The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-08-16
A HOLIDAY DIVERSION.

And so all / had to do was to go into
the country and enjoy myself for six
weeks-that is what it came to.
Why, if any one had struck me with
feather at the moment the doctor ut
tered his verdict should certainly have
been knocked down; fortunately no such
atrocity was attempted, so maintained
as erect posture as my enfeebled
health would allow until the eminent
licentiate of the College of Physicians,
whom / was consulting, begged me to
resume my seat. r. * 80
You are utterly smOke-dried, !" he
said.
London or tobaccoP" inquired.
BOTH he answered. "No physic;
fresh air is all you want-mountain air,
if possible; perfect rest and quiet; alb
stemious habits, early hours and no to-
bacco"
But" | feebly protested, 81 don't
care about the country; how am I to
fill up the timeP''
Nonsense; you know nothing of it,
from your own showing; and as to oc-
cupation, any thing will do, so that you
keep clear of your ledgers. Fish,
sketch, idle, read poetry and light
novels; go and steep yourself in green
cry, refresh your senses with rural sights
and sounds; go and look at trees and
fields, listen to the birds and the music
of running waters; follow this out, and
you Will be a different man in six
weeks
"And then?" | blankly inquired.
Then? o, then," he answered,
"get married and settle down.
1t certainly was fortunate was not
standing up at that moment, for it would
not have needed a touch of the aforesaid
feather to have laid me low. As it was
l sank back in my chair aghast. 20 Get
marriedi' thought; who was utterly
insensible 10 female attractions, and who
had been always taught to have an eye
10 the main chance, and regard matri-
mony as clog, unless associated with
. great heiress. get mari .r... :. sal
AIRY of $500 a year? Whew!
left Savile Row with scarce another
word, convinced that for real, down.
right, impractical men there were none
to compare with Doctors .....--
Thus | took the plunge, and within
five days found myself at a snug little
inn in North Wales, hard by a celebrat-
ed spot known as the "Devil's Bridge"
few miles inland from Aberystwith.
The change soon refreshed me. Twas
astonished at feeling neither dull nor
l)nely-for the tourist season had hard
ly set in, and had the little fnn we'll
nigh TO myself. So I wandered about
and gazed wonderingly at all saw,
especially at the deep, craggy, wooded
gorge or mountain river-bed across
which his Satanic Majesty's engineer
ing skill was supposed to have been dis
played. - .. ~ g. = -
The weather hitherto had been su-
perb, midsummer sunshine, and not
drop of rain. At last there was a sud-
den change of wind. Heavy clouds
swept over the landscape, burying in
mist or occasional showers all forms
save those close at hand.
Regular Welsh weather. said a
fresh-colored, elderly, gentlemanlike
man in a tourists suit, whom 1 found
the next morning in the cofee-room.
"My party will be house-bound for a
couple of days at least, if know any
thing of this country; shocking place for
weather. Been here long, siran ---4a--
told him how long, and that l had
not had drop of rain the whole time.
Disadvantage in that, too" he went
on; mountainous scenery wants mist
and rain to drift round the peaks, fill
up the torrents and bring out the water
falls. This one here viii present fine
sight after another four-and-twenty
hours Of such weather; it was a mere
dribble last night when we arrived"
l was eonsoled by this gentleman s
words; for having to spend the, best
part OF the day indoors, there was new
sensation yet in store for me and Lwas
little disappointed TO find, when early
the following afternoon a hull I'm the
weather enabled me to 90 down to nv
favorite rocky haunt, that there was
very little perceptible difference in the
volume of water coming over the fall.