Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-10

Special Correspondence OF tiazetteand journal
LONDON, July 26.-No single work
written within the last $50 years has
had universally so wholesome influence
ss lzaak Walton'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 conscience Of mankind SO ten
derby close to the tranquilizing touch of
natures outstretched tender hand,
This is not only fact of excellent
Significance as showing the value and
pefmanency of purity and simplicity in
all art, but it is tribute to the health
fulness of motive in sought-for source
fof inspiration by literary people; and its
accuracy is easily shown, if needs be,
in an impressive manner by citation,
contrast and illustration from the best
known literature between 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 to admit of no
possible doubt. The frankest, though
still indirect, and the most clearly traced
Indebtedness of this prompting influ-
ence 10 nature-loving in those whose
genius transmits the same lovable quality
to others, is made by that master of Eng
lish prose, Washington Irving.
While under the spell of Walton he
became for the nonce an angler. 81
hooked myself" he charmingly con-
fesses, "instead of the fish; tangled my
line on every tree; lost my bait; broke
my rod; until l gave up the attempt in
despair, and passed tho day under the
trees, reading old Izaak; satisfied that it
was his charming vein of honest sim
plicity and rural feeling that had be-
witched me; and not the passion for
angling" We are certainly largely in
debted to this bewitchment by Walton
of Irving for that rambling, nature
communing mood whence was filtered
through his loving fancy the folklore
of the legend-haunted Hudson, and
gave us the sweetest and best of all his
work in those tender tales Of the Sketch.
book.
No less undeniably, and far more con.
sciously and direct, has Wordsworth
himself divine interpreter of natures
hottest moods and influences, paid tri
butte to Walton's power for purest in
spiration. He tells us of "meek Wal
toms heavenly memory" one Of the
most beautiful expressions Of praise anC
reverence to be found in our language
and in the same tribute to Walton
Lives Of Hooker, Sanderson, Wooten
Donne and George Herbert, Words
worth again bursts forth in this incom
parable strain of eulogy:
There are no colors in the fairest sky
So fair as these. The feather, whence tn
pen
Was shaped that traced the lives of thes
good men,
Nropped from an angels wing.
Pages could be filled with most brief,
noted admissions by the immortals o
the gentle anglers subtle power to dray
them to the everything fountain O
purity, simplicity and truth. Justly
then, Izaak Walton and his work mus
be framed in different perspective tina
that of their commonly-accepted setting
He must not be merely regarded q
"honest Izaak Walton, father of til
gentle art of angling" There were abb
writers before his time upon this engal
ing diversion. Most of what he wrott
as purely instructive, has been MOI
than half a century out of date. On
must be more than deft and successfl
angler to be disciple of Walton, an
this truly lovable epithet is almost un
yersally misapplied. would say thel
that the name and fame of Izaak Wa
ton increase with the centuries becaui
truly good and sweetly pious life wit
a glorious genius constantly shir
clearer and brighter through his incon
parable pages into our later and bett,
understandings. His "Complete Angler
which it must be remembered is also u
"Contemplative Mans Recreation"
an imperishable shrine in the world
letters because, after the Bible, it is Il
most perfect guide to the worship of II
ture and natures God together to whit
we have access. And being "a discip
of Walton" must come to mean n
merely one who can land trout
grayling prettily, but that one who,
any vocation or avocation, is heart al
soul attuned to the God-sent harmoni
of nature through the measureless pea
Of pure and perfect life.
When this spirit of loving remel
brance, a quest for the olden haur
of Walton becomes almost a reyt
entail pilgrimage. In a half montl
time it will be 800 years since his Dirt
August 9th, 1898, in Staffordshire: abo
270years since actual knowledge of |
existence as a "sempster" or linen drar
in the Royal Burse, Cornhill, where t
Royal Exchange now stands, was ma
matter of record, by deed; and il
$40 years since the first sale Sat eighte
pence price" by Richard Merrot in
Dunstan's Church yard, Fleet street,
copies of the first edition of the 500
pleat Angler" The London, indeed o
might say the England, of that time
no more. Loiter and delve as one m
about old Fleet street and Chance
Lane, there is not single existing
minder of Walton and his time. So
as am able to discover in the ent
worlds metropolis there is but OF
That is the initials and date, II. Y
1885," on the stone tablet to Issao Case
bon in Westminster Abbey's sou
transept. 1t was scratched there
Walton himself, and is desecrati
now cherished by all Britain. w
would ever glance at the pages
"Casauboniana" to-day, or rememI
that James l. made Cassaubon prebei
airy of Westminster and Canterbu
save for this silent token of liza
Walton's regardP
The scene Of the "Angler" lies direc
north Of London along the River l.
between Tottenham and Hartford; a
1t was no small walk from Walto
shop in Chancery Lane to his favor
haunts beside this stream. The ri
itself has its rise In Bedfordshire, S
north of Hertfordshire, sin the ma
called Luigrave or Leagrave, fir
whence the Saxons borrowed Its
nomination" as the old writer Chaunt
relatea IL Dursues n sinuoua con