The Midland Great Western, as I have said, is the third largest railway
in Ireland. It stretches from the Liffey to the Atlantic, serves the
plains of Meath, the wilds of Connaught, and traverses large expanses of
bog. Galway, Sligo, Westport, Athlone and Mullingar are the principal
towns on its system.

When I became its manager, Sir Ralph Cusack had been chairman of the
railway for nearly a quarter of a century and was in his sixty-ninth
year. He attended daily in his office, devoting much time to the
company's affairs. Although my position was not all I could have wished
in the matter of that wide authority I coveted, and which, in my humble
opinion, every railway manager should possess, it was in many respects
very satisfactory, and every lot in life has its crumpled rose leaf. Sir
Ralph regarded me as an _expert_, which, notwithstanding all his long
experience as chairman, he did not himself pretend to be, and _railway
experts_ he held in high esteem. He supported me consistently,
permitting no one but himself to interfere with anything I thought it
right to do. I did not, to be sure, always get my own way, but I
accomplished much, and, what I cared for most, was able to do good work
for the company. Enthusiasm for one's work is a splendid thing, and so
is loyalty to one's employers. I make no boast of possessing these, for
they were common property; they permeated the railway service and
inspired the youngest clerk as well as his chief. Sometimes in these
latter days I imagine such things are changed, though I would like to
think it is only an old man's fancy, as it was in the case of the dear
old Dubliner, who in his time had been a beaux and had reached his
eightieth year. One sunny forenoon when airing himself in a fashionable
street of the city, he was met by another old crony, who accosted him
with:--

"Well, old friend, how are you this morning?"

"Oh, very well, thanks, quite well, only--" he responded.

"Only what?" asked his friend.

"Only the pavements are harder and the girls are not so pretty as they
used to be," he replied with a whimsical look of regret in his face
and a twinkle in his still bright eye.

Sir Ralph was a man of striking appearance, tall and imposing in figure.
His head was massive and fine. His full beard was snowy white, as white
as his abundant hair which was of a beautifully soft silky texture, with
a sheen like satin. His voice was low and a