The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-07-11
The Abandoned
Lighthouse.
BY S. RHETT ROMAN.

ut MISS the light of the beacon"
/ the Waves said as they toyed
gently with shells and seaweed they
had washed up and deposited at the
foot of the reef, on the narrow strip
Of sand always visible when the tide
is low
"It is a very silly idea, to change
the lights around the harbor," re-
marked the Ocean Current as it
swept by the sharp points of the
rocks where the lighthouse stood,
gloomy, silent and abandoned.
''These coast surveyors and gov
eminent officials think they are gen
fuses and great scientists because
they sound our channels, in per-
functory sort of way, and make
few charts (and we, more than any,
know how imperfect they are), and
they do not hesitate to recommend
all sorts of changes, like the building
of the new lighthouse farther down
the harbor, and shutting off the light
of the old Rock Point beacon, a IA
miliar friend to all the mariners of
the world. They are very superficial
and pretentious folks"
eff you knew mankind as we do"
said the Waves, rocking gently, "you
would not be surprised at any thing
they do. You run your course
through seas and oceans, and along
the edge of the continents, and you
wind about among islands, and you
carry vessels and ships here and
there, up and down, but we breakers,
we come in much closer contact with
men and women. We beat upon the
hard sand beaches, where they love
to gather, and on rock-bound coasts,
where they congregate for pleasure.
And we are always fighting and con-
tending against the men who build
Quays and harbors, breakwaters and
lighthouses, and although it must be
admitted they sometimes succeed in
accomplishing wonderful feats in
lot, all things considered. The wo-
men especially"
"Why the women?" queried the
Current, which was running slowly
and lazily out to sea, taking a rest
until the ebb of the tide would send
it rushing back with increased force
and velocity, until it swept close to
the sea wall of an ancient city, while
the breakers threw light fecks Of
foam and salt spray over the stone
flags of broad walk, where pretty
women and men always go walking.
"Why the women?" repeated the
Waves, sarcastically, laughing openly
at the question, because, mon ami,
our experience with women has long
since taught us that they are the un-
certain quantity which upsets all cal
culations. We see them do wonder
full and heroic deeds, when we madly
tear over some sinking ship, while but
a few minutes divide them from eter-
nifty. We watch them sacrifice
themselves without cry or a word
to save others, and let us sweep them
off like broken straws and suck them
down, down into the depths, to toss
their lifeless bodies on some nearby
cCdShOlS' AhShS dSuiAA5 W. WoVSh
them make idiots of themselves
while bathing in the surf at some
fashionable resort. Trouville, Bright
on, Bar Harbor, Virginia Beach, or
Palm Beach we hear them screaming
and making grand TODD when we
run up on the hard, firm sand and
curl over and play with them, and
all the time they know there is not
the slightest danger. Oh, yes, women
have always been, and always will be,
queer, uncertain creatures"
The Current laughed, and being in
a good humor, because the fall after
noon was bright and the breeze fitful
and varying, was quite willing to ex-
change views with the Waves around
the sunken reef of Rock Point, real
izing the wide and varied experience
they had at that particular spot, for
every one knows the frightful dam
ger to ships and seagoing craft of the
jagged rocks and treacherous shoal
of Rock Point.
"Of course, you know men and wo-
men more intimately that we do, as