Ham Hall. 187 



But think of dear old Izaak and of his fishing ex- 

 cursions to this very spot. He actually stayed at our 

 inn ! He too is secure of his position as the author of 

 a classic for as long a time as we care to look forward 

 to. Is it not strange that no one has ever imitated this 

 man's unique style ? " God leads us not to heaven 

 by many nor by hard questions," says the fisherman, 

 and he knew a thing or two. There is a flavor about 

 him peculiarly his own, but especially rich when read in 

 this old inn, sacred to his memory. I enjoyed him with 

 a fresh relish during the few hours of Sunday which I 

 could devote to him, for there is a good sermon in many 

 a sentence of the " Complete Angler." Dear old boy, 

 your place in my library and in my heart too is secure. 



Ham Hall, near the inn, is the great place, and there 

 is a pretty little church within a stone's throw of it. 

 We walked over on Sunday morning and saw the squire 

 come into church with his family and take his seat among 

 his people, for I take it most of the congregation were 

 connected with the hall. The parson, no doubt, was the 

 appointee of the squire, and we tried to estimate the im- 

 portance of these two men in the district, their duties and 

 influence — both great — for to a large extent the moral 

 as well as the material well-being of a community in rural 

 England depends upon the character of the hall and par- 

 sonage. The squire was Mr. Hanbury, M.P., who cour- 

 teously invited our party to visit the hall after service, 

 and to stroll as we pleased through his grounds. He had 



