Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-11-27

PluiArch informs us that no less cele-
tSrSfed lady than Cleopafra was votary
cf the angle and that she and Anthony
spent no inco1siderSble portion of theil
time i'm fishing matches SO keen at last
did their rivalry become that recourse was
had 10 srfiice i'm order to insure victory, nj
lcaSs by the mean spirited Antony. Vexed
n the superiority of the Queen in the art,
nc instructed divers TO take live fish and
place them cn his hook. They effected
this 50 cleverly that he pulled up fish after
FISH, and completely turned the tables on
mistress She pretended TO congratulate his
him on his good fortune and 10 admire his
dexierijy; but, by some means, had gained
knowledCs of the trick he had practised and
determined 20 have her revenge. Another
match was arranged, and in presence of a
large company of friends specially invited
20 witness il the fishing commenced.
Antony soon had n bite, struck, and pulled
up large salted fish, 10 his great disgust
and the intense amusement of all present.
The nfurler WAS out; Antonys trick was
exploded; for on this occasion a diver,
specially instructed by the Queen, had
anticipated the one employed hy Antony,
and had fixed the salt fish on his hook.
But though England cannot claim the
first lady anCler, il can claim a lady
rs the suthor Of the first book ever printed
on angling; for within she years of Caxton
issuing from his press at Westminster the
'>Dicios and Sayinges of the Philosophers, '
in l477; Wynken dc Worie published the
famous Books of IT. Adams" wherein
Dame JuliSna BeTnerS, the good and &C
compliShed Prio7eSs Of Sopwell, discourseS
On the dysporte of tySShyng." She was
probably lady angler herself, rs the very
fun instructions she gives in reference tc
the art Indicate that she must have haC
pTaCticl experience Of it /; but, however this
may De, she strongly commcnds the pas
time TO al that % viTtuouS, gentle and
frechorn." That angling was pursuit fol
lowed nv ladies after her time, and yet a
considerable number of years ago, may bt
gathered from a book on fishing published
IN l6s5. under the title of the Accom-
pliShed I-ady's Delight Edmund Waller,
the most charming song writer in the Eng
hSh language. and forever 10 be remem-
bcred as the author of the ode, ION q
Lady's Ginile," and himself, as lZaaR
Walton tells Us, "a lover of the angle, :
sang in praise Of lady anglers two centuries
AGO. But whether lady anglers in past
times were few or many, skillful or unSkill-
ful. enthusiastic or the contrary, certain il
Is thai now they muster strongly. Many
of them are very successful performers,
and the majority IS keen sportswomen aS
can well be imagined; indeed, when 6
lady takes thoroughly TO angling she gen.
orally becomes as ardently devoted to it aS
the most inveterate Waitonian of the othel
sex. Lady salmon fishers are now TO bt
found on most of the English, Scotch anG
Irish salmon rivers, lochs and lakes, anC
Norway is visited by them; while in Amer.
ica they whip freely the well stocked
waters Of various districts. Our trout
streams in all directions receive their atten
ton; they Try conclusions with the tenants
Of the pike preserves, and the humber
denizens Of our fresh waters have to sue
cumb TO their sk;n and perseverance,. True
that lady anglers have difficulties TO con-
tend with which men make but light of,
but these are overcome by various devices,
or lessened by their having some one of the
other sex in attendance upon them. Salmon
fishing is very hard work with the heavy
doSble- handed rods generally used, but fol
ladies lighter ones are specially made, and
the weekly records Of good FISH taken il
various waters show that with such tackle
they get quite their share