Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-08-05

The distinction between classes and
masses was immeasurably closer drawn
in England IN Waltons Time than now.
Few laymen, and particularly few trades.
men, enjoyed even ordinary familiarity
with men Of consequence Ia church and
state. In this respect Walton was an
extraordinary exception. All authorities
hold that no man OF bis time enjoyed so
lofty a personal regard among the
noblest and most famous men Of that
day Two facts contributed to this.
Though but a simple linen draper, the
graces OF his perfect life and the win.
some qualities OF his intellect aud heart
gave him not only the unqualified res
pect but the unlimited affection OF men
OF high degree.
Besides this, his relation by birth and
marriage made recognition Of his per.
sonaliiy and its logical result matter Of
natural sequence. Some biographers
believe his mother to have been a niece
OF Archbishop Cranmer. Ills first wife,
Rachel Floud, whom he married In 1926
and who died In 1910, was a gtcat.grand.
niece OF that prclaic His second wife
Anne Ken, whom he married IN 1910
and who died IN 1909, was a half sister
Of Bishop Thomas Ken, author OF the
Morning and Evening hymns, and ]
have seen memorial tablet TO her
memory, written by Walton himself, In
the Lady Chapel OF Worcester Cathc-
dal. His son, lzaak, became Canon
IN Salisbury Cathedral. where his re.
mains and those Of some OF his descend
ants now lie.
During many Of the later years Of
Waiton's life apartments we're constantly
reserved for him and his daughter Anne
at the episcopal residences Of Dr. Ward,
Bishop Of Salisbury. and DR.. Morley,
Bishop of Winchester. and the marriage
Of this daughter Anne to Or. Hawkins,
prcbendary OF Winchester Cathedral. In
whose house Walton died Dec. IS. 1854
ccntcred still closer to historic Wnchcs.
ter, for centuries the royal capital OF
England the closing memories OF
Waltun's peaceful, life; while the grand
old cathedral here became the good
mans tomb. Thus memorials IN three
OF England's noblcst ecclesiastical
structures preserve his glorious name.
Because these things about Walton
are nowhere collectively made concise
and clear. have dwct upon them here.
and delight also TO point out another
remarkable fact In his career illustrating
how the human intellect secures exlated
and powerful susteutation from pure and
equablt physical and moral life Walton
was sixty years OF age when his Com.
plcte Angler first appeared. Three Of
the rcma. kabIe series Of his Lives"
were first published alter he was seventy
years old. Aud at the age OF ninety,
when he wrote the preface to "Thealma
and ClcaIchus," pastoral poem by
John ChalkhIll, the mental powers oil
this noble man were clear aud strong
and whole. / believe there is not in the
whole range OF English literature so
luminous an example ~ sweet and pure
living, thinking and writing as that FUR
nishtd by the career aud work OF lzaak
Walton.
SO as the peaceful evening Of bis lie
was passed at Winchester the pilgrim
to Walton's hlun,s and shrine will find
in aud about the old cathedral town the
closest and tcnlcrcst ties OF presence
and memory, All through these lovely
Hampshire valleys arc the hIuuis OF his
hale aud calm OLD age The river Test
stealing out OF the Berkshire moors and
the river ltchcn cleaning between the
chalk hills of Humps to murmur through
the old cathedral Town, both reach the
sea NJ Southampton Water. In all their
lovely way from the north arc countless
deups and shadows where the gentle
angler came. Every messy old mill,
every fluwcrcmbOwcrei Stealing, every
slumberous old inn, every quaint old
parish church, every ripping ford.
silent pool and ancient bridge, every
hall and castle, and almost every river.
side cottage along these streams has
rs loving legend of the good old man
who traus.usgd the sweetness Of his life
into the murmum OF the waters, the
odors Of the blossoms, the melody OF
the birds and the very sunlight npon
these Hampshire hills and mcads and
streams
And when you have come to the
noble cathedral wherein he lies, II Is not
the tombs OF kings and preIates that
hold your rapt attention. The bones OF
grim William Rufus, Of kynegiIs. Of
Adolphus, Of Egbert, Of Kenuph, OF
Canute and that spotless queen who
trnd the fiery ploughshares unscathed,
are an lying within their sepulchers near
where the light Of the marvellous altar
white is halhed IN the great east win.
duws mellowed rose. But YOU turn
aside from mighty mortulry chest and
glorious vllgy To- the little chapel Of
Prior SiIksicdc, II Is here YOU will love
TO sit aud muse and dream. For here
the morning sunlight always comes and
altering through the tiny panes Of the
ancient cathedral windows Il always
seems to leave n radiant glow and
endless blessing upon the slab that
covers the grave OF gentle lzlak
Walton.
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.