26 The Angler's Secret 



necessary for the rod handler who would 

 become an adept, but these duties are not 

 tedious. The beginner may enjoy his 

 first trip as much as any that may suc- 

 ceed it. 



Earnestness is all that is required at the 

 start ; the play comes natural to all who 

 encourage true effort when afield or afloat. 



The experienced angler knows that the 

 cause of the young person's failure to do 

 well in his early practice with the rod is 

 the desire to hurry the play, under the 

 impression that pleasure cannot be had 

 unless the creel be filled on the first out- 

 ing and on every outing thereafter. 



To master picture painting one would 

 not be expected to produce a perfect 

 work in oil at the first attempt ; indeed, 

 he would be fortunate if he learned how 

 to mix his colors and hold his brush cor- 

 rectly in the first half-dozen attempts. 

 Is there no joy in the saddle until we be- 

 come wonderful horsemen? Is there no 

 pleasure in feeding until we are gorged? 



