Post by Jem on Aug 7, 2014 6:50:05 GMT
I was reading a book of Alfred Wainwrights' the other day called Pennine Walk (or Walking the Pennines?), Just seeing Sprockits pics of the glorious northern countryside reminded me I was going to post up something from the book
I will reproduce the text below...(written 1938 )
"The village of Stainforth, which I had not visited before, made a most pleasing picture, and might have tempted me to halt there a while. But on turning the corner, I came across the bicyles. Not a dozen, but hundreds, lining the roads on both sides of the tearoom, from which issued bedlam. I can't understand why cyclists are so noisy, but they invariably are. A pity , because there is much to admire in them. They have the right idea, but until they can resist the craving to herd together , I fear they will never experience greatest enjoyment from the open air. To appreciate anything in its full significance, whether a book or a picture, a musical composition or a rolling landscape, we must be in harmony with it from the start; the senses must be attuned to it. To appreciate the meaning of a kindly gesture, or a quiet smile, we must first of all understand perfectly; the heart must be in sympathy. If the appeal be to the senses , then we may share the experience with others, if it be the emotions, we are best left alone. A discordant note in a quiet place is sacrilege ; the hills have a message for the soul, but we shall not hear it if we are one of many. There are times for for companionship, times for solitude. It is tragic to be solitary on the dance floor, equally tragic to be in a crowd on a hill top".
I will reproduce the text below...(written 1938 )
"The village of Stainforth, which I had not visited before, made a most pleasing picture, and might have tempted me to halt there a while. But on turning the corner, I came across the bicyles. Not a dozen, but hundreds, lining the roads on both sides of the tearoom, from which issued bedlam. I can't understand why cyclists are so noisy, but they invariably are. A pity , because there is much to admire in them. They have the right idea, but until they can resist the craving to herd together , I fear they will never experience greatest enjoyment from the open air. To appreciate anything in its full significance, whether a book or a picture, a musical composition or a rolling landscape, we must be in harmony with it from the start; the senses must be attuned to it. To appreciate the meaning of a kindly gesture, or a quiet smile, we must first of all understand perfectly; the heart must be in sympathy. If the appeal be to the senses , then we may share the experience with others, if it be the emotions, we are best left alone. A discordant note in a quiet place is sacrilege ; the hills have a message for the soul, but we shall not hear it if we are one of many. There are times for for companionship, times for solitude. It is tragic to be solitary on the dance floor, equally tragic to be in a crowd on a hill top".
