14 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
point of the cliff to the waters edge with one deep 
dark mass of vegetation. But there is not even a 
grand monotony in the lines of noble cliffs along 
the coast of Devonshire. There is no monotony at 
all, for the grand rocks sink at intervals, to give 
place to magnificent bays, which sweep gracefully 
from cliff’s point to cliff’s point, and help to fling 
over the coast scenery of this, the most beautiful 
of English counties, the same aspect of variety 
which is its most charming characteristic. 
Those only who have explored the Devonshire 
coast along the Bristol Channel on the north, and 
along the English Channel on the south, and who 
are also familiar with the interior of the county, 
can properly realise the extreme magnificence of 
its landscapes. But we believe that thousands of the 
tourists who annually visit the western “ Garden 
of England” — for Devonshire well deserves that 
name — whilst deeply impressed with the general 
loveliness of the county, nevertheless find it diffi- 
cult to explain what it is that lends the peculiar 
character of softness and grace to the scenery. Here 
is the secret. The whole county is richly and luxu- 
