OF PATIENCE, AS IT TOUCHES ANGLERS 145 



sure I should never have the patience to fish," or, 

 "How can you find the patience to sit all day 

 with never a bite ? " It was then that I would 

 open out and talk to them of angling during the 

 rest of the dinner, which enabled them to listen 

 without inconvenience to all the other conversa- 

 tions of all the other guests. Had they listened 

 to me, they would have learned my reasons for 

 believing that patience is not an essential part of 

 the angler's equipment. But my words might 

 have unsettled their convictions, and no doubt 

 they did well to refuse me their attention, for 

 thoroughly to enjoy one's food one's convictions 

 must be founded on the rock. 



This one about the angler's patience is so 

 founded. Everyone holds it, except anglers, 

 and anglers more shame to them ! pretend to, 

 for in their hearts they know that it is false. Yet 

 so unwilling is man to forego an advantage, how- 

 ever acquired, that they do nothing to expose 

 the fallacy of the belief. When the non-angler 

 gives evidence of possessing it, the angler looks 

 smug, even agrees to the monstrous lie, bolsters it 

 up ; he has not the common honesty to disclaim 

 the virtue that is attributed to him. This is not 

 as it should be. 1 propose to demonstrate the 

 impatience of fishermen. 



At once the pole-fisher will be adduced. " If 



