59 



THE GREAT DOWNSHIRE HANDICAP 



CHAPTEE I 



The scene is a wide expanse of irregular downland, 

 rising into eminences and sloping into little valleys, 

 picturesque decided^, for the countr}^ is remarkably 

 well wooded, the tops of two neighbouring hills are 

 covered with trees, and there is a long plantation, too? 

 in the midst of the downs ; while colour is given to the 

 view by the wheat-fields away in the distance, gleaming 

 golden in the sunshine, and by one curiously glowing red 

 field, which apparently grows nothing but poppies. A 

 few scattered farmhouses here and there in the perspective 

 add further variety, the whole making a characteristic 

 bit of southern English country. 



It is wonderful how much the introduction of a little 

 life adds to a landscape. A friend of mine lately showed 

 me a picture he was painting of cliffs, both bare and 

 grass -clad, descending to the sea ; a beautiful view, but 

 wanting something — life. I suggested that this was 

 absent ; my friend replied that he was coming to that, or 

 rather had just come to it, but could not quite make up 

 his mind what to introduce ; and then, covering the 

 painting with a glass which fitted the frame, he sketched 

 in on the smooth surface a few sheep, a rabbit at the 



