BROKEN AND SHADED LIGIIT 
43 
sky they disappear entirely, and only a gray 
effect is apparent. Just before dusk, when 
sometimes the clonds become empurpled, the 
whole body of snow will take on a purple re- 
flection. The same or a similar effect is no- 
ticeable in the sand dunes along the sea-shore, 
though sand is perhaps not so good a reflector 
as snow. I should account for the lilac shadow 
on the clay or broken-stone road in the same 
way. It is a mingling of local color with sky 
reflection and side lights rather than comple- 
mentary hue. A rough surface like a green 
lawn or a meadow will not show a colored 
shadow at any time or under any conditions, so 
far as my observation goes; and I believe the 
reason for it is that it has not a favorable sur- 
face for reflection. 
If colors were always pure, and if side lights, 
atmospheres, and sky reflections could be elim- 
inated, we should undoubtedly see the scientific 
theory of complementary colors always demon- 
strated in nature ; but the problem is compli- 
cated, and all talk about ‘‘pure colors” is mis- 
leading. Nothing is pure ; everything is mixed 
and alloyed. The neutralizing effect of side 
lights, complementary and reflected hues, and 
local grounds, puts scientific calculation out 
Lilae 
shadows on 
clay and 
sand. 
Mized 
colors in 
nature, 
