THE MARITIME DISTRICT 255 



It is not, liowever, from all points of view tliat the 

 Chicliester spire is of so much account in the land- 

 scape. The line of the downs must appear beyond it ; 

 and downs a,nd spire look best from the green level 

 land between the cathedral and the sea. In some 

 states of the weather the spire has a singular beauty, 

 as when sun-flushed, it appears white against a black 

 cloud. Perhaps the most beautiful effect is an after- 

 noon or evening one, when there are clouds, but in the 

 east and north a pale clear sky, against which the grey 

 spire and distant downs appear sharply outlined ; the 

 earth green, but the hills in shadow deepest indigo 

 blue. This effect is a very common one in autumn 

 and winter evenings. 



