Category Archives: Lyme

December 14, 2007 · 1:53 pm

Delightful bathing


“The Bathing was so delightful this morning & Molly so pressing with me to enjoy myself that I believe I staid in rather too long, as since the middle of the day I have felt unreasonably tired. I shall be more careful another time, & shall not bathe tomorrow, as I had before intended.”

letter to Cassandra, from Lyme
September 14, 1804 [39]

I love that feeling of having swum in the ocean for too long. I always wondered what a bathing machine was, which Jane would have used when she swam. It sounds like quite a contraption, but actually it was just a little cart to keep people from seeing you in your bathing clothes. More info on Wikipedia.

3 Comments

Filed under Letters, Lyme, the Sea

June 21, 2007 · 8:00 am

Dirty lodgings in Lyme

Img_0646
“We are quite settled in our Lodgings by this time, as you may suppose, & everything goes on in the usual order. The servants behave very well & make no difficulties, tho’ nothing certainly can exceed the inconvenience of the Offices, except the general Dirtiness of the House & furniture, & all it’s Inhabitants.”

letter to Cassandra
September 14, 1804 [39]

I have to say, my own experiences in Lyme were similar! Ugh.

1 Comment

Filed under Letters, Lyme, Travel

June 4, 2007 · 12:39 pm

The sea-air always does good


I am back! The beach was wonderful, and I lingered and gazed as one deserving to look at the ocean. It is a healing place. Our last few days, the water turned to brilliant blues and greens-almost Caribbean. I’ve never seen it like that in North Carolina. It was gorgeous. Would like to post a pic, but I forgot my camera, so I’m waiting for a CD from Brenda. But here is a picture of Lyme-which, unfortunately, was anything but Caribbean when I was there-gray, cold and rainy. In July. Ugh!

Today’s quote is again from Persuasion:

“Oh, yes! I am quite convinced that, with very few exceptions, the sea-air always does good. There can be no doubt of its having been of the greatest service to Dr. Shirley, after his illness, last spring twelve-month. He declares himself, that coming to Lyme for a month did him more good than all the medicine he took; and that being by the sea always makes him feel young again. Now, I cannot help thinking it a pity that he does not live entirely by the sea.”

Henrietta Musgrove, hoping old Dr. Shirley will retire and give the parish to her cousin Charles Hayter, which would enable them to marry
Persuasion, volume 1, chapter 12 (emphasis mine)

1 Comment

Filed under Henrietta Musgrove, Lyme, Persuasion, the Sea

May 23, 2007 · 11:13 am

Returning to the sea

I am heading out today for a week in Cape Hatteras, NC — one of my favorite places in the world. JA Quote of the Day will return on Monday, June 4.

“The party from Uppercross passing down by the now deserted and melancholy looking rooms, and still descending, soon found themselves on the sea-shore; and lingering only, as all must linger and gaze on a first return to the sea, who ever deserve to look on it at all . . .”

on arriving in Lyme
Persuasion, volume 1, chapter 11

Comments Off on Returning to the sea

Filed under Lyme, Persuasion, the Sea