The record-union., 1893-08-05

DrOXDOurne, W are and Hatfield, and
from Tottenham lazily and sIimly tlows
down through east London under Lea
Bridge, Is split into black lagoons n the
foul Hackney marshes, and becomes a
muddy stream again as it passes between
Queen Matilda's Bridge and the noted
bridge OF Stratford-l le- Bow, the ancient
way into Essex. Then, a mere open
channel ST London sewage it forms the
various basins of the Lea Cut, Limehouse
Cut and Limehouse Basin OF Regents Ca
nal, and trailing to the west OF Stratford
and Barking marshes, the foulest-smell-
ing factory spot on the earths surface. en-
ters the Thames through the noisome
delta forming the Isle OF Dogs.
In Walton's time all this region was
country. 1t is one of she most unpleas-
ant experiences you can now know in
London to follow the Lea from the East
India Dock to Tottenham. The latter is
now part Of London, and one can only
with dlftculty see the way the gentle
angler came and as dimly imagine the
Iottenham of old, its then smart Eliza
DeLhan habltationS, and It's High Cross
where the characters in the "AngIer"
nrst met, and PiscatOr, OH his way to fish
the Lea at Ware that fine, fresh May
morning." makes the pleasant acquaint-
ance of Nenator and Auceps. The White
Swan Inn at Tottenham was the place
Where Walton tarried going TO and coming
from the River Lea. The last time | saw
1t 1t was half hidden from the High Road
and High Cross, tiny slumberous hostel
OF the long ago, white, succeed and
gabied, with patch of garden blossom
at its side and bit Of skittle alley be-
hind.
Just north of Tottcnham is Bleak Hall,
at a sleepy hamlet called Cooks Ferry,
to which Piscator led his companions of
the Angler" Walton's own picture of
the inn is pleasanter one than can now
De drawn: AN honest alehouse where
might be found a cleanly room, lavender
in the windows, and twenty ballads stuck
about the walls, with a hostess both
cleanly and handsome and civil" 1t was
here, over the eating of the toothsome
cnuD that enatOr insisted upon terming
Walton, as Piscator, master" Shortly
beyond this the Lea winds pleasantly
near Edminton where John Gilpin, from
the lndecorous speed Of his horse, missed
a comfortable dinner, and at Hoddesdon
above, was the "Thatcht House, where,
at the very outset Of the Anglers" pleas
ant experiences, Nenator expressed his
purpose OF drinking his morning
draught." From Tottenham to Ware is a
pleasant, vagrant jaunt, but the lover of
w alton must needs carry the good old
fisherman along with him in the sweet
cradle OF his fancy for all but the merest
ocS ollO1 VI COIlI lIDdulODSLllD ana lucnLl-
ilcation in these first and Oldest angling
haunts along the River Lea.
Undoubtedly Dove Dale, the waterway
OF the vagarous and impetuons River
Dove, forming the boundary between
Derbyshire and Staffordshire in the ro-
mantle region of the Derby Peak, retains
least changed the natural scenes most
loved OF 1Zaak Walton. 1t is here his
summer months for years were passed.
In an almost idylic enjoyment OF his ia
Norte pastIIne, and in a friendship with
cotton OF so perfect a nature that it at least
exalted an otherwise characteriess man
OF no little talent to nobler aspirations
and accomplishments. Every one is IA
mlilar with this strange and unequal at
tachment; how Walton, almost sanity in
character and II years the elder of the
blase spendthrift and scribbler OF unread
able themes, became his friend and COM
panIon in BeresiOrd Hall; how Cotton
built the Fishing House, beside the
Dove, with its intertwined escutcheon OF
his own and Walton's initials and the
motto, "Iiscatoribus Sacrum," above the
door; how their affection ripened until
Cotton adopted Walton as his father
and Walton the spendthritt gentleman as
his son." and how il all had good end
ing when, at WaltOn's request, Cotton ac-
compllshed the Lest work of his life in
part second of the Angler" Being In
structions How 70 Angle FOR A Trout Or
Grayling In a Clear Stream" prefaced
by The Retirement" or STANCES lrreg-
uliers to Mr.. IZaak Walton,' of much po-
etic power, beginning with the lines,
Farewell, thou busy world. and may
We never meet again!
Ialways love to imagine this odd friend
ship not to have beeu an "unaccOunta-
bic" matter, but an affinity of opposites,
beginning away back there as Walton
stretched his legs up Tottenham Hip
and first met the wayward. ill-directed.
though undoubtedly appreciative and
sympathetic Cotton, as none other than
enator who, from the instructive defer
ence to great soul which made the word
master" unconscionsly burst from his
lips, came by degrees of betterment.
greattul love and reference, to know the
gentle angler who had saved him from
himself as father i'll the highest and
purest spiritual sense. The whole ro-
mantle valley is redolent of legend and
memory of Cotton and Walton. The an
cient BeresfOrd Hall is changed, but the
Walton Room" is intact. The bowling
green beside the Dove is as it was nearly
quarter OF thousand years ago. and
the old stone Fishing House, now
more than 200 years old, still stands in the
murmurous dale. one OF the truest monu-
menJs in England to a strange but scath-
less friendship.
The distinction between classes and
masses was immeasurably closer drawn
IN England in Walton's time than now
Few Iaymen, and particularly few trades
men, enjoyed even ordinary familiarity
with men OF consequence in church and
state. In this respect Walton was an eX-
traordlnary exception. All authorities
hold that no man of his time enjoyed so
lofty personal regard among the noblest
and most famous men of that day. The
facts contributed to this. Though but a
simple linen draper, the graces of his per
feet life and the winsome qualities of his
intellect and heart gave him not only the
unqualhed respect. but the unlimited
affection OF men of high degree
Besides this, his relation by birth and
marriage made recognition of his person.
atty and its logical result a matter of nat
ural sequence. Some biographers believe
his mother to have been niece of Arch
bishop Cranmer. His first wife. Rachel
floud, whom he married in 1926 and who
died In 1910, was great grandniece of
that prelate. His second wife, Anne
Ken, whom he married in 1916 and who
died in 1862, was a half sister Of BisbOD
Thomas Ken, author of the Morning
ana Evening Hymns and have seen
a memorial tablet to her memory, written
by Walton himself. in the Lady Chapel OF
W orcester Cathedral. His son, Izaak, be-
came canon IN salisbury Cathedral
where his remains and those of some OF
his descendants now lie.
During many of the latter years of
Walton's life apartments We're constantly
reserved Tor him and his daughter Anna
at the episcopal residences OF Dr. Ward
Bishop OF Salisbury, and DIR. Morley.
Bishop Of Winchester, and the marriage
of this daughter Anne to Dr.. Hawkins.
prebendary OF Winchester Cathedral. i'm
whose house Walton died December Is.
less, centered still closer to historic VIM
chester, for centuries the royal Capital of