OUR CLOSING DAF. 243 



the year opened, although both were merry and hale on 

 that I St of April expedition by the waterside. Though 

 their places have been filled, our departed friends are not 

 forgotten ; on the contrary, as we stand in informal groups 

 around the fire, awaiting the expected summons, their 

 good qualities are lauded and their skill is sadly remem- 

 bered. 



In due time the cloth is removed, and preparations are 

 made for " a night of it." We are very old-fashioned and 

 conservative here, as we have been any time these last fifty 

 years. A few of the very young brethren have incurred the 

 pity of the majority by drinking claret during the feast, and 

 they now are given up as hopeless because they produce 

 elegant cigar cases, and talk of Partagas and other fashion- 

 able brands. Rare old brown sherry, port with real bees' 

 wing, and ripe, fragrant Madeira have been circulated 

 amongst the veterans, and now nothing but the longest of 

 churchwarden pipes, artfully twisted spills quite a yard long, 

 tobacco on small trays, and an open line of ghmmering 

 night lights posted down the centre of the mahogany, with 

 mighty bowls of punch such as this generation seldom sees, 

 will satisfy the traditions of past gatherings, and the tastes 

 of present feasters. 



We are very practical. The president raps the table with 

 an ivory mallet and says " Gentlemen, ' The Queen.' " 

 We rise and say " The Queen," sip, and sit again. " Gen- 

 tlemen, the secretary will make his annual statement," says 

 the president. Thereupon we are informed that the past 

 season, like the season before it, was a miserable time tor 

 anglers. Last year there was too much rain ; this year 

 there has not been enough. The fly-fishers who had 



