The New York Tribune stated that Mr. Charlton was the ablest and most widely known General Passenger Agent in America at the time he relinquished passenger traffic duties to become the first Chairman of the newly organized Trans-Continental Passenger Association comprised then of probably fifty transportation lines. For thirteen years, or until death, he discharged the comprehensive obligations of that position to the satisfaction of a not always unanimous body of ticket and traffic experts and his excellent judgment and ability as an arbitrator on vexed questions was often most essential. As the lines of this paragraph are being transferred from mind to page in the rolling train the transparent frozen surface of Hamilton Bay, dotted with an ice boat and a few skaters, lies a few yards below and stretches away to beach and bar, with a colony of fishing shanties squatting in the cove not far from the location of the awful “Des jardins Canal” wreck, March, 1857. Sixty years ago, over the same surface James Charlton skated and scudded on an old pair of “double mooleys” with screws in their heels and he enjoyed this sport ever after. During his life in Chicago he frequently indulged his fondness for the pastime. Railroading Hamiltonians who praise their bay, may not recall hearing that the late Samuel R. Callaway, ex-President of the New York Central Railway when a stenographer--was devoted to rowing on the same sheet of water, that his brother W. R. Callaway, G.P.A., Soo Line, also Alex. Hilton, P.T.M., Frisco System and Messrs. J. Horsburgh and John J. Byrne, prominent officials of the Southern Pacific Railway Coast Lines, were wont to fish therein. Although a splendid speaker, very widely known, and possessing also an extended acquaintance with prominent people, James Charlton never wore his heart on his sleeve and sincerely wished to avoid publicity. Most of his leisure was spent with his family, and being a man of letters--in his unusually large and well selected English library. He was an authority on national, international and historical matters, wrote for the London Times of early United States railway building, did some reviewing of books for friendly editors and appreciated good poetry. Myles Pennington in “Railways and Other Ways” says that for a time he published portions of Browning’s works in the Chicago & Alton official railway guide, distributing as many as 10,000 copies of the issue per month until their preparation became too arduous. In his business relations with others he was the standard of courtesy. Morally and in every way absolutely clean, this white bearded Nestor of passenger men was a grand old man. Is it not a gratification, a mental bath and an inspiration to read of and know about men of this type, particularly in high places. [Illustration: _Photographs courtesy of Canadian Railway & Marine World_ RECIPROCITY IN BRAINS Railways, Steamships and Commerce know no boundaries