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sailing and row boats, while the grey, level sands and 

 Esplanade above were densely packed with bathers 

 and pleasure-seekers of both sexes. Bath chairs, in 

 which lounged rheumatic old dowagers with fans, 

 vigorously fanning their withered, though still ruddy 

 English cheeks, whilst sturdy porters wheeled their 

 Bath chairs across the Esplanade, and chaises filled with 

 rosy children, drawn by mules, donkeys, or goats, with 

 here and there a velocipede, whirred past. 



How lively the scene and sweet the sounds, when 

 the moon's beams slumbers on the murmuring surf 7 

 and a city band, from the new West Pier, sends forth 

 during the stillness of the evening, its soft strains ! This 

 promenade each evening is much frequented ; the band 

 plays until ten, and "God Save the Queen" is the 

 signal for a general break up. 



The city has a high reputation for its healthy climate 

 and its invigorating sea-breezes. "Thackery, in The 

 Newcomes, called it "Merry Doctor Brighton," and 

 sporting novels are full of references to the hunting 

 which is famous in the neighborhood. Well-known 

 packs of harries and fox-hounds meet almost daily 

 during the winter months at points within easy reach 

 of Brighton. The young gentlemen of England can hunt 

 and flirt to their hearts' content from the opening of 

 cub-hunting until the last fox has been killed ; for there 

 are balls, routs, concerts, receptions, all the time. 

 Brighton is a gay place for the poor scions of noble 

 houses on the look-out for heiresses ; a choice hunting 

 ground for penniless adventurers on the watch for rich 

 widows : modern D'Orsays and Beau Brummels find 

 pleasant occupation here at the clubs and in society ; 

 while generals without regiments and parvenus with 

 country estates and houses in town pose in the sun at 

 the most popular hour of the day for doing the three- 

 mile drive by the sea. One day, at the fashionable 

 season of the year, not long since, I stood at the door 

 of the Old Ship, and it seemed to me as if Hyde Park, 



