NATURE NOTES. 
164 
Removal of Sky Signs. — This subject also has aroused much attention, 
and several cuttings from newspapers relating to it have been sent to us. From 
these we select the following received from Miss Agnes Martelli. Luckily we are 
not called upon to discuss either the ethics or the expediency of boycotting ; but 
it is curious to note with what a light heart the Queen recommends it as a punish- 
ment for contumacious sky-signers in England “ The excitement and indigna- 
tion aroused by the erection of sky signs has not been expressed too soon. The 
public have been informed by a well-known writer — Luke Limner — that a soap- 
selling firm had already contemplated disfiguring the beautiful scenery of the 
glens, mountains and lakes of Scotland with these hideous erections, thus 
destroying the beauty that attracts and gives pleasure to tens of thousands of 
tourists, and profit to thousands of residents. Our most beautiful buildings have 
already been disfigured. St. Paul's was apparently the first of our grand national 
buildings to suffer ; but Messrs. Hudson, with an amount of graceful courtesy 
which does infinite credit to their good taste, and we have no doubt will do the 
greatest benefit to their business, have, in deference to the strongly- expressed 
wishes of the public, ordered the sign to be taken down — a praiseworthy proceed- 
ing, which has been followed by Messrs. Carrick and Coles, the well-known 
outfitters at Uxbridge, whose sign, raised forty feet above the roof, dominated 
over the town and destroyed its picturesque appearance from every point of view. 
This, though costing ^169 to erect, they have courteously ordered to be removed, 
candidly stating that its erection was an. error in judgment on their part, and that 
they wish to be in accord with public opinion — a graceful act which, we have no 
doubt, will be much more to the advantage of their business than the offensive 
sign, which would have been a perpetual annoyance to the inhabitants of the 
town and surrounding district. Other tradesmen are neither so courteous nor so 
wise. A flaring-red sky-sign, marring the beautiful view with its hideous outline, 
has been erected close to Lincoln Cathedral, and although the supports have been 
destroyed by some indignant inhabitant, it has been re-erectcd by the proprietor. 
To the persons whoso persistently outrage public taste by disfiguring the sky and 
the views which are the common property of all, ordinary arguments are addressed 
in vain ; any appeal to that courteous consideration for the comfort of others, 
which is the true characteristic of a gentleman, is thrown away on people who 
have not even the conception of such a character. One argument, however, is 
infallible — it is that which is addressed to Ithe pocket. If the public persistently 
refuse to deal with those persons who disfigure all that is beautiful in our cities and 
our country, the whole of these outrages on good taste will soon be removed. In 
some instances this has already been done, and the proceeding has been anything 
but satisfactory to the offenders. It only requires a continuance of the pressure 
to ensure the removal of these disfigurements. If all these persons whose good 
taste is outraged will indicate to the offenders that their support and custom will 
be withdrawn as long as the objectionable signs are employed, the matter is at an 
end. In the meantime we may announce that Mr. J. 15 . Ililditch, of 11 and 12, 
Cheapside, suggests the active co-operation of all interested, and is willing to take 
charge of any correspondence and receive the names of supporters until some 
concerted action can be organised to abolish the evil.” 
Devastation at Cheddar Cliffs. — Just as we are going to press we have 
received a letter calling our attention to this matter from Miss Dangar, Lynd- 
hurst, Ealing. She encloses the following letter from the Globe which had escaped 
our notice : — “ Is there none to preserve the Cheddar Cliffs from the brutal 
destruction that is going on in their midst ? Already a hideous scar has been 
made by the removal of the beautiful weather-worn grey surface. These cliffs 
are almost unparalleled in England in sublime grandeur and majesty, and it 
seems they will be sacrificed merely for the sake of some paltry gain from the pos- 
-session of the stone for building purposes. Where is our sense for the beauti- 
ful and sublime in Nature, that we can calmly sit still, and suffer the grandest 
gorge in our country to be mutilated in this shameful manner, merely for the sake 
of filthy lucre? Where is the Selborne Society in this matter? Have they no 
influence to bring to bear on the author of such an outrage on Nature ? Or do 
they not include the preservation of beautiful scenery among their other efforts ? 
May I appeal, Sir, through your columns for the preservation of the ever famous 
