St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-03
Letter from Nice.

10 We EdltOf 0T the CGtedOnlGn:
You have published several letters
from the winter health resorts of Cali
fornia and Florida, and it may not be
out of place to supplement these by a
few observations concerning the climate
of Nice. There is tendency with most
visitors from northern countries to over
estimate the value to health of winter
residence in warm climate; or at
least, in their first enthusiasm they are
apt to overlook the dangers which lurk
in these exceptional climes. There is
no doubt that many deaths occur from
over-cOnfidence in the healthfulness of
these places, and from a disregard of
the most ordinary precautions. This
may be illustrated by an incident re-
lated of an Englishman who arrived
early in the autumn at Nice, bringing
with him an invalid daughter, who was
far advanced i'll pulmonary disease.
The latter had been assured that she
could not survive the winter fogs and
dampness of her island home, and had
come hither, fearing death but hoping
to live. The robust father, having
finished his first midday repast, ana
fortified himself with generous bottle
of Burgundy, sailed forth for prone
made by the Sea-shOre. The clear blue
water OF the sea seeIneu 10 oorrow IJs
,nH hn F,-t
above; the stimulating ozone of the
atmosphere lifted him into state of
delicious delire of which he had never
before dreamed it seemed to him he
could live here and live forever. He
had neglected the usual precaution of
an dmbrelle, and the sun was shining
from clear sky with the intense fierce
ness of midsummer. On he strobe
needless of everything but the enjoy
ment of the moment. Presently sud
den faintness came over him-the sun
and the wine had done their fatal work
he reeled and sank to the ground, and
expired. The report went abroad, in
euphemistic phrase, that "the climate
of Nice was not suited to his cOnstitu-
tom! (In New York or elsewhere,
would this have been called sun-stroke
or suicide, or both p The invalid
daughter, who seemed doomed to an
early death, placed herself under the
care of resident ply sician and passed
the winter in comfOrt-a steady con-
valescent-and now bids fair to live
many years.
Death seems to have taken a bad
aim :; the strong one was taken and the
infirm left. In pagan times this would
have been attributed to chance.
There is very ancient legend which
bears upon this point. 1t runs in this
wise:
An eagle, lowering and balancing in
the air, dropped stone which he held
in his talons, thinking to break the
shell of tortoise the stone crushed
the head of poet! And this was called
the allegory of Fate.
But modern generations, who think
themselves more enlightened, reject
the doctrine of chance, and look fol
some satisfactory cause for every result
which bears upon their well-being.
The climate of Nice is unquestionably
a desirable one for the weak and suf
fering of colder climes who come hithel
for relief during the winter, but it il
essential that they comply with the few
simple conditions on which this relic
may be gained. This much frequentet
winter station owes it's warm climate t,
its Typographical situation rather thai
to its southern latitude. 1t lies in lati
tude "A deg. 40 min., which in our owl
country would be considered far nortl
about on a parallel with Mt. Wash
ingtOn in New Hampshire-sug
anything but an agreeable abode for tn,
winter. Yet Nice, from its sheltered posi-
tion at the foot of the Maritime Alps, will
the warm waters of the Mediterranean OIL
the south, enjoys the warmest and mos
equable temperature in winter of an,
place in Europe, with the possible ex
ception of the southern coast of Spain
1t is protected not only by the higl
mountains on the north, but there ar
also mountain spurs running out fror
the main range to the sea, on the eas
and west, inclosing like an amphi
theater the plain on which the town
built. 1t is veritable serre-chaud,
fully exposed to the rays of the souther
sun, which shines the greater part {
the time from cloudless sky.