THE TURN OF THE YEAR 



WINTER is a time of suspended animation 

 for the lover of streams and running 

 water. For a dry-fly fisher especially, if the 

 little infirmities coming with advancing age 

 prevent him from enjoying a grayling day 

 after the last glories of autumn have passed 

 away. 



In the words of that delightful poem of 

 Edward Fitzgerald's with which Mr. E. V. Lucas 

 begins his Open Road : 



When such a time cometh, 



I do retire 

 Into an old room 



Beside a bright fire, 



and settle the affairs of the nation with that 

 mighty weapon, the fountain-pen of the arm- 

 chair critic. Some day, real life will return ; 

 to quote again from the same source : 



