Off For A Holiday.

ing letters which you must answer , those numberless communications which it is a sheer waste of time to even respond to . And then how fresh and new everything appears . We have not smelt the "grass " for ever so long ; the perfume of flowers comes floating on the breezes ; that general " country feel " which is so pleasant to us denizens of large towns , and which when we live in the country we ungratefully often fail after a little to realise at all . Whether

we are winding to the seaside to inhale ozone and seaweed odours , whether we are off to a cottage in a Welsh vale , whether we are bound to Newry , or Brittany , or Iceland in this " hottest of weather " with " cool anticipations ;" whether we mean to take a " gite " at Ostend , and disport ourselves among the sea " naiads and dryads , " or Dieppe , Etretal , or Trouville ; whether Helsingen , or Homburg , or Swhwalbach , or Marienbad are our ultima thule , it is exactly

the same . Yes , I repeat , whether we are intent on Switzerland or the Tyrol , Westmoreland or Cumberland , Ireland or Scotland , Harrogate or Scarborough , Broadstairs or the Isle of Wight ; whether we are up to a walking tour or boating " down " the Thames , there is but one feeling prevalent in our minds , unless we be hepatically jaundiced or very ill-oonditioned folks , and that one of freedom , happiness , and content . We take what we can get , and meet what comes in our way gladly and cheerily . Like Mr . Samuel Weller , " we eats our melting pears" with much satisfaction , and " asks no names . " We are not put out with little accidents or petty " contretemps . " We are always amiable ,

serene , good-tempered , and considerate . We do not seek for difficulties , and we do not invent them . We do not render ourselves disagreeable to ourselves and a laughing-stock to others by a display of an irritable temper or a peevish disposition . We are pleased with everything . We deli ght in the happiness of others , and are glad to make our holiday a real holiday to us and them in the pleasant associations it educes , and the pleasanter memories it will one day

evoke when returned to dear smoky London , the cares of a counting-house , the calls of a profession , the " copy " of a journal . We have sometimes met cross , and snappish , and sardonic people " out for a holiday , " and we have always wondered why , in the name of all that is unfathomable , they did not stay at home . Good humour and good spirits are essential to the enjoyment , whether of a family party , or a solitary tour , or a holiday jaunt ; and I would

respectfully suggest to all who are either " short" in "temper , " or defective in " good breeding , " to find some quiet spot where they can be bad-tempered and rude to themselves . I suggest this speciall y , because some " good people " always deem it needful , though what for I cannot realize , to be stiff and starched and difficult to get on with when " out for a holiday . " Of course , there are some " tempers " in the world which are always desperate , in that they can never be smoothed down , but why people who are easy-going at home should make themselves essentially disagreeable abroad , is one of those mysteries over wliich , like " Isis , " we had better drop the veil .

I trust that all who read these pages will feel as I do , not onl y the need but the good of a holiday , and seek to make " much of it , " and to profit b y it . If properly used it may do them a . nd us all great good . It will throw us all together more closely , friends and family , and teach us to make allowances and smooth off each other ' s angles . It will bid us be cheerful and considerate , genial and gentletolerant and debonnaireas we shall learn b"hourl

, , y y juxtaposition " how life is truly made up of " giving and taking . " And so may we use our "holiday hours" that when we recount the scenes we have visited , and the dangers we have braved , we may say , " Ah , what happy hours these really were , when we got off at last for a 'holiday 1 ' "