time, and it is pleasant to think that they
are nearly all still alive, and that therefore I may sometime or another
play with them again. There is one great exception--Mr. Fred Tait, who
was killed in South Africa. I don't think anyone could ever have the
smallest doubt about the reason for his enormous popularity. I had the
delight of playing against him two or three times, and I thought that he
was not only a very fine golfer indeed, but one of the very finest
gentlemen that I could imagine. It is something for me to remember that
I played in the last important match in which he figured before he went
out to the war--an international foursome, England _v._ Scotland, that
was played at Ganton, Willie Park and Mr. Tait representing Scotland,
while Mr. John Ball, junior, and I were for England. From all the
amateurs with whom I have ever come in contact I have always received
the very greatest kindness and encouragement, and I do not know a single
one with whom I would not like to play again some day or other. It has
always seemed to me that there is something about golf that makes a man
a good fellow whether he is amateur or professional.

I wish to speak in the same way about my professional brothers as I have
done about the amateurs. I have always found them all first-class
sportsmen in the strictest and best sense of the word, and some of the
best friends I have in the world are among them. There are some very
fine players among the professionals of to-day. I have often watched and
greatly admired the splendid skill of such friends and constant
opponents as J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Alexander Herd, Jack White, and
many others whose names would fill a page, not forgetting my own brother
Tom. I have from time to time been indebted to many of them for various
acts of kindness. There is a fine spirit of freemasonry amongst us
professionals. Whenever we play against each other each of us does his
level best to win, and gives no quarter with a single stroke, but it has
been my invariable experience that when the match is over the loser is
always the first to congratulate the winner, and to do it not as a mere
matter of form but with the very utmost sincerity.

And here I should like to say a few words with the object of removing a
misconception which still seems to linger in the minds of followers of
the game. "Dear me, Vardon, what a grand time you fellows have,
travelling all over the country in this manner, and doing