244 " The Doctrine of Pythagoras" 



Walton's, thirteen miles from Nashville. 

 The hospitable landlord, Isaac Walton, 

 upon setting out early the next morning, 

 refused to take anything for my fare; 

 saying, " You seem to be travelling for the 

 good of the world, and I cannot, I will 

 not charge you anything; whenever you 

 come this way, call and stay with me 

 you shall be welcome." This is the first 

 instance of such hospitality which I have 

 met with in the United States.' 



" On this passage the American Re- 

 viewer observes : 



" ' Upon reading this note, our faith in 

 the doctrine of Pythagoras grew strong. 

 Can it be that the soul of that gentle 

 parent of the angle, old Izaak Walton, in 

 winging its terrestrial flight from the 

 margin of the sea, found a kindred tene- 

 ment in mine excellent host of Tennessee ? 

 We fear poor Wilson never luxuriated 

 over the verdant pages of that golden 

 book, The Compleat Angler, or he 

 would have anticipated our passing tribute 

 to its author. We too had, peradventure, 

 died in ignorance, had it not been pointed 

 out to us by the venerable author of The 

 Man of Feeling, himself a brother of the 

 gentle craft. We recall the era of the event 

 as one of the greenest spots both in our 

 literary and piscatory existence, and have 



