The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-06

Relics of WaItou's Early Haunts,
His Old Time Presence Still a Mem
DRY Haloupou the Streams and Wales
of Hamsphire- His Grave in Win
chester Cathedral.
Copyright 1897
London. July - No single work writ
ten within the last $50 years has had uni
versallv so wholesome influence as Izaak
Waltou's Complete Angler" and ] can
call to mind no other writer who has,
during the same period, through his
sweet and calm personality and work, so
held, if often unwittingly and unrealized,
what may be termed the literary con-
science of mankind so tenderly close to
the tranquilizing touch Of natures out
stretched tender hand.
This is not only fact Of excellent Gig
nifcance as showing the value and perma-
nency of purity and simplicity in all art,
but it is a tribute to the healthfulncss of
motive in sought.for source Of inspiration
by literary people; and its accuracy is
easily shown if need be, IN an impressive
manner by citation, contrast and ilustra-
ton from the best known literature be
tween Walton's time and this. In many
instances it has been clearly acknowledged
by literary men themselves. In others,
the Identification is so clear and true as
10 admit of no possible doubt. The
frankest. though still Indirect, and the
most clearly traced Indebtedness Of this
prompting influence to nature-lOving in
those whose genius transmits the same
lovable quality to others, is made by that
master of English prose, Washington
Irving.
While under the spell of Walton he be
came for then once an angler. Al hooked
myself" he charmingly confesses. in
stead of the fish tangled my line in every
tree; lost my bait; broke my rod; until
gave up the attempt in despair, and
passed the day under the trees, reading
old Izaak; satisfied that it was his charm
ing vein of honest simplicity and rural
feeling that had bewitched me- and not
the passion of angling" We are GER
tainly largely indebted to this bewitch-
meut by Walton of Irving for that ram
bling, nature-commming mood whence
was filtered through his loving fancy
the folklore of the legend-haunted Hud-
son, and gave the sweetest and best OF all
his work in those tender tales of the
Sketch-BOok
No. less mdeniably, and far more CON
sciously and direct, has Wordsworth,
himself divine interpreter of natures
hottest moods and influences, paid tribute
to WaltOn's power for purest inspiration
He tells us Of meek Waltons heavenly
memory one of the most beautiful OK
pressions of praise and reverence to be
found in our language: and in the same
tribute to Walton's Lives of Hooker. San
dersOn. WootOn Dome and George Her
bert, Wordsworth again brgsts forth in
this Incompatible strain of euloRy
There are no colors in the fairest sky
So fair as these. The feather, whence the
Was shaped that traced the lives Of these good
men.
Dropped from an angels wing.
Pages could be filed with most briefly
noted admissions by the immortals of the
gentle anglers subtle power to draw them
to the everything fountain of purity,
simplicity and truth. Justly then, Izaak
Walton and his work must be framed in a
different perspective than that of their
commonly cCeptCd setting He must not
be merely regarded as "honest Izaak Wall
ton, father of the gentle art of angling. "
There We're able writer's before his time
upon this engaging diversion. Most of
what he wrote, as purely instructive has
been more than half century out of date.
One must be more than a deft and success
full angler to be a disciple of Walton and
tins truly lOVable epithet is almost
universally misappGed I would say then
thatthe name and fame fIzaak Walton I'm
crease with the centuries because a truly
good and sweetly pious life with "A glori-
GUS genius constantly shine clearer and
brighter through his Incompatible pages
into our later and better understandings.
His ''Complat Angler" which it must be
remembered is also the "Contemplative
Mans Recreation" is an imperishable
shrine in the world of letters because,
after the Bible, il is the most perfect
guide to the worship of nature and ma
lures God together to which we have ac-
cess. And being 50 disciple of Walton
must come to mean not merely one who
can land trout or grayling prettily, but
that one who, in any vocation or avoca-
ton, is heart and soul attuned to the
God-sent harmonies of nature through
the measureless peace OF pure and perfect
life.
With this spirit of loving remembrance,
quest of the olden haunts of Walton be-
comes almost a reverential pilgrimage.
Ia half months time it win be 300 years
since his birth, August 8, 1898, in Stat
fordshire; about go years since actual
knowledge of his existence as 4
"sempster" or linen draper in the Royal
Burse, CornhilI, where the Royal Elk.
change now stands, was made matter OF
record, by deed; and just 240 years since
the first sale lat eighteen pence price
by Richard MerrlOt IN st. Duustan s
church yard. Fleet street, of copies of the
first edition of the "Compleat Angler. -
The London, indeed one might say the
England of that time is no more Loiter
and delve as one may about
old Fleet Street and Chan.
Gerry Land, there is not a single
existing reminder of Walton and his
time. So far as / am able to discover IL
the entire worlds metropolis there is but
one. That is the initials and date, Il
W., 1858, on the stone tablet to Isaac
Casaubon in Westminster Abbey's south
transpet. 1t was scratched there by
Walton himself, and is a dissertation
now cherished by all Britain. Who
would ever glance at the pages of Gas
aubonianaN to-day, OF remember thai
James j made Casaubon prebendary Of
Westminster and Canterbury, save fol
this silent token Of Izaak Waltons re-
gard
The scene of the Angler" lies directly
north of London along the river Lea. be
tween Tottenham and Hartford; and Il
was no small walk from Walton's shop il
Chancery Lane to his favorite haunts be
side this stream. The river itself has il.
rise in Bedfordshire, still north of Hert
fOrdshire, in the marsh called Luigray,
or Loagrave, from whence the Saxon,
borrowed its denomination, - as the ole
writer Chauncy relates 1t pursuos
sinuous course through richly wooded
and meadOwed parishes and such chic
towns of HaptfOrChirn nc Rroy boryrr, q,