Andromeda Bound
THAT public-spirited, quick-wittei and, to our shame, sadly under-financed body, the Design and Industries Association, has stepped aside from its specific function of awakening the manufacturers of this country to the need of more seemly and effective planning of the things they make to take a hand in the happily growing movement for saving the English heritage of beauty. It is the custom of the English to defer the serious consideration of a problem till it is well nigh insoluble. The object of this copiously and adroitly illustrated Year-Book, with its pointed, witty and justifiably bitter comments, is to stir the blood of those of us who think (and those of us who don't think) that it is worth while helping in this rescue of the British Andromeda from the octopus of unconsidered building development, the dragon of ill-regulated advertisement and the loathly worm of litter.
" Our aim," say the self-effacing editors, H. H. P. (a valiant Perseus, already honourably known for his zeal and courage in this great matter), and N. L. C. (a doughty squire), " . . has been to stimulate public interest in . . . the beauty of our country and the seemliness of our civilization. It seemed to us that the best method of approach was to let photographs speak very largely for themselves ; the bad examples illustrating the civilization we seem to be heading for, and the good examples pointing to a better way. We believe that the new revolution resulting from motor trans- port and electricity must radically alter the face of the land. We do not believe, however, that these changes must neces- sarily leave a trail of ugliness, unless we have learnt nothing from the mistakes of a generation which bequeathed us the Black Country, the slums and the Albert Memorial." Perhaps that Albert Memorial reference is a mistake, detracting from the high seriousness and inevitable rightness of the general attitude which is not a matter of taste or fashion but of order, sanity, efficiency and genuine spiritual values. But there is little else to find fault with in the plan and temper of this book.
If only the book could be put firmly but kindly into the hands of all those sellers of tea, cocoa, cigarettes, matches. newspapers, distemper, pills, oil, tyres, cycles, lodging and what not, whose urgent appeals flash and clamour through the lovely countryside (and in many inappropriate places in our towns and cities) I Would they not rise and determine to be better men ? Probably not. But this must not be put down to mere greed and callousness. Advertising in unseemly places is, as so many bad things are, mainly an effect of fear—fear of the other fellow. If I don't advertise here, my rival will. If he has already done so, then I must follow in self-defence—a vicious circle that can only be broken by general agreement and self-denying ordinance, a thing notably difficult in this land of freedom and highly developed individualism. Hence the need of legislation which would indeed be definitely welcomed by many who are now the worst offenders.
Another admirable class of citizen would benefit by this significant_ tract for the times—our urban and rural district councillors._ Could they fail to see what a splendid trust they hold, and what sad havoc their apathy or insensitiveness may cause, and hai caused ? And what better thing could the Board of Education do, in pursuance of its high responsi- bilities, than put into the hands- of all its teachers—and of the masters of our liublic schools—a copy of this testament of beauty and seemliness, so that -they might pass the message on to their pupils and make them understand what a sorry place they will have to livein if their fathers and uncles are allowed to go on like this? Of course, the Board will not- do, has no power to do, any such sensible thing.
And honest, private citizens will be quickened *t_ii thought and action—including, I shouldhdire; that praid lady Who on Sunday morning last at 12.55 of the clock threw from her car a large blue envelope containing chocolates at the top of Davies Street. Heaven knows we' need such a book as this, and the editors and Mr. Crough whO as president of the DeSign and indatries Association 'has words of sound sense and stark blame to offer in his introduction, deserve our gratitude for their zeal, intelligence and dis-
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