_William Hamilton, Cleveland, O._ I am interested in the success both of your Magazine and its ideas and would be pleased to know how you are coming on and what the prospects are. [Illustration: _Educational Department_] A STORY CONCERNING GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON A correspondent, in the course of a private letter, reports a very interesting tradition which illustrates the character and bearing of The Father of his Country. I give it in the language of the writer: “To return to General Washington. Your picture of him makes me want to repeat to you a piece of tradition that was handed down to me by my father. “My father’s uncle, Governor George R. Gilmer, of Georgia, told my father that _his_ father, Thomas M. Gilmer, of Virginia, _told him_ that General Washington was the most extreme type of the aristocrat that this country had ever produced. That he had seen him drive up in his coach and four to a country court house at election time to vote that he would alight, and with head erect and neither looking to the right nor the left, as the crowd uncovered, parted and almost prostrated themselves to the ground, would march up, deposit his ballot, and without the slightest acknowledgment to the crowd or to any individual, without even so much as a nod or turn of the head, he would march in state through the path made by obsequiousness and reverence and love back to his coach, where he would sit the picture of rigidity and indifference as he rode away.” * * * * * GEORGETOWN, PA., Jan. 17, 1906. _Hon. Thomas E. Watson, Thomson, Ga._ DEAR SIR: Can you direct me where I can get Alexander Stevens’ “War Between the States”? I would like to purchase this book. Yours truly, ⸺ ⸺. ANSWER The book is out of print, but is easily obtained through the old book dealers. The price ranges from $5 to $10. Try Joseph McDonough, Albany, New York, or The Americus Book Company, Americus, Ga. * * * * * SAN SABA, TEX., Feb. 5, 1906. _Hon. Thomas E. Watson, Thomson, Ga._ DEAR SIR: I see in the newspapers that Mr. So and So’s seat in the New York exchange is worth nearly $100,000. What is meant by that? Why is it worth so much and what do they do? Thanking you in advance for the information, I am. Very truly yours, ⸺ ⸺. ANSWER The New York Stock Exchange is simply an exclusive gambling hell where very rich gamblers bet on the rise and fall of the stock of the big corporations. The “nearly $100,000” is the entrance fee. The reason why the price is so great is because the operations and the opportunities are so vast.