18 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON ANOLINO. 
solid pleasures of this life, until, by the fatigues and perplexi- 
ties of business, they are better fitted for the grave, than for 
any proper and healthy recreation. 
An eminent divine and sound philosopher of this city, in 
a discourse a short time since, remarking on the habits of the 
people of this country, said: “that they always seemed to be 
in a state of perpetual excitement — one continual hurry and 
bustle ; and that it would not be surprising to him to see half 
of the population of New-York fall down in its streets in epi- 
leptic fits; and that chronic diseases, in most cases caused by 
excessive mental excitement, close application, and want of 
air and proper exercise, were fearfully on the increase.” 
Walton says, “And for you, that have heard many grave 
and serious men pity anglers, let me tell you sir, there be 
many men that are by others taken to be serious and grave 
men, which we contemn and pity. Men that are taken to be 
grave because nature hath made them of a sour complexion — 
money-getting men — men that spend all their time first in 
gelling, and next in anxious care to keep it — men that are 
condemned to be rich, and then always busy or discontented ; 
for these poor rich men, we anglers pity them perfectly, and 
stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think ourselves 
so happy.” No, troth, we should be very sorry to borrow 
anything from persons of this stamp, much less their thoughts, 
the poorest things probably by far in their possession. Good 
Isaac, verily thou didst know human nature ! 
It is true, as Walton has remarked, that many have ridi- 
culed this noble science and pitied its followers ; but let those 
whose extreme and somewhat morbid sensibilities have ren- 
dered them blind to the beauties of nature, remember that he 
“ who went about doing good,” chose a number of his apostles 
from among fishermen, and considered them worthy objects 
of his confidence and love. 
It seems, in fine, a work of supererogation to attempt to 
