“I must tell you of the fine impression made by your fellow Georgian, Mr. Samuel Spencer, in the strong, impassioned address he made to the labor representatives at the conciliation meeting. What he said was noble and stirring, and the expressions of Mr. Samuel B. Donnelly, one of our labor members representing his side of the controversy, and finally, the decision of the presiding officer, Hon. Seth Low, the Civic Federation representative, made the occasion one fully demonstrating the greatness of the co-operative spirit for which the National Civic Federation stands in uniting in its membership men representing the forces of the nation.” These few incidents illustrate the appreciation with which Mr. Spencer was held by men representing great national questions; the responsibility thrown upon him by the railroads of the country as their representative in the House of Congress; his readiness to assume the individual responsibility thereof; his factorship in national organized effort are many incidents that entitle him to a position of Napoleonic ascendency in the history of railroad construction and development; to an everlasting monument in the hearts of the people of his native Southland, and to a position of national recognition among men standing for the highest civilization making now the history of the twentieth century. Mr. Spencer was born in Columbus, Georgia, in 1846. He went from the military school of Marietta, Georgia, into the Civil War, and served gallantly under General Forrest’s command. After the war he graduated from the University of Georgia, and subsequently from the University of Virginia. Soon afterward he became interested in the construction work of Southern railroads, and died president of one of the greatest railroad systems in the world. THE OBSTACLE ’Twas but a little thing that lay Athwart my path that long-gone day, And yet I weakly let it lie,— Just turned aside and passed it by, Nor thought what the result might be. Then others came who saw my track, But no one moved the hindrance back, So they, too, stepped out on the sod; And many a weary foot has trod The devious way first traced by me. We reach at last the self-same goal, But oh! the heaviness of soul That overwhelms me when I look On those who chose the path I took. Lord, from the burden make me free! Nay, son; in weakness thou didst turn; And ever those who duty spurn, Who clear not obstacles away, Who cause men from the right to stray, The influence of their acts must see. _Ida Louise Reveley._ [Illustration: BOOKS AND AUTHORS] LILLIAN KENDRICK BYRN WHISPERING SMITH. By Frank H. Spearman. New York: Chas. Scribner’s Sons. Price, $1.50.