Idle Days. 127 



origin to the fact that most people in Patagonia 

 meet with some violent end. I do not myself 

 believe there is any climate in the world to compare 

 with the winter of the east coast of Patagonia ; and 

 although its summer might seem disagreeable to 

 some persons on account of the violent winds that 

 prevail at that season, the atmosphere at all times 

 is so dry and pure as to make pulmonary com- 

 plaints unknown. A wealthy tradesman of the 

 town told me that from boyhood he suffered from 

 weak lungs and asthma ; in search of health he 

 left his country, Spain, and settled in Buenos 

 Ayres, where he formed ties and entered into 

 business. But his old enemy found him there ; 

 his asthma became worse and worse, and at last, on 

 his doctor's recommendation, he went on a visit to 

 Patagonia, where in a short time he was restored 

 to complete health such health as he had never pre- 

 viously known. He went back rejoicing to Buenos 

 Ayres, only to fall ill again and to find his life 

 growing a burden to him. Finally, in desperation, he 

 sold his business and went back to the only country 

 where existence was possible ; and when I knew 

 him he had been permanently settled there for 

 about fourteen years, during which time he had 

 enjoyed the most perfect health. 



But he was not happy. He confided to me that 

 he had purchased health at a very heavy cost, since 

 he found it impossible ever to accommodate himself 

 to such a rude existence ; that he was essentially a 

 child of civilization, a man of the pavement, whose 



