Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-10-11
The social On,cIzsnnd.

Victor Hugo gives the following graphic
description
"It sometimes happens on certain coasts
of Brittsny or Scotland, that man, trav-
eler or fisherman, walking ON the beach at
low tide, far from the bank, suddenly no.
tices that for several minutes he has been
walking with some difficulty. The strand
beneath his feet is like pitch ; his soles
stick TO it it is sand no longer-it is glue.
"The beach is perfectly dry, but at every
step he takes, as soon as he lifts his foot
the print which he leaves fills with water.
The eye, however, has noticed no change !;
the immense strand is smooth and tranquil;
all the sand has the same appearance !;
nothing distinguishes the surface which is
solid from chat which is no longer so the
Joyous little cloud of sandheas continue to
leap unanimously over the wayfarer's feet.
The man pursues his way, goes forward,
inclines to the land, endeavors to get nearer
the upland. He is not anxious. Anxious
about what? Only he feels somehow as if
the weight of his feet increases with every
step he takes. Suddenly he sinks in.
HE sinks III two or three inches. Deci-
dedly he Is not on the right road he stops
to take his bearings. All at once he looks
at his feet. His feet have Disappeared
The sand covers them. He draws his feet
out of the sand he will retrace his steps !;
he turns back he sinks in deeper. The
sand comes up to his ankles he pulls him
self out and throws himself to the left the
sand is half-leg deep. He throws himself
to the right the sand comes up to his
shins. Then he recognizes with unspeaka-
BILE terror that he is caught in a quicksand,
and that he has beneath him the fearful
medium in which man can no more walk
than fish can swim. He throws off his load,
if he has one, ightens himself like ship
in distress it is already too late the sand
is above his knees. He calls, he waves his
hat or his handkerchief the sand gains ON
him more and more. If the beach is de-
serted if the land is too far off, if there is
no help in sight, it is all over.
"He is condemned to that appalling bu-
rial, long, infallible, implacable, impossi-
BILE TO slacken or to hasten, which endures
for hours, which seizes you erect, free and
in full health, which draws you by the feet,
which at every effort that you attempt, at
every shout you utter, drags you little
deeper, sinking you slowly into the earth
while you look upon the horizon, the sails
OF the ships upon the sea, the birds flying
and singing, the sunshine and the sky.
The victim attempts to sit down, to lie
down, to creep; every movement he makes
inters him he straightens up, he sinks in,
he feels that he is being swallowed. He
howls, implores, cries to the clonds, des'
pairs.
"Behold him waist deep in the sand
The sand reaches his breast he is now on
ly bust. He raises his arm, utters furi.
GUS grosns, clutches the beach with his
nails, would hold by that straw, leans upon
his elbows to pull himself out of this soft
sheath, sobs frenziedly the sand rises
The sand reaches his neck the face alone
is visible now. The mouth cries, the sand
fills it silence. The eyes still gaze, the
sand shuts them night. Now the fore
head decreases, little hair iutters above
the saud a hand comes to the surface o.
the beach, moves, and shakes, and disap
pears. 1t is the earth drowning man. Th'
earth filled with the ocean becomes trap
1t presents itself like plain and open
| like wave"
Gould anything more graphically describe
the progress Of young man, from the fire
cup Of wine to the last.