200 NATURAL BEAUTY 



feeling, whereas science is knowing; and feeling 

 and knowing are distinct faculties. We can easily 

 see the distinction. We may be travelling to 

 Plymouth to embark for South Africa on some 

 absorbing enterprise, and be so engrossed with 

 thoughts of the adventure before us as to be unable 

 to enjoy the famed West Country through which 

 the train is passing, though all the time we were 

 quite aware in our minds of its beauty. We are not 

 actually enjoying the beauty, though we know quite 

 well that it is there. On another occasion we may 

 be returning after long absence in countries of far 

 different character ; our minds may be free from any 

 disturbing thoughts ; and we may be in a mood to 

 enjoy to the full every beauty we see. England will 

 then seem to us a veritable garden, the greenness of 

 everything, the trimness of the hedges, the sheets 

 of purple hyacinths, and some still remaining prim- 

 roses, will startle us with joy, though we have long 

 been aware of their beauty. This time we both 

 know and enjoy the Natural Beauty. We see from 

 this instance the distinction between knowing 

 Natural Beauty and enjoying it. I am not claiming 

 more than that knowing Natural Beauty — being 

 aware of it — ^is part of Geography. But I am 

 claiming liberty to extend our knowing up to the 

 extreme limit when it merges into feeling. 



What we have now to consider is the value of 

 this Natural Beauty. A region may be flat or 

 mountainous, dry or wet, barren or fertile, useful 

 or useless for either political or commercial purposes. 

 But it is not its flatness or ruggedness, or its utility 

 or inutility for political or commercial purposes, 



