displayed a boyish playfulness that
resembled the gambols of a big good-natured dog. He was musical too, and
would sing _Annie Laurie_ for you at any time, accompanying himself on
the piano. To practical joking he was rather addicted, and once I was
his reluctant accomplice, but am glad to say it was the last time I ever
engaged in such rude pleasantry. I can write of him now the more freely
that he is no longer of this world. Excessive energy hastened his death.
In 1901 he went to India to investigate for the Government the railways
there, and to report upon them. It was a big task, occupied him a long
time, and I am told he worked and lived there as though he were in his
native temperate zone. His restless energy was due I should say to
superabundant vitality. Once, when he and I were in London together, on
some railway business, we took a stroll after dinner (it was summertime)
and during a pause in our conversation he surprised me by exclaiming:
"Tatlow, I'm a restless beggar. I'd like to have a jolly good row with
somebody." "Get married," said I. This tickled him greatly and restored
his good humour. He lived and died a bachelor nevertheless.

In 1896 the _Railways (Ireland) Act_ was passed, and with it Robertson
had much to do. Its purpose ran: "To facilitate the construction of
Railways and the Establishment of other means of Communication in
Ireland, and for other purposes incidental thereto." It provided for
further advances by the Treasury, under prescribed conditions, for
constructing railways and for establishing lines of steamers, coaches,
etc., which were shown to be necessary for the development of the
resources of any district, where owing to the circumstances of such
district, they could not be made without government assistance. It also
authorised the construction and maintenance, as part of such railways, of
any pier, quay or jetty. This little Act, which consisted of thirteen
sections (I wonder he did not think the number unlucky), was Robertson's
particular pet. Concerning its clauses, from the time they were first
drafted, many a talk we had together over a cup of tea with, to use his
own expression, "a wee drappie in't." I may have hinted as much, but do
not think I have mentioned before that he was a Scotchman and a
Highlander.

In the same year was passed the _Light Railways Act_, an Act which
applied to Great Britain only. Ireland had already had her share (some
thought more