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    Desert Air 1905
    Desert Air 1905
    Desert Air 1905
    Ebook47 pages26 minutes

    Desert Air 1905

    By Robert Smythe Hichens

    ()

    Read preview
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateNov 27, 2013
    Desert Air 1905

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      Book preview

      Desert Air 1905 - Robert Smythe Hichens

      The Project Gutenberg EBook of Desert Air, by Robert Hichens

      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

      almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or

      re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

      with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

      Title: Desert Air

             1905

      Author: Robert Hichens

      Release Date: November 8, 2007 [EBook #23418]

      Last Updated: December 17, 2012

      Language: English

      *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DESERT AIR ***

      Produced by David Widger

      DESERT AIR

      By Robert Hichens

      Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers

      Copyright, 1905

      Contents

      I

      On an evening of last summer I was dining in London at the Carlton with two men. One of them was an excellent type of young England, strong, healthy, athletic, and straightforward. The other was a clever London doctor who was building up a great practice in the West End. At dessert the conversation turned upon a then recent tragedy in which a great reputation had gone down, and young England spoke rather contemptuously of the victim, with the superior surprise human beings generally express about the sin which does not happen to be theirs.

      I can't understand it! was his conclusion. It's beyond me.

      Climate, said the doctor quietly.

      What?

      Climate. Air.

      Young England looked inexpressively astonished.

      But hang it all! he exclaimed, you don't mean to say change of air means change of nature?

      Not to everyone. Not to you, perhaps. Have you travelled much?

      Well, I've been to Paris for the Grand Prix, and to Monte——

      For the gambling. That's hardly travelling. Now, I've studied this subject a little, quietly in Harley Street. I'm no traveller myself, but I have dozens of patients who are. And I'm convinced that the modern facilities for travel, besides giving an infinity of pleasure, bring about innumerable tragedies.

      He turned to me.

      You go abroad a great deal. What do you say?

      That you're perfectly right. And I'm prepared to affirm that, in highly-strung, imaginative, or over-worked people change of climate does sometimes actually cause, or seem to cause, change of nature.

      Young England, who was by no means highly-strung or imaginative, looked politely dubious, but the doctor was evidently pleased.

      An ally! he cried.

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