The British View of Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby

I have always been a huge fan of Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby, the legendary Maine guide and fly angler. She was famous nationally, appearing in numerous

The following notice was published in the great British humor magazine Punch, or the London Charivari dated 01 July 1893. In an article called "The Very Complete Angleress" the magazine offered up one of its great doggerels. Here it is, showing that Fly Rod's fame went across the Atlantic. It's a fantastic poem.

The Very Complete Angleress

[Miss Cornelia Crosby, of Maine, is said to have caught 52 trout in 54 minutes.
-- Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News

With anxious look and weary sigh
We wait imploring for the rain,
We bring the most attractive fly,
And make our skillful casts in vain;
Indeed, we well-contented feel,
With burning sky, and water low,
If hours of toil should bring our creel
A poor half-dozen brace or so.

But Miss Cornelia Crosby, she
Who comes from Maine, much-favoured place,
Where must the trout abundant be,
Can catch them at a wondrous pace;
What bard could ask a loftier theme,
What artist could a nobler wish,
Than this fair lady at the stream,
Who every minute scores a fish?

Astute, Cornelia, you who land
The strangely unsuspecting trout,
Assist us here to understand
The means whereby you pull them out,
O can it be, for only thus
That crux of time can well be met,
You land your fifty (pardon us
The bold suggestion) with a net?

-- Dr. Todd