AUTUMN IN THE ALPS 113 



mountains than in the towns. Often and often 

 a damp, grey fog will hold possession of the plains 

 whilst the mountains are basking under a cloudless 

 sky. Indeed, one of the grandest, most impressive 

 of autumnal sights in the Alps is the vast billowy 

 sea of fog which day by day will lie choking the 

 plains and valleys beneath. As we stand in the 

 pure air and glorious sunshine, gazing across this 

 ocean, and thinking of all those who, to escape from 

 dismal and discomforting Autumn in the Alps, 

 have fled down into this unwholesome state of 

 things, we cannot suppress a smile — a broad, 

 * superior ' smile — so manifest are the disadvantages 

 of listening too closely to what Tradition has to 

 say. It is usual for Ignorance to congratulate 

 itself upon its disabilities, and those in the towns, 

 shivering in their furs, whilst regarding the grey 

 skies above them, will be congratulating themselves 

 upon havuig quitted the mountains betimes, and 

 upon having at least the distractions of town-life to 

 set against the chill and gloomy weather. Little 

 do they reck, these good, customary souls, how 

 that, really, the laughter and congratulation is ours, 

 as we, under a canopy of spotless, radiant blue, gaze 

 down upon the mirk into which, with so much good 

 faith, they have been pleased to plunge themselves. 



15 



