LEWES AND ITS COUNTRY 99 



called the Cliffe, in the grey filmy dawn almost 

 stern and quite romantic, with the hill-tops only 

 half revealed and the mist veils slowly clearing to 

 presently leave the blue sky you get scarcely any- 

 where — except about the downs, and at that with 

 an east wind. Fresh and clear soon came the 

 views, as if smoke manufactured by gas, and lime, 

 and cement, and electric light works were un- 

 known industries, and nothing more dingy than 

 a wood camp fire's blue wreaths soiled the turf 

 whose every seed spike held gossamer webbing 

 with dew-crystalled thistle-down caught by the 

 thousand to the square rod. A trifling turn did 

 I call it ungratefully ? Perhaps I did ; but not 

 really unmindful of a great enjoyment available 

 to any dweller in or visitor to Lewes with an hour 

 to spare and power to appreciate these country 

 charms what time brisk air made one wonder 

 how poor folk, however rich in money or material 

 money's worth, managed to live in towns or on 

 low level anywhere. Available was the word, but 

 availed of! no, as has happened so often within 

 my experience as to make me consider dyspepsia 

 among folk neglectful of their great opportunities 

 to absorb perfect health a wilful criminal offence, 

 and distaste for brisk exercise punishable without 

 the option of a fine. 



