s at each station. At one small station
I found in charge a station master in poor health and well advanced in
years--in fact quite beyond his work. I learned that he possessed a
small property in land and was quite willing to retire if given a few
weeks in which to make his arrangements. This, of course, I gladly
granted as well as a little parting gratuity. He was well pleased, and
wrote me to that effect. But, to my astonishment, not many days passed
before a long and numerously signed Memorial to the Board arrived
beseeching the Directors to stay the hand of their General Manager in his
harsh and unfeeling treatment of a faithful old servant. He was indeed a
faithful old servant; but he was quite ignorant of any memorial on his
behalf having been sent to the Directors. Apparently the memorialists
did not consider it necessary to consult him.

To be now my own master, subject only to the control of a reasonable and
businesslike Board of Directors, a Chairman who resided in Dublin,
visiting Belfast once a fortnight only, to have the command of men and
the working of a railway, and to be free to move about the line as I
thought fit, was a pleasure indeed and made Ireland a pleasant place. I
lived near the city, but on its outskirts, with open country and sea
views around me, occupied a neat little detached house, with a bit of
garden wherein I could dig and cultivate a few roses, where the air was
pure and clear--a refreshing change from the confinement of a flat, four
stairs up, in the crowded environs of smoky Glasgow.

CHAPTER XVII.
BELFAST AND THE COUNTY DOWN--(continued)

During the first few years of my service on the County Down little
occurred to disturb the even tenor of my way. In a sense the duties of
my new position were simple. There were no such things as joint lines,
joint station working, running powers or joint committees, as in England
and Scotland, to distract attention or consume time which could more
usefully be devoted to the affairs of one's own railway. Gradually I
grew familiar with out-door matters, and duties that seemed strange at
first grew as easy as second nature. I learned a good deal about
signalling, became an adept in single line working, an expert in engine
running economies, and attained some success in the management of men.

One thing especially gave me pleasure--my monthly visit to the Managers'
Conference at the Irish Railway Clearing House in Dublin. The