New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-28

/
Lambart in his instructions schooling polo
ponies. quotes the injunction to hum little tune
after missing n stroke, a bit OF wisdom that
| many a golfer might take TO heart. Throughout
| the book there is shown delightful spirit Of
sport for It's own sake. sport 10 be carried out
decentIy and In order. whether successful or
not. that makes the American reader wonder if
! the comparison made by w. H. Grenfell. VI. p,
between the Oxford man coaching the Cam
! bridge crew and the American college athlete
bent only on victory. is not quite as widely ap
plicable as its maker would imply. The volume
is illustrated with well executed reproductions.
in color. of sporting pictures.
Fishing and Shooting" by Sidney Buxton is
far from being the manual of useful and unin-
teresting information its title and businesslike
| index might lead one 10 believe. Entertainment
/ is not sacrificed for instruction-in fact with
| chapter on How to Hit Haystack,' which
| gives rule after rule for making the different
needfuI shots, the author apparently feels that
he has done his duty instructor and is
| free TO rambe along as he pleases with reminis-
| cence and appreciation, making, like the we'll
loved Izaak Walton. a recreation of the writing
OF recreation. Not only is the pursuit of fish
and fowl dear to the author but those pioneers
who wrote of the sport in its earlier days
Dame Juliana Berners and Isaac Walton and
Colonel Hawker-are treated with the respect
that arises from affection rather than from any
conviction to the inherent value of their lucu-
brations. The true fisherman speaks in this: Il
have been told of a bullhght in Madrid which
was advertised for the benefit of the Society
OF Cruelty to Animals and 1 hope I shall not
be thought equally inconsistent in advocating
kindness TO animals and protection Of birds while
fly fishing" Shooting. too has its apology, and
driving the fowl is commended because the fowl
orally struck in the neck ard head. and so in
stantIy killed. But it is the fascination of the
sport that engrosses our author. and he tells
with relish OF Cabinet ministers ready to resign
rather than give up their grouse. Strange to say
the 'tallest tales of this colloquial volume are
not of the realm of feathers. but Of fur. Few
fishermen equal the stories OF the record
bag, "one rabbit. one beaten. one onooker Ga
French cool), boy and dog" all with one shot.
and the clever marksman who brought down
bumblebee and butterfly with two barrels. one
right and one left. Interspersed throughout the
text reproductions of old drawings showing
the days OF our fathers. and photographers Of
scenes in the twentieth century.
Stephen Gwynne. in his Fishing Holidays"
also refuses TO be too instructive He delivers
himself Of his list Of 'don'ts" in the preface.
and thereafter author and reader settle down to
toyable. His book is. even more than the Fish
ing and Shooting just mentioned noticeable for
Just those qualities that distinguish a work Of
literature from the mere class book" His hui
is OF a subtle shade. his grasp Of detail IS
more certain. and his sense for the right word is
more keen. As an essayist he would challenge
attention even If he were not fisherman Yet
a sportsman he IS by no means to be de-
spised. unless a must be judged 10 true
lover because he can rightly choose the words
with which TO praise his mistress. Perhaps the
most charming Of his fanCics Is that which
treats Of the finding OF the fishing bag Of Izauk
Walton. built Of three cuuningly shaped pieces
of leather and bearing indisputabe proof OF
its original ownership In the letters Il. w. he
meath the glaze within. This book. made up in
part OF scattered papers republished from the
English periodical press. deals with fishing in
Ireland and dlgresses enough 10 include pictures
OF the land and IT'S people. rs well as Of the
element is strongest in the story Of st. Brgid's
Flood" a tale OF the wiplng out Of an entire
household in answer to woman's curse. II
leaves one with the wish that the writer had
Neen content TO remain idyllic and avoid
thrills" But he may rest assured that his
book has accomplished the purpose ayowed in
this paragraph Of the preface:
Not the least OF the pleasures which owe fish
ing has been the pleasure or reading th"s" writers
hope that perhaps some one remote from lakes and
rivers may glance over these hnes @Ad remember
log myrtle the Whispering of IN" reeds. the lush
growth OF grass in the waterside meadows. tho
trout's quick rise and tightening line and may
dream. / even here am stil reduced 10 dream
ing. Of keen expectation on the bank OF stream
whore the rushing current speeds and slackens To
curb; OF the THRU as sudden swift holls In the
you feel IN" hook 20 home.