WHARFEDALE. 117 



perseveringly sat out the sectional gatherings ; had courage- 

 ously endeavoured to follow dissertations on dirt, dust, and 

 brickbats ; had pretended to be interested in discussions on 

 shoddy, in the homologues of oxalic acid, thermal conduc- 

 tivity, protoplasm, the electrical phenomena which accom- 

 pany the contraction of the cup of Venus's fly-trap, hyper- 

 elliptic functions, and serpent worship in the pre-historic 

 era. 



These are serious subjects, and far be it from me to scoff 

 at the learned papers read to explain them. On the con- 

 trary I owe them a special vote of thanks, which I hereby 

 propose, second, and carry item, con., for the excellent pre- 

 paration they proved for the moment of release. Bradford 

 was eminently hospitable and pleasant during that British 

 Association visit, but there was one member, I can honestly 

 vouch, who joyfully rushed to the ticket office and booked 

 " straight away," as the railway porters have it, to Otley, 

 and who, putting away the spectacles and solemn de- 

 meanour that became a savant of the nineteenth century, 

 lit his meerschaum and began to overhaul his fly-book the 

 moment the train started. 



The Wharfe illustrates the old saying " Variety is charm- 

 ing," for it is a decided mixture of gentleness and anger. 

 You would scarcely fancy, standing on the handsome 

 bridge spanning it at Tadcaster, that the docile river which 

 here begins to be navigable is so obstreperous in the upper 

 part of the dale. The scenery of Lower Wharfedale is not 

 so striking as that which delights you as you push upwards, 

 but the grayling fishing is infinitely superior. Strolling 

 down stream on the right bank at Boston Spa, for example, 

 there is some open water that should be tried in passing. 



