148 NATURE FOR ITS OWN SAKE 
bend of a basin worn out by water, but the vast, 
Coast tines. |rounded curve of a headland against the sky; 
not merely the graceful roll of wave-worn lines 
on a sand-beach, but the circular swing of a 
cove or bay against the sea. Lest there should 
be too much flowing smoothness about such 
lines, there is always the rectangular block or 
the splintered shaft that protrudes above the 
line of the headland, the uneven sand-dune, or 
the broken mass of the forest running back of 
the bay to act asa foil. These are the sharp- 
ly accented marks that save the scene from 
weakness. And the broad masses of color are 
Massesof |not less powerful. The cobalt-blue of the sea 
ia turning to violet in twilight shadow, the white, 
gray, or yellow of the shore, the deep greens of 
the forest, the blues and whites of the firma- 
ment—where else can such colors be equalled ? 
They are the primary chords in one of nature’s 
greatest harmonies. 
The coloring of the coast is more susceptible 
to the influence of light and sky reflection 
than almost any other portion of the earth. 
Possibly the cause for this lies in the great re- 
flecting field of water so closeat hand. The sea 
not only throws back the light of the heavens, but 
it thickens the coast atmosphere, thus regulat- 
