Page:Impressions of Spain in 1866.djvu/15

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN.


CHAPTER I.

ST. SEBASTIAN AND BURGOS.

What is it that we seek for, we Englishmen and Englishwomen, who, year by year, about the month of November, are seen crowding the Folkestone and Dover steam-boats, with that munistakable 'going abroad' look of travelling—bags, and wideawakes, and bundles of wraps, and alpaca gowns? I think it may be comprised in one word:— sunshine. This dear old land of ours, with all its luxuries, and all its comforts, and all its associations of home and people, still lacks one thing—and that is climate. For climate means health to one half of us; and health means power of enjoyment; for, without it, the most perfect of homes (and nowhere is that word understood so well as in England) is spoiled and saddened. So, in pursuit of this great boon, a widow lady