sure I should never have the patience to fish," or, "How can you find the patience to sit all day with never a bite?" It was then that I would open out and talk to them of angling during the rest of the dinner, which enabled them to listen without inconvenience to all the other conversations of all the other guests. Had they listened to me, they would have learned my reasons for believing that patience is not an essential part of the angler's equipment. But my words might have unsettled their convictions, and no doubt they did well to refuse me their attention, for thoroughly to enjoy one's food one's convictions must be founded on the rock.
This one—about the angler's patience—is so founded. Everyone holds it, except anglers, and anglers—more shame to them!—pretend to, for in their hearts they know that it is false. Yet so unwilling is man to forego an advantage, however acquired, that they do nothing to expose the fallacy of the belief. When the non-angler gives evidence of possessing it, the angler looks smug, even agrees to the monstrous lie, bolsters it up; he has not the common honesty to disclaim the virtue that is attributed to him. This is not as it should be. I propose to demonstrate the impatience of fishermen.
At once the pole-fisher will be adduced. "If
