CLIMBING IN ENGLAND 277 



at reasonable heights of from five to ten thousand feet, 

 a buoyancy of spirits and strength of body seem to 

 accrue such as is only felt elsewhere in rare and happy 

 dreams. All sights and sounds are new and beautiful. 

 The flora changes, and the climber finds himself among 

 flowers and plants unknown, in a setting equally un- 

 familiar. Sounds gain a strange clearness and resonance, 

 and the mere effort of producing the voice has an effect 

 of sonority such as nothing but some mechanical in- 

 strument could render in the dull air which creeps on 

 the level ground. Then at the last comes the need for 

 physical exertion, coolness, and skill, under the very 

 circumstances of atmosphere and mental exhilaration 

 most likely to secure their successful development. 

 The extent to which the English mountains are now 

 used as a training-ground for the delights of Alpine 

 climbing is evident from the familiarity with particular 

 spots which Mr. Haskett Smith's book presupposes in 

 his readers. The delightful difficulties which may be 

 found and surmounted in the ascents of the Pillar 

 Rock, of Pavey Ark, Napes Needle, and Moss Gill, 

 are given with the minuteness of detail which is usually 

 bestowed on the climb of some High Alp without a 

 guide. Ice-climbing needs special practice in the glacial 

 regions. But rock-climbing can be learnt almost as 

 well on the mountains of the Lake district as on any 

 others. There, according to recent experience, it " may 

 be enjoyed by amateurs without incurring the reproach 

 of recklessness, while they may at the same time enjoy 

 the exquisite pleasure of forming their own plans of 



