that men in
high positions would not do amiss to pay some attention to old Polonius'
admonition to his son that, "the apparel oft proclaims the man."

In the friends I made I was fortunate too. They included two or three
budding lawyers, a young engineer, a banker, a doctor, two embryo hotel
managers, an auctioneer, and one or two journalists; and, as I have
mentioned before, my artist friend _Cynicus_. We were, most of us,
friends of each other, met often, and the variety of our pursuits gave
zest and interest to our intercourse. First amongst these friends ranked
G. G., one of the young lawyers, or _writers_, as they are called in
Scotland. He was my closest friend. We have not met for many years, but
the friendship remains unweakened; for there are things that Time the
destroyer is powerless to injure. Like myself, G. G. comes of the middle
class. His parents, like mine, were by no means affluent, but they were
Scotch and held education in veneration, and were ambitious, as Scottish
parents are, for their sons. They gave him a University education, and
afterwards apprenticed him to the law. He became, and is still, a
prosperous lawyer in Glasgow.

Then came J. B., a young lawyer too, who blossomed into the pleasant and
important position of Senior Deputy Town Clerk of the City of Glasgow.
He, too, had sprung from the great middle class. Well versed in
classical lore he was a delightful companion. He had travelled much and
benefited by his travels; was a sociable being, exceedingly good-natured,
and peered through spectacles as thick as pebbles, being very
short-sighted, and without his glasses would scarcely recognise you a
yard off. Yet he could see into the heart of things as well as most men,
for he was a shrewd Scotchman, and had a pawky humour. If he possessed a
fault it was a love for a game of cards. We played _nap_ in those days,
and when a game was on it was hard to get him to bed. He has gone over
to the majority now. His sudden death a year ago came as a great blow to
his family and a large circle of friends. Next to G. G., as intimate
friends, came H. H. and F. K. They were in the company's service though
not in the railway proper, but connected with the management of the hotel
department. Of foreign birth, sons of a nation with whom we are now,
alas! at war, they were youths of fine education, disposition and
refinement, and I became greatly attached to each. H. H. preceded and F.
K.