Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-05-08
ENGLISH SEASIDE RESORTS, I.

ENGLISH SEASIOE hESOhIO L.
rive are pleased to be able to present
to our readers, in the letter below, and
others to follow, series of sketches of
English life written by Miss Annie NJ
Brainard of Cleveland, Ohio, sister of
Mrs. Eugene L. Graves of that city, and
published first in the Plain Dealer.
Miss Brainard is we'll known to some of
our readers, writes in an interesting
manner. and we are sure her descriptions
and comments will be highly enjoyed by
all our subscribers. Miss Brainard
passed the enUire winter in the South of
England, and the letters in hand are up
England, and writes with more than ordi-
nary fine diction.-ED.
England naturally abounds in seaside
resorts of all kinds, and among the most
favored of them is Hastings. It lies on
the southern coast, well protected by
rocky cliffs and high hills from the rude
and boisterous winds of the north and
east, but with full exposure to the sun
and the moderating influence of the sea
on the south and west.
Its near proximity to London, too
less than two hous by rail-contributes
much to its popularity as a resort, and
its mild temperature and bright sun
shine draws yearly many visitors from
the less favored parts of England.
Thither we fed from the chilling fogs
and lowering skies of London, and
found, to our joy, temperate climate
in the midst of winter. Not that we
found tropical weather-that would be
too much to expect, but the air was mild
and bracing, and when the sun poured
down on the we'll sheltered sea front,
one could easily apply the name of the
English Riviere' and find it no misno.
mer. Many of the houses are covered
with the passion vine, with its golden
fruit shining against its evergreen
leaves, the gardens are hedged in with
box, laurel and other green shrubs, and
the ivy and holly add their dark, glossy
color to the landscape. have even
seen at Christmas time, rose bushes in
blossom, not to speak of various small
flowers and innumerable delicate vines
of which no not know, the name. In
deed, most of the time the air of Hast
ings is quite soft and springlike, not un
like what we find at Old Point Comfort,
and it seems quite in keeping with the
season for the fower-girls at the street
corners to be selling jonquils and sweet
violets.
But sometimes this favored spot is Wis.
tied by severe storms, and then the en-
tire aspect of the place is changed. The
blue sky frowns as sullenly as ever at
home; the shining sea is transformed
to an angry, threatening demon, and the
cold blast bowls along the shore, bring
ing rain and sleet and the whirling skur
ries of snow. We had terrible storm a
short time after coming down and many
ships were wrecked short distance
down the coast. +aH
1t had been bright and sunny the day
before and no one had dreamed that the
wild, fierce god, the storm king, could
come upon us so swiftly and so soon.
But in the night the wind had shifted
and when morning dawned, the sea was
running very high, and the surf roared
and beat against the stone wall with a
fury which seemed to threaten destruc
ton to the very foundations. The wind
continued to increase all day and by
afternoon it had turned into perfect
gale. 1t howled down the chim2eys,
around which we lowered, shiYering and
endeavoring to keep warm by the bright
blaze; it whistled though the windows
and swept down the road, breaking in
two or three shop windows, and whirl-
ing the contents, silks, ribbons, baskets
and bric-a-brac, in mad confusion along
the promenade and down the beach.
The sea, a seething, yellow froth, rose
higher and higher, dashed into renewed
fury by the wild wind. 1t dashed quite
over the sea wall, in many places sweep
ing across the driveway and making
walking impossible, or at least, danger
Gus.
By night, the gale had died down ant
the next morning the little blue waves
were kissing the pebbly beach as gehtly
and innocently as if they could nevel
know the fury of tempest; and thu
dimpled waters beyond laughed gail!
back to the SUMS rays, in utter forget
fulness of the shattered wrecks beneath
their surface and the aching hearts OF
shore.
Hastings consists, in reality, of tire,
distinct parts: The Old Town, or Fish
ing Quarter, Hastings, and st. Leonards
on-Sea, which is the sheltered portion
lying along the sea front, and the par
sought by visitors and invalids, and tn
highlands above the town, which is tn
locality chiefly chosen by the permanent
residents. The Old Town: which lies a
the extreme east end of the beach, jus
under the frowning cliffs of the Castl
hill, is by far the most picturesque, witt
its quaint, red-roofed houses, its narrow
winding streets and its broad beach GOV
cred with boats, nets, barrels, basket
and other materials incidental to tn
fisheries, while a combined smell of fish
tar and oil pervaded the place.
The fishermen, a sturdy, weather
beaten set, in their yellow oil ski
smocks, add to the scene, as they sin
their hearty sea songs down among tn
boats drawn up on the beach, or smok
their pipes in gossiping groups about th
door of the Jolly Fisherman" or otht
public houses. Fishing is the main,
not the only occupation in this quartz
of the town, and at certain seasons
said to be very profitable. mackerel an
herring being the most plentiful, a
though many other fish abound. The
are said to be about one hundred boa
engaged in the fishing trade, and abo'
five hundred people dependent upon
for support.