IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



the remote extremes; pervades that broad 

 region where knowledge, falling short of 

 wisdom, serves but to stiffen prejudice, 

 teaches neither sympathy nor humility, 

 breeds a cocksureness that some tiny frac- 

 tion is the whole truth. Montaigne, of 

 this day no less than his own, insists on be- 

 ing cited — but had not he and my friend, 

 each by his own road, attained what they 

 were envying? — 'The simple peasants are 

 good people, and so are the philosophers; 

 men of strong and clear reason, and whose 

 souls are enriched with an ample instruc- 

 tion of profitable sciences. The Mongrels 

 who have disdained the first form of ignor- 

 ance of letters, and have not been able to 

 attain to the other (sitting betwixt two 

 stools, as I, and a great many more of us do) 

 are dangerous, foolish, and importunate; 

 these are they that trouble the world'. 



Of the old life at Murray Bay, little then 

 remains. Few come to boat, bathe, drive, 

 ride, walk, out of love for the people, or to 

 rid themselves awhile of the coils of 

 convention (from which Americans break 

 reluctantly) and yet the press of visitors 

 ever increases. Wherein lies the secret? 



Much is unchanged, unspoiled. Hill 

 and river are as they were in the begin- 

 64 



