200 THE WAY OF A TROUT WITH A FLY 



most punishing way; but the first-rate fragility, with the 

 inexhaustible courage of the cane, works sweetly and 

 easily from day's beginning to day's end. As an American 

 friend of mine puts it: " You may hurt it if you run into a 

 wall with it, or if you run a taxi over it, but short of that 

 you cannot damage it." 



There is just one thing more to be said. The choice of 

 a rod is a matter in which temperament should be taken 

 into account. A man of quick, impatient temperament 

 should use a rod of slower action than would be suitable 

 for a man of steadier nerve and phlegmatic disposition. 



