The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19
CHAPTER /.
NIGHT ON THE BEACH.

tvity and dissemi ate disease. Some prosper.
some vegetate. Some have mounted the steps
Of thrones and owned Islands and navies.
Others again must marry for livelihood; a
strapping merry chocolate-colored dame sup
ports them In sheer idleness; and dressed like
natives. but still retaining some foreign ele-
mont OF gait or attitude. still. perhaps. with
some relic (suoh as single eyegassJ OF tho
offlcer and gentleman. they sprawl III PALM
leaf vsrandas and entertain an island audi
Nnoe with memoirs OF tho music hall. Ana
there ore others. less piable less capable less
fortunate, perhaps less base. who continue
even In these isles OF plenty to lack bread.
At the far end OF the town OF Papeete three
such men were seated on the beach under a
purao tree.
It was late Long ago the band had broke n
MP and marched unsteady home. motley
troop OF men and women. merchant clerks anu
navy officers. dancing In its wake arms about
waist and crowned with garlands. Long ago
darkness aud silence had gone from house to
house about the tiny. pagan city. Only the
street lamps shone on. making n Rlow-worm
halo In the outrageous alleys or drawing
tremulous image on the waters OF the port.
sound Of snoring ran among the piles OF lum-
bsr by the Government pier. 1t was waite d
ashore from the graceful. clipper bottomed
schooners. whore they lay moored close in like
dingeys. and their crows were stretched upon
the deck under the open sky or huddled in q
ruds tent amid the disorder OF merchandise.
But the men under the purao had no thought
OF Sleep The same temperature in England
would have passed without remark in sum
mer; but it was bitter cold for tho South Seas.
Inanimate nature knew it. and the bottle OF
cocoanut oil stood frozen in every bird cage
house about the island: and the men knew it.
and shivered. They wore nimsy. cotton
clothes. the same they had sweated in by day
aud run the gauntlet OF the tropic showers:
and to complete their evil case. they had had
no breakfast to mention. less dinner. and o
supper at ALL
IN the telling South Sea phrase these three
mon we're on the beach. Common calamity
had brought them acquainted as the three
most m miserable English speaking creatures in
Tahiti and beyond their misery they knew
next to nothing OF each other not even their
true names For each had made q long ap
premiership In going downward. and each. at
some stage Of the descent. had been shamed
into the adoption OF an alias. And yet not
one of them had figured in n court OF justice.
Two were men Of kindly virtues and one. as
he sat and shivered under the purao. had
tattered Virgil In his pocket
Certainly. II money could have been raised
upon the book. Robert Herrick would have
lOlR AQO 68CrluCeu tnaC ldht pOSSeSblOu. DuI
the demand for literature which is SO mark ed
a feature in some parts OF the South Seas. ex-
tends not 30 far as the dead tongues. and the
Virgil, which he could not exchange against q
meal had often consoled him in his hunger
He would study 1t as he lay with frightened
belt on the floor OF the old calabooss. seek
ing favorite passages and finding new
ones only less beautiful because they
lacked the conservation OF remembrance
Or he would pause on random country
walks; sit on the pathsde gazing over
the sea on the mountain ofiEimeo: and dip
into tho Aeneid. seeking sories. And II the
oracle las is the way OF oracles, repi cd with
no very certain or encouraging voice. visi ons
OF England at least would throng the exile's
memory: the busy schoolroom. the green
playing fields. holidays at home. and the
perennial roar OF London. and the Preside.
and the white head OF his father. For it is tho
destiny of those grave and elias sic writer's. with
whom we make enforced and often painful
acquaintaneeship at school. to pass into tho
blood and become native in the memory. SO
that a phrase OF Virgil speaks not SO much Of
Mantua or Augustus. but OF English places
and the student's own irrevocable youth
Robert Herrlck was the son OF an intelligent
active. and ambitious man. small partner In a
considerable London house. Hopes were con-
G0lN0u VI tuo wy ITO WaS ocht W q Boou
school. gained there an Oxford scholarship.
and proceeded In course to the western Uni
yersity. With all his talent and taste and he
had much OF BOTH. Robert was deficient In
consistency and intellectual manhood wan
dered In by paths OF study. worked at music or
metaphysics when he should be at Greek, and
took ct last paltry degree Almost at the
same time the London house was disastrously
wound up; Mr.. Hsrrlck must peGin the woriu
again as clerk In strange once.
and Robert retnquish his ambitions and
accept with gratitude career that he detssted
and despised. lie had no mead Tor hsures' no
interest In affairs. detested the cohstralht OF
hours. ana despised the aims anu the success
OF merchants 10 grow rich was none OF MS
ambitions; rather TO DO Wen. worse or
more bold young man would nave refused the
destiny' perhaps trleu MS iuture WIN MS pom :
perhaps enlisted. Ropcrt. more prudent pos
sthly more timid. consented TO embrace that
way Of ne In which no couIn most reauiiS az,
slst MS family but ne dlu 30 with mihu
divided. ned the neighborhood OF FORMER cohi-