That was Mr. John Barrett, the diplomatic representative of his country in Panama, who was spending his leave in electioneering. He paid his way in part through college with money he earned as a day labourer on farms during the summer. First a schoolmaster, he drifted early into journalism, with its wider opportunities, and working on San Francisco newspapers, he divined what had remained hidden from people who had spent all their lives on the Pacific coast—the opportunity that was awaiting America across that vast body of water. I first met Mr. Barrett when he was brought to call on me in London. Later, on an October day in 1904, I was sitting in the “Waldorf” in New York, talking to Colonel John Wier, when a man passed. He paused and whisked round. “Mrs. Alec Tweedie,” he exclaimed. “Why, where have you come from?” “London; and you, Mr. Barrett?” “Panama.” We had both travelled far over the world since he had dined with me in London a couple of years before, and yet our paths crossed in that great meeting-place, the “Waldorf.” It was during his leave from duty which I have just mentioned, and he was very busy. Unfortunately I was leaving the same day for Chicago, but we met again in that city. His enthusiasm for Roosevelt was delightful; “the greatest man on earth,” according to him, “delightful to work under.” They had just been having an hour’s conversation on the telephone, though Washington lies nearly a thousand miles away. “Won’t you come to Panama and write a book?” he said. “The Canal is to be the revolution of the world’s traffic, and one of the finest spokes in the American wheel.” Poor old Lesseps; adored over Suez, damned over Panama, and then, thirty years later, to have his dearest scheme realised by America, through the aid of hygienic science. But more of my Lesseps friends in a later volume. Early in 1908 came a charming letter from Mr. Barrett, then at Washington, part of which may be quoted here: “... Now I want to tell you something I am sure will delight you. When Mr. Elihu Root, whom I regard as the greatest Secretary of State we have had in fifty years, made his recent trip to Mexico, I placed in his hands your two books relating to that country and President Diaz. Both of these he read with exceeding care, and I heard him say that he found the one on President Diaz most interesting and instructive. He has recommended many men to read them both. We have the two volumes in the Library, and they are consulted with much frequency. “With kind personal regards, I remain, “Yours very cordially, (Signed) “JOHN BARRETT.” John Barrett is now the head of the Great Pan-American Union of American Republics in Washington.