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has as one motive of its existence the advertising of the 

 natural charms of Lakeland and its hotels; and, under most 

 distinguished patronage, begs subscriptions to enable it to carry 

 on the work, as indicated in its Rule 2, of rendering Lakeland 

 attractive and popular as a place of resort atid residence, — with 

 one or two exceptions, among which was its President, the 

 Earl of Bective, this Society from first to last was obstinately in 

 favour of the proposed Braithwaite and Buttermere line, and 

 played into the hands of the promoters in a most curious manner. 

 Heaven save us from such custodians of the Lakes ! But to 

 return to the interest felt and help that came from across the 

 Border : — 



Principal Shairp wrote from St. Andrews : — 



" England has not so many holiday-grounds open to all her 

 people that she can afford to let one of the most beautiful be 

 wantonly destroyed and desecrated. . . In those solitary places, 

 thousands, every year, of all sorts and conditions of our country- 

 men, gather bodily refreshment and mental elevation. This surely 

 is a national privilege not lightly to be sacrificed." 



From Edinburgh we heard Professor Blackie's fierce and em- 

 phatic sentences : — 



" I cannot imagine any more sacred duty of good citizens, at 

 the present moment, than to save the natural beauties of the 

 country from the defacing operations of men who have no sense 

 for anything in the world but mercantile speculation and the lust 

 of gain. If God made the world beautiful, it was that its beauty 

 might be enjoyed, and men have no right for local convenience 

 and temporary utilities to make it systematically ugly." 



From Professor Campbell Eraser came the wise words : — 

 " It is because I believe that the struggle to bar the entrance of 

 the Stygian locomotive into Borrowdale is on behalf of interests in 

 which the whole nation is concerned, that I cordially co-operate. 



"The increasing pressure of life in this crowded and busy 

 island is one of many reasons why the north-west corner of 

 England should be saved as one of the few classic retreats still 



