116 AN ANGLER AT LARGE 



Weary Willies is not, then, an essential feature 

 of the good fisherman, but there is no doubt that 

 these exquisites are not common objects of the 

 river bank. There seems to be some subtle rela- 

 tion between ancient clothes and angling, for, 

 though I may go to extremes, I resemble far more 

 the composite which would be obtained by photo- 

 graphing any dozen of anglers than do those 

 immaculate sportsmen. As a class we are un- 

 careful of our appearance, preferring comfort and 

 freedom from anxiety to the neatest exterior, 

 and as a class we suffer accordingly but do not 

 suffer from the flouts of the uninstructed. 



My own experience, then, is probably typical, 

 and our fraternity is derided, which is not as it 

 should be. Now, like all anglers who do their 

 business in water-meadows, I must needs wear 

 waders, or a rheumatic old age awaits me. Gum 

 boots would be a concession to waggonette preju- 

 dices, but gum boots were invented by the devil 

 as a special counterblast to the Second Command- 

 ment, and the devil does quite well enough as it 

 is. Waders involve big socks, and big socks can 

 only be worn inside brogues. The result is 

 lumbering, but, after all, gum boots, even if one 

 conceded, are only a shade less bulky. A broad- 

 brimmed hat, again, is essential to comfort in 

 bright as in rainy weather. A stream can only 



