in MAY-DAY ON THE EXE 41 



ceive, and to take advantage of, the dish of 

 cream which is one of its attractions. This 

 cream would lead the most dyspeptic into 

 error, but many things may be done and 

 eaten in Exmoor air which in London would 

 cause sorrow of heart and body. After his 

 tea he goes out and strolls up the village 

 street and lays out a small sum in procuring 

 a licence to fish, for even when you have 

 leave from the owners of the water you 

 must further arm yourself with a licence, 

 which is a thing worth knowing. Ignorance 

 of this necessity has led well-known people 

 into error and fines. The licence obtained, 

 his steps turn naturally and unbidden in the 

 direction of the principal bridge (the prettiest 

 village in Somerset has several bridges), and 

 there he meditates with his elbows on the 

 parapet and his pipe going sweetly to his 

 satisfaction. 



The bridge-habit comes as easily to, and 

 sits as gracefully upon, the angler as the 

 oldest inhabitant. Indeed, unless he is at 

 times given to meditating on bridges, I 

 doubt if he is a true angler at all. In 

 Somersetshire they know how to build 

 bridges, with well - dispositioned parapets, 



