/IDp Minter (Barben 



in storm furs and fleece-lined overshoes 

 when first dropping into weather just 

 below seventy in a low latitude? Man, 

 bird, every migrant^ knows of these curi- 

 ous contradictions of temperature and feel- 

 ing. The experience doubtless has a dry 

 and perfectly wooden explanation suitable 

 to works of science and dusty brains ; but 

 you and I, being subject to our senses, 

 cannot comprehend it. Let us, therefore, 

 drop the subject as the slow-footed half- 

 breed passing yonder drops the rind of a 

 grape-fruit orange, because really it has no 

 further interest, and go in to luncheon of 

 oyster gumbo and broiled flounder. After 

 that, if you smoke, here is the veranda 

 facing the dancing sea, beyond which 

 loom two or three gulf-caps against the 

 daintiest sky that ever curved over a 

 world. A few sips of black cofi'ee add 

 something to your comprehension of the 

 garden spreading far and fair around you. 

 Coffee in the open air, holding its heat, 

 testifies to winter's good character, as like- 

 wise does the chameleon on the leaf of 

 sago-palm yonder. A lizard never mis- 

 9 



