34 A HANDY GUIDE TO DRY-FLY FISHING. 
master of the art, I must hand you on — as the old 
pcedagogus used to do — to Mr. Halford. Even he, 
however, cannot do for you what experience will. 
You remember the sentence of your Delectus — 
“ Experientia docet.” In every art as well as in 
philosophy the words of Tennyson are profoundly 
true — 
“ Others’ follies teach us not, 
Nor much their wisdom preaches, 
But most of sterling worth is what 
Our own experience teaches.” 
And now, my disciple, I bid you farewell. May 
you become (which is very likely) a better dry-fly 
fisherman than your preceptor ! for a man may be 
even erudite in his knowledge of any art, and yet 
be a comparatively indifferent artist himself. A 
Ruskin can write better on the philosophy and even 
technicality of art than a Millais, yet the latter may 
be the superior painter. So in fishing : the know- 
ledge of the art by no means implies superior 
handicraft in its exercise. However, when, some 
sunny day in June, say three years hence, you have 
taken your M.A. as Master of this Art, and sit, sub 
tegmine fagi, taking your lunch by the side of some 
clear, sweet murmuring stream, with a couple of 
brace of trout bejewelling the grass at your feet, 
you will look back with gratitude to my unpre- 
tending little Primer, and — will recommend it to all 
whose enjoyment in their recreative hours you wish 
to promote. 
THE END. 
