Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, No. 712 August 18, 1877

A group of travelers pauses at a pleasant seaside resort, admiring the bright sands and comfortable lodging, only to be confronted by a relentless plume of black smoke drifting from nearby factories and bottle‑works. The writer describes how this dense coal‑smoke smothers the sky, turning a scenic shoreline into a gaudy, polluted tableau, and laments the selfishness of those who sacrifice clean air for profit. The piece argues that the atmosphere belongs to everyone, and its contamination is a moral injury comparable to theft.

Extending the observation to England’s industrial heartlands, the author paints a picture of towns like Sheffield and Wigan blanketed in soot, where even the countryside is stained by ash and soot‑laden pasturage. He notes the paradox of progress—a chimney may be an architectural necessity, yet the unchecked emissions ruin fields, wool and the health of residents. The narrative calls for modest, sensible care to keep industry from choking the very environment that sustains it.