HALF HOURS AT THE SEA-SIDE. 



I. 



HALF AN HOUR WITH THE WAVES. 



MANKIND has found something exhilarating in the 

 " many-sounding sea " from the time when the Ten 

 Thousand Greeks sent up their glad shout on seeing 

 it, to this modern period, when we run down to 

 Brighton for an eight hours' sniff. Its fresh salt 

 smell is more fragrant than a bed of violets to the 

 choked nostrils of town dwellers. There are few of 

 us who will not be frank enough to own that some 

 of the happiest days we can call to our remembrance 

 were spent by the sea-side. Who has not felt the 

 luxury of throwing himself on the yielding sands 

 which adjusted themselves to his form better than 

 any bed of feathers- -and given himself up to the 

 simple childish pleasure of listening to the waves as 

 they broke against the strand, and ran in shallow 

 ripples to his feet! The enjoyment, when analysed, 

 is about as simple as could be imagined, and yet do 

 we know of any deeper or more enduring? No- 

 where so much as at the sea- side do we enjoy the 



B 



