26 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



Dyke's plenitude of happy phraseology the inti- 

 mate study of stream insect-life and the pretty art 

 of the tying of artificial flies in imitation of these 

 ephemera, in particular, constitute a very soul-satis- 

 fying diversion and accomplishment. But having 

 already discussed this elsewhere, it is the writer's 

 present paramount purpose to enlighten those who 

 would add to their accustomed enjoyment of the 

 sport the pleasures of craftsmanship involved in the 

 construction of the angler's chief implement of his 

 art, that magic wand, his rod. 



When touching upon this phase of the subject even 

 a professional rod-maker needs must lean to poesy 

 in order to explain adequately why the rod plays the 

 most important part in the angler's equipment, as 

 witness this extract from a trade catalog: " Its de- 

 velopment to the present state of perfection has 

 heightened the enjoyment of the sport to a degree 

 far beyond any that was attainable by the angler of 

 the olden time. The ecstatic period of supreme sen- 

 sation which is peculiarly the angler's inspiration and 

 delight was formerly of short duration, and often 

 with inglorious ending. Not so today, for the mod- 

 ern rod has made it possible for the entrancing thrill 

 that comes to him through the titillation of the elbow 

 by the vibratory connection of his hand and arm with 

 a gamy fish at the other end of a rod and line, to be 

 long drawn out, with intensely stimulating variations, 

 in a contest calling into play the highest qualities of 



