“A Morning Blow at Ryde”

Next to the delight of being at the seaside during this unusually hot September weather is the pleasure of glancing at pictures of life by the refreshing sea. What pleasant reminiscences, for example, does our Artist’s vivid little sketch at Ryde call up! Ryde means not only by the sea, but on the sea, the boatmen being the great caterers for amusement; and there are few more delightful non-occupations than lolling comfortably on the deck cushions, with enough breeze to swing the vessel jauntily along and carry the blue smoke from your cigar streaming up into the clear air. Ryde is a wonderful and charming place for young couples, as the boatmen well know; and there are few places better adapted for love-making than the deck of one of the bright pleasure-yachts, especially when “a little bit of a sea” comes on towards evening and the support of a manly arm becomes necessary.

Source: The Penny Illustrated Saturday, 23 September 1865