MAGPIE FIELDS 159 



presented by the Downs in the country, and betoken the 

 state of the atmosphere as clearly. The London atmos- 

 phere is, I should fancy, quite as well adapted to the 

 artist's uses as the changeless glare of the Continent. 

 The smoke itself is not without its interest. 



Sometimes upon Westminster Bridge at night the 

 scene is very striking. Vast rugged columns of vapour 

 rise up behind and over the towers of the House, hang- 

 ing with threatening aspect ; westward the sky is nearly 

 clear, with some relic of the sunset glow : the river itself, 

 black or illuminated with the electric light, imparting a 

 silvery blue tint, crossed again with the red lamps of the 

 steamers. The aurora of dark vapour, streamers extend- 

 ing from the thicker masses, slowly moves and yet does 

 not go away ; it is just such a sky as a painter might 

 give to some tremendous historical event, a sky big with 

 presage, gloom, tragedy. How bright and clear, again, 

 are the mornings in summer ! I once watched the sun 

 rise on London Bridge, and never forgot it. 



In frosty weather, again, when the houses take hard, 

 stern tints, when the sky is clear over great part of its 

 extent, but with heavy thunderous-looking clouds in 

 places clouds full of snow the sun becomes of a red 

 or orange hue, and reminds one of the lines of Long- 

 fellow when Othere reached the North Cape 



<c Round in a fiery ring 

 Went the great sun, oh King ! 

 With red and lurid light." 



The redness of the winter sun in London is, indeed, 

 characteristic. 



A sunset in winter or early spring floods the streets 

 with fiery glow. It comes, for instance, down Piccadilly ; 

 it is reflected from the smooth varnished roofs of the 



