Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



inaccessible crags of the Torres which lie 

 between them. They are clear to-day, and are 

 perhaps less overwhelmingly grand than when 

 a belt of mist lies below their summits. But 

 too often they are completely hidden in cloud, 

 and to-day we may rejoice that we have not 

 made our journey in vain. 



As filled with a delight not unmixed with 

 awe, we linger in the presence of this majestic 

 scene, scarcely touched and in no way spoilt 

 by the hand of man, we may reflect with 

 wonder on the sentiments with regard to 

 mountains which prevailed not only in the 

 ancient world, but in the modern down to a 

 very recent period. To-day, certainly to 

 Northerners, perhaps especially to those who 

 have in them something of Celtic breeding, 

 the attraction of the mountain, of the stern and 

 terrible in Nature, is immense. It exercises 

 over many minds that " cleansing of the pas- 

 sions " which Aristotle ascribes to tragedy. 

 It may be that it marks a reaction from our 

 flagrant sacrifice of the softer beauties of Nature 

 to our coarser needs, from the grimy hideous- 

 ness and meanness of our towns, and the pro- 

 gressive despoilment of our rural amenities. In 



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