The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-30

Gen. Harrison, Like Many If His Predet

Gen. Harrison, Like Many Of His Predeces-
sors, Believes In the Diversion Of Angling.
Brooklyn Eagle.
a good fisherman is seldom o bad man. This
glorious Yankee nation ought TO rejoice, there
fore, in the liking for rod and reel, for hook,
line and sinker displayed by Gen. benjamin
Harrison. Before the Presidsnt-eleet became
the NOMINEES of his party his p%snchant for the
pleasures OF the waterside was considered or
little consequence. When by the action OF his
fellow Republicans he rose at a single bound 10
continental prominence. his personal character
istics became a matter OF universal attention
Those who watched with thoughtful vigil 20
ascertain the manner Of man he was were reas-
sured when he journeyed to Middle Bass island
and dropped his bait into the pellucid waters or
Putin bay. They knew then that he was q
believer in the the noble sport which, when ra-
tionally pursued, benefits both mind and body.
To what extent his experience on Lake Erie
enabled him TO sustain the riEors of the canvass
perhaps the General alone can bear testimony
but there is little reason to doubt that the diver
sion OF angling helped him wonderfully. What
greater relief could be found from the clnmor
of the opposition and the explosive enthusiasm
OF mis- own starspaugled following than the
wholesome and Innocent pastime to which.
during q portion of the summer. he DEVOTED
himself2
To venture the opinion that General Harrison
enjoyed his visit to Middle Bass island would
be perfectly safe. That angling has lost none
of its charms for him is evident from the fact
that on Saturday last he renewed his attentions
10 the fnny tribe. Accompanied by "a bosom
crony" or two, be went out 10 White river, near
Indianapolis. and attacked the festive black bass
with his customary epirlt. There is no hsn
more gamy than the black bass. He is as
elusive as a struggling sunbeam. and as full OK
courage and tenacity as a Kentucky moon
sinner" But General Harrison proved himself
as expert in catching fisn as heihas been in capt
uring voters, so that when he returned to town
In had N dn1an fpn nm his SfrinQ
With characteristics modesty he disclaims
having caught all the bass himself. But while
he gives due credit to his companions there IS
no reason TO doubt he held his own, as ne has a
clever knack of doing on most occasions. Ii he
makes as successful q President as he does a
fisherman, the American people will have no
cause to complain.
General Harrison will not be the only Presi-
dent who has done credit 10 the office from the
f~shermen'ss standpoint. FromWa shington down.
most of our chief MAGISTRATES could sing, with
the philosophical Mr.. Walton:
in these fowery meads would be,
These crystal streams should solace me;
To whose harmonious, bubbling noise.
j, with my angle, would rejoice.
There is reason to believe that the earlier
Presidents, notwithstanding the arduous duties
OF the revolutionary period, were not sverse to
trying their luck in the rivers and brooks OF the
Old Dominion. That John Quincy Adams estsb-
lished an acquaintance with the fishes OF the
Potomac, wherein he used to battle st dawn ev-
cry morning during his term. is far from incred-
ible. What joys would life have offered to his
fiery successor if the purling streams about the
Hermitage had been stripped OF trout 1t is
reasonable to believe that the elder Harrison
would not have beaten the willy politician of
Undertook in the hard cider year IL he had not
hsen the better angler of the two. Amid the
struggles of poverty Lincoln, the rail splitter,
and Garfield. the tow-boy, found time to
sound aquatic depths with what print
tive apparatus was at their disposal; and
who shall cay that they did not meet
with as good fortune as more pretentious
sportsmenl President Arthur. as We know,
was a famous Fisherman. Whether in COM
pany with the striped bass at Cuttyhunk. the
muscslonge in Canadian wilds or the speckled
beauties of our own insular trout ponds. he was
always perfectly az home. Last but not least
of all, as General Harrison would concede, Pres
ident Cleveland is an artistic angler. His
slaughter of blue fish off Fire island last sum
mer WAS the wonder OF all the denizers OF the
Great South bay. In the Adirondacks his repu-
tation is so widespread that lake trout. %pickerel,
pike, perch and sinners wiggle out Of the
water at his approach and surrender at discre-
tion.
Mighty, indeed. is the successful fisherman.
But mightier still is the sportsman who always
tells the truth. II there is one field more than
another that allures TO inveracity it is that
In which the angler disports himself.
Moralists have never offered an adequate ex-
PLANTATION of the phenomenon. But it is unhap-
PLY the fact that too many fishers are given
over to mild prevarication. Pride is undoubt-
eddy at the bottom of it all. The average citizen
is no fonder of getting beaten in fishing than he
Is in his Judgment on q horse-race or a baseball
match. Whatever the risk, he is bound to make
q record" Even il the resources of Fulton
Market or some other piscicnltural emporium
have to be called into requisi,iop, he is averse to
going homo with an empty basket. General
Harrison, We are persuaded. is not this kind OF
a man. His modest claim of a dozen fnny
victims, divided between himself and his
companions. will be accepted by his con-
stituents from Florida 10 Oregon. They
will rejoice in the conviction that he Is not only
an able nanipulator of the rod, but that he in
dulges in no vainglorious boastings. That Gen
eral Harrison will always enjoy "fshermen's
luck is the hope of his fcllow-citizens without
distinction Of party. If he is the level-headed
gentleman that his country believes him to be
he will take his tackle with him to the capital.
Then, when the strife of faction rises high and
the horde of spoilsmen swoop down in endless
array, he can silently steal away to the Sc
clusion of some remote mountain brook and con-
sole himself with the reflection that
Here are no entrapping bats
TO hasten to, too hasty fates;
Unless it be
The fond credulity
OF silly fish, which {worldling-like) still look
Upon the bait. but never on the hook.