“Do not let me disturb you, sir.” Mr. Hickman looked as if he could become my most intimate friend in five minutes, as he smiled patronizingly and held his hand out toward me with a gesture which seemed to indicate that he was a great man at leisure and that I was a great man whose time might be occupied. The whole manner of the man flattered me and I felt that he had my confidence at once. “I only called for information,” continued he, “and do not wish to take your time, which I know is valuable.” “I am at your service, Mr. Hickman,” said I. “Will you be seated?” Mr. Hickman sat down. Even that he did with such graceful, unassuming dignity, and with such exalted deference to me, that I felt flattered again. “You have a wonderful city, Mr. Braden,” he exclaimed. “Your people have certainly built up a wonderful Commonwealth.” He looked at me as he said this, as if he attributed the wonders he had seen to me. “Yes,” I replied. “The Co-opolitan has reason to be proud of his city. We have performed what has never before been achieved in nine years.” “Very true!” assented my visitor. “But you should have added, Mr. Braden, that no people ever did as much in all time.” Here he smiled, and I had an undefinable feeling that he rather considered it would not have been done by the Co-opolitan Association, even, if I had not been a part of it. I found myself warming toward this sprightly, perfectly straight, white little old man wonderfully. He was either the most innocent, interesting and lovable or the most artful and cunning of men. I was inclined to think the former, but experience had taught me that such men would bear study. “I am anxious, Mr. Braden,” said Mr. Hickman, “to investigate your system of co-operation with a view to establishing a similar system in England. Some of us have a plan on foot to aid our impoverished and idle classes to gain a foothold on earth and I have been sent by my association to study Idaho. It occurred to me that you could aid me in obtaining the information I desire.” I certainly could not refuse so innocent a request, and I and my people always hastened to extend aid to such an enterprise as he described whenever it was proposed. I assured the gentleman that I would place my department at his disposal and recommended him to see Mr. Edmunds of the Educational department. The latter would place our historical records at his disposal and he would gain, from that source, the fullest information. This white gentleman remained with me nearly an hour. A more entertaining conversationalist it has rarely been my fortune to meet. He had traveled extensively, was acquainted with most of the famous men of England, and the moral tone of his conversation was the highest conceivable.