OF THE CRACKLING OF THORNS 119 



wisdom tells them that the things which they 

 do not understand are not necessarily to be de- 

 rided. And this is a good wisdom. 



I find that I have worked myself into something 

 like a heat over this matter of the non-angler's 

 attitude towards fishing costumes. This was not 

 my intention. I am casting stones at a host of 

 good people kind fathers, devoted mothers, 

 excellent sons, brothers, daughters, sisters, self- 

 denying aunts, bland, tip-bestowing uncles. 

 Because they snigger at an undoubtedly bizarre 

 get-up they are not therefore by me to be cen- 

 sured, for I have done the same. I have been 

 tickled in my time by a golfer's red jacket, but 

 that was before I learned the reason for it. Had 

 I known as I know now that it was worn as 

 a danger signal to persons who stroll on links that 

 they may keep out of earshot of the players, had 

 I known this I should have recognised the worth 

 of the coat, and my eyes would have been blind 

 to its comicality. Ignorance lay at the root of 

 my amusement. 



In the hope, then, of clearing away a cloud or 

 two from the perception of a few fellow-beings 

 I have written what I have written. I do not 

 hope for much result from my toil, but he is 

 a coward who spares himself trouble on so shabby 

 an excuse. And it may be that someone in some 



