202 PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 



and ornamentations of artificial life, would speedily 

 weary of the cloud-capped mountain, the shadow 

 of the woods, the melody of the singing waters, 

 the cheery abandon of camp-life, the informal 

 and unostentatious courtesy and pleasant conversa- 

 tion of the " simple wise men " who find delecta- 

 tion in these quiet places. Every angler has mel- 

 ancholy memories of this fact the recollection 

 of many spoiled vacations by reason of the uncon- 

 genial companionship of " dear friends " who had 

 mistakenly fancied that what gave pleasure to 

 others could not fail to contribute to their own 

 happiness. But on trial, instead of pleasure they 

 found only ennui y and by their evident discom- 

 fort they rendered every one about them as miser- 

 able as they were themselves. And this, not be- 

 cause they were not au fait in all the courtesies 

 and proprieties of social life, nor yet because they 

 were indifferent to the happiness of others, but 

 simply because their tastes were not in harmony 

 with their surroundings, and so were disappointed 

 in the realization of their high anticipations. 



I would, therefore, recommend no one to seek 

 pleasure from a protracted sojourn in the woods, 

 either with rod or rifle, until he tests his tastes by 

 brief excursions. If he so enjoys a few days 

 " under canvas " that he longs for a repetition of 

 the pleasure, he may reasonably hope that a month 



