SUNNY BEIGHTON 63 



Brighton a sanatorium ; light and glow without 

 oppressive, moist heat ; in winter a clear cold. Most 

 terrible of all to bear is cold when the atmosphere is 

 saturated with water. If any reply that trees have 

 no leaves in winter and so do not condense moisture, 

 I at once deny the conclusion ; they have no leaves, 

 but they condense moisture nevertheless. This is 

 effected by the minute twigs, thousands of twigs and 

 little branches, on which the mists condense, and distil 

 in drops. Under a large tree, in winter, there is often 

 a perfect shower, enough to require an umbrella, and 

 it lasts for hours. Eastbourne is a pleasant place, 

 but visit Eastbourne, which is proud of its trees, in 

 October, and feel the damp fallen leaves under your 

 feet, and you would prefer no trees. 



Let nothing check the descent of those glorious 

 beams of sunlight which fall at Brighton. Watch 

 the pebbles on the beach ; the foam runs up and 

 wets them, almost before it can slip back the sun- 

 shine has dried them again. So they are alternately 

 wetted and dried. Bitter sea and glowing light, 

 bright clear air, dry as dry, — that describes the 

 place. Spain is the country of sunlight, burning 

 sunlight ; Brighton is a Spanish town in England, a 

 Seville. Very bright colours can be worn in summer 

 because of this powerful light ; the brightest are 

 scarcely noticed, for they seem to be in concert with 

 the sunshine. Is it difficult to paint in so strong a 

 light ? Pictures in summer look dull and out of tune 

 when this Seville sun is shining. Artificial colours 

 of the palette cannot live in it. As a race we do not 

 seem to care much for colour or art — I mean in the 



