THE CONFESSIONS OF 

 A BEACHCOMBER 



INTRODUCTION 



Does the fact that a weak mortal sought an unprofaned 

 sanctuary — an island removed from the haunts of men — and 

 there dwelt in tranquillity, happiness and security, represent 

 any just occasion for the relation of his experiences — ex- 

 periences necessarily out of the common ? T6 this proposi- 

 tion it will be for these pages to find answer. 



Few men of their own free will seek seclusion, for 

 does not man belong to the social vertebrates, and do not 

 the instincts of the many rule ? And when an individual is 

 fain to acknowledge himself a variant from the type, and 

 his characteristics or idiosyncrasies (as you will) to be so 

 marked as to impel him to deem them sound and reason- 

 able ; when, after sedate and temperate ponderings upon 

 all the aspects of voluntary exile as affecting his lifetime 

 partner as well as himself, he deliberately puts himself out 

 of communion with his fellows, does the experiment con- 

 stitute him a messenger? Can there be aught of enter- 

 tainment or instruction in the message he may fancy 

 himself called upon to deliver? or, is the fancy merely 

 another phase of the tyranny of temperament ? 



We cannot always trust in ourselves and in the boldest 

 of our illusions. There must be trial. Then, if success 

 be achieved and the illusion becomes real and transcen- 

 dental, and other things and conditions merely " innutritious 

 phantoms," were it not wise, indeed essential, to tell of it 



3 



