The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-04-18
For the Free Trader
Hints 10 Representatives,.

| When we reflect that business men gener-
ally are set Of hungry, sallow faced fellows,
the question naturally arises why is this
thusly? Our observation satisfies US that
eight out Of every ten of this class of persons
scarcely ever indulge in any kind Of recrea-
ton. They delve and dig and dig and delye
from the commencement to the end of every
year, until at length they reach the point where
it becomes necessary to visit some hot or
cold springs away off in Michigan, Missouri
or some other place to repair their wrecked
constitutions. Here in the city of Ottawa
are scores of business men, who, by too close
duplication to their business and total aver
sion to any kind of physical recreation, have
approached very close 10 that point, when
they, by straining their vision little, can
see if not almost feel the DAISIES growing over
them Total inattenton and neglect Of their
physical wants for many years is telling fear.
fully on them. If these men Will look around
them they Can see grand field in which to
make reparation to the offended laws Of ma
ture. The bright surface OF the two bcauti,
full rivers mirror their places Of business. On
these waters boat may be propelled by
means Of oars each morning and evening. \
long belt of timber skirts the banks Of the
Illinois river, in which turks the nimble
squirrel, fierce raccoon, blithe chipmuck and
deceptive possum. Pigeons, hawks, crows,
owls, buzzards and other members Of the
feathery tribe are there. Duck, brant, geese
and crane can Jc secured within half days
ride of our city; while fish swarm in the riy-
ers and are aching to be caught. We have
often heard those bloodless, yellow skinned,
! freckcd faced fellows sheer at the man who
with minnow pail on his arm and fish pole
over his shoulder strikes out boldly and fear
lessly on foot for the dam; and we have seen
their marrowless jaws drop with surprise
when he returned with goOdly string OF
| fully developed suckers or Whereabouts. Now,
my skeptical, lantern jawed friends, 20 with
us a moment and We will show you how it is
done Behold yonder angler seat himself on
rock Just below the Illinois dam and care.
| fully aillX minnow on his hook by passing
the hook in Al the minnowS mouth, out Of his
gill aud hook through the back under the
back lin, and then by light toss out goes The
tempting halt into the surging, boiling, foam
ing current and the angler with fixed mus
cles, set teeth, disended nostrils and protrud
Ing eye balls, watches his line. After a shor
time he lifts the pole, sees the minnow is al
right and losses him out again. Five min
ulcs pass, the sixth minute is going when thu
line lightcns. lie gives the line little jerl
and finds he has hooked fish. Now theT
look ont for business The angler springs tC
his feet, he pulls in little just TO estimate
the weight OF his prize and determine how
much caution is necessary TO secure HIM. Bl
tlIi, time the fish has concluded 10 go away
from there and accordingly whiz goes TIT
line through che water Now is the crltica
moment; see how the line plays OIL from th'
reel now II slackonS and the line Is slowly
and cautiously wound up; again away soc:
the fish and the line plays out and perhap:
this will be repeated many times, but a
J length in comes the fish and Tie fisherman
smiles and puts him on the bank and says
! what a brave boy am /. And there he sit
and fishes all day long, and when nigh
comes he goes home happy and hungry. TIT
season of fishing is then and now the tim,
% for recreation. Don't drive 10 the fshin:
grounds, 90 afoot, and when you get there don
f hire boy TO hold up the fish pole, but do |
r. yourself Go out and hunt snipe, quail &c.
b shoot mud turtle OF from a chunk; try t.
break into somebody's house; any thing t
send a little blood to the cheeks and set th
;. muscular machinery again in motion, an'