 

 have but paid the debt all have to pay, and possibly 

 it is a consolation to know more so, I suppose, to 

 relatives than those directly interested that their last 

 moments will be passed in their own land, and their 

 last resting-place be under its verdant sward or fern- 

 covered turf. 



At ten in the morning we steamed into Dartmouth 

 harbour ; I had heard of its charms, but all description 

 comes far short of reality. On its water was not a flaw 



