The Jubilee has taught London once more that in the
matter of street decorations art—apart from flood- lighting—cannot hold a candle to Nature. For a demon- stration of that it is only necessary to drive for a mile south of Hammersmith Bridge. Hammersmith, I believe, has eschewed all official decoration. As a consequence, there is nothing to mar the fresh green of the trees that line Castelnau to the border of Barnes—where the banners and bunting begin. Barnes has done its best. It can claim to lead in loyalty (I pass no judgement on the claim) if Hammersmith in spite of itself leads in beauty. It is no more tawdry than Regent Street— except where some magnificent displays of plants and flowers in Nash's great thoroughfare demonstrate once more how cheap and tawdry Venetian banners and festoons of bunting are. In either case the greenery beats the banner all the time.
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