The Argosy — page 309: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

288 A Drive to the Land's End. The great commercial feature of Falmouth is its shipping, growing yearly in importance. It has a fine natural harbour, in which ships can easily take refuge ; and where, going up the River Fal, I know not how many vessels it has been said can take refuge without one being able to see the masts of another. A friendly yacht one morning sailed us up the Fal, amidst scenery which has been brought into comparison with the Rhine, though the aspect and features of the two rivers are perfectly distinct one from the other. On either side, the banks were an unbroken mass of foliage; so thick that the trees and branches holding the foliage were completely hidden. This gave them a singular beauty and richness not to be matched. One side was lighted up by the sun; the leaves glistened and waved in the soft breeze, and threw lights and shadows over each other, as if playing at hide-and-seek. The opposite bank was in shadow, grand and sombre. The contrast was striking ; on the one hand you were met by frowns, on the other by smiles: a type of clouds and sunshine ; summer and winter ; youth and age ; a joyous heart and a heart bowed down. One of the charms of the river is its perpetual windings. It is im- possible to see far ahead ; imagination is constantly on the alert, won- dering what the next turn will disclose. And when turn after turn reveals nothing but this unbroken bank of rich foliage, you marvel and are astounded at Nature’s wealth. At King Harry’s Ferry, the trees have been chopped away to make room for a small white house or two, and you look up the banks into a long vista of cool, shady green. Still — sailing, you presently catch sight of Lord Falmouth’s place, an object from the river both picturesque and enchanting. The river is full of creeks which wound round out of sight as we passed them, their banks still lined with the same thick foliage. Return- ing, we had a fine view of the entrance to Falmouth Harbour; on the one side Pendennis Castle crowning its heights, on the other the light- house low down at the foot of the cliffs; between, the river and the ocean meeting, and blending together. | We were to have started on Monday morning in an open carriage, for a week’s driving tour in that part of the country which is terminated by the Land’s End, returning in time for rest on Sunday. But on Monday we were delayed, and Tuesday proved wet: a steady rain, a dark unbroken curtain of clouds. Towards evening it cleared; the clouds dispersed, and the sun went down in a sea of gold. This was promising for Wednesday ; which proved all that could be desired. Few pleasures are more delightful than that of travelling through the air in a comfortable vehicle, where you can recline at ease and enjoy the surrounding fine scenery. ‘The enjoyments of pedestrianism may be great where a superabundance of muscular strength and vigour is possessed, with the need of due exercise thereof; but to those less happily gifted, the delight of being drawn through scenes of beauty m cGomicbooks.co