THE BEACH AGAIN. 
117 
the case of the tadpole, the progress invariably points 
towards the dry land.” In short, the dry land itself 
came through and out of the water in its way to the 
heavens, for, “ in going back through the geological ages, 
we come to an epoch when, according to all appearances, 
the dry land did not exist, and when the surface of our 
globe was entirely covered with water.” We looked on 
the sea, then, once more, not as dTpvycTos, or unfruitful, 
but as it has been more truly called, the “ laboratory of 
continents.” 
Though we have indulged in some placid reflections 
of late, the reader must not forget that the dash and roar 
of the waves were incessant. Indeed, it would be well 
if he were to read with a large conch-shell at his ear. 
But notwithstanding that it was very cold and windy to¬ 
day, it was such a cold as we thought would not cause 
one to take cold who was exposed to it, owing to the 
saltness of the air and the dryness of the soil. Yet the 
author of the old Description of Wellfleet says : “ The 
atmosphere is very much impregnated with saline par¬ 
ticles, which, perhaps, with the great use of fish, and the 
neglect of cider and spruce-beer, may be a reason why 
the people are more subject to sore mouths and throats 
than in oth r places.” 
