Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-04
FAMOUS MCKNAMEs
"Thc Father of Anrllnk. !


 Isaac Walton received his nickname, 'The Father of Angling" through being the uncanonized patron saint of that sport. Through the delightful literature that he has left he has diEnified angling beyond all other similar pastines, not only in the informatfon he imparts on the subject. but in the breezy way in which he handles it. Thomas Flatman who died in 1872, thus eulogizes Walton:
 Happy, Old Man. whose worth ali man.
 kind knowe,
 Except thyself-who charitahly showa The ready way to virtue and to praise. The way to many long and happy days"
 About no other author centers more memories of unmlxed gentleness and peace. To speak of him and to write of him Is always to praise him. "It would sweeten 9 mans temper at any time to read the Complete Angler says Charles Lamb.
 Little is known of the Father of Angling's" early life beyond the fact that he was Born in Stafford In 15s3 Soon Royal Exchange. Cornhill, where he had shop of his own as sampster or linen ! draper. In this little shop he was hardly allowed elbow room, for the shops in the Exchange were but I 1-2 feet long by 3 wide. He first took to angling through | his desire to get away from his stusy it. tie quarters and breathe the pure free air /, of the country.
 i In 1924 Walton was able to move to ] much more commodious quarters on Fleet | street and subsequently, he moved around the corner in Chancery lane. In this neighborhood Walton tasted much sor- row He married at Canterbury, when he was B years of age Rachel Fioud materially descended from Archbishop Cranmer. Seven children were the fruit of this union, but they all died in child hood, and last of all the mother died ir i 1640.
 Meanwhile walton's business as linen draper prospered. and for recreation he used ''to go a-fshing with honest Nat and R. Roe" His favorite stream was the Lea. which had it's source above Ware, ir Hertfordshire, and glided about tn. country to- the northeast of London emptying into the Thames little aboy, Blackwell.
 Finally. having accumulated quite ;
 snug sum. he gave un shopkeeping ant
 in 1643 retired to the country. Thre, years later he contracted marriage Yitl
 Anne Ken, who died in 1ss3. leaving hin
 c. son. Isaac. and daughter, Anne, t,
 comfort him in hix prolonged old age.
 The Father of Angling" was 50 whel } he gave up business and 70 years c
 leisure remained for his en5oynaent, dur
 ing which he Ashed and composed tn . books which have made his name farnou l everywhere The most famous of all
 "The Complete AnglsF," was printed il
 1853. and Walton lived to see 1t pas through four editions. How often It ha . since been reprinted, annotated by ad mirtng editors, and extelled by critics o !, every mind, it would be difficult to esti | mate.
 The advice which The Father 0 Angling gives for the treatment of liv
 bait-as, for instance. the dressing of frog with hook and wire, needle an , thread, using him as though you love him, that is, harm him as little as yo may possible, that he may live the long l. er," and the recommendation of a perc for taking pike, as ''the lonEest.lived ifs on a hook, subjected Walton to tn :. charge of cruelty. Hence Byron write 7 in "Don Juan" of:
 Angling, too, that solitary vice, 2 Whatever Isaak Walton sings or says; . The quaint, old, cruel co1conb, in h gullet,
 2 Should have hook and small trout { q pull it." ..-....-,
 The excuse that is to be offered in d. = feRse of Angling Ike" is that people ( n the 1Tth century concerned themselva Ie Blessed with fine health, walton esfri'
 the vigor of youth into old age and IT his sSd year he went hundred miles , "a 6shino tyira xsrith