158 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



" Nature hath endless aspects : to the angler 

 She doth her beauties and her glories all unfold ; 

 A magic light rests upon land and sea, 

 And all her brooks are silver, all her sunshine gold." 



What angler's heart does not beat more quickly at the 

 joyous announcement of the opening day of the t routing 

 season ? He will find, upon asking himself seriously, be he 

 rich or poor, learned or ignorant, that no announcement of 

 any other recreation so thrills his heart. The emotion caused 

 by the school-master when he used to say "boys may go 

 out," or "there will be a vacation until next Monday," is 

 quadrupled and sublimated by the permission given from a 

 higher sphere, as if Heaven said "boys may go out." Go 

 forth from your counting-houses, your mephitic offices, your 

 workshops, for it is the opening day of the treating season ! 



"With Winter's frown let sadness cease, 



And cankering care, 

 And o'er the brow sweet smiles of peace 



Wreathe garlands fair ; 

 From joyous Nature catch the smile, 

 And every weary hour beguile 



From care and pain 

 Join, join with bird and flowing stream 

 In shouting forth the rapturous theme, 



'Tis Spring again, 



'Tis Spring again !" 



Who can forget the angling of old at Oba. Snedicor's ? The 

 late Daniel Webster used to be there on the opening day of 

 the trouting season, and so did many of our truly great men. 

 It was there that John Stephens was advised to sail his yacht 

 in the regatta in England, which resulted in his winning the 

 race. But the Snedicor Preserve is now in different hands. 

 A close club of wealthy and intellectual sportsmen own it, 

 and they have rendered it worthy of its name, the " South- 

 side Club." 



The light, artistic character of the fly-fisher's tackle proves 

 him a disciple of the fine arts, though translating their spirit 

 into graceful action. 



