or
of seizing a passing mood of the audience or some fleeting incident of
the moment.

Sir Ralph was made a Director of the Midland Great Western Company in
1864, and a year later was elected chairman, a position he occupied for
the long period of 39 years. In 1864 the railway was in a very bad
condition, wretchedly run down, and woefully mismanaged. Indeed,
according to an official report at the time, worse than mismanagement
existed. It was stated: "There were grave charges of official corruption
which necessitated the retirement of one of the leading officers from the
company's service." This was very exceptional in railway history, for
British and Irish railways possess a record that has rarely been sullied.
In my long career I only remember two other instances--one, the famous
_Redpath_ fraud (a name not inappropriate for one whose destiny it was to
tread a road that led to his ruin) on the Great Northern in 1856, which
Sir Henry (then Mr.) Oakley greatly assisted in discovering, and which, I
believe, led to his first substantial advancement; the other on the
Belfast and Northern Counties in 1886. This was in Edward John Cotton's
time, but it would be superfluous to say that _he_ was clear of blame for
he was integrity itself. That the occurrence could have happened during
his management distressed him greatly I know.

[Sir Ralph Cusack: cusack.jpg]

When he was elected to the office of Chairman, Sir Ralph, it is said,
accepted the position on the understanding that he should have autocratic
power. In the task he undertook this was very likely desirable, and once
acquired he was not the man to let such power slip from his grasp. His
strong hands would firmly retain whatever they wished to hold.

In 1865 no less than 15 directors _adorned_ the Midland Great Western
Board, twice too many no doubt the chairman thought for a railway of 344
miles. In 1867 they were reduced to 8; in 1877 to 7; since when they
have never numbered more. During the long period of Sir Ralph's
occupancy of the chair no deputy chairman existed. The chairman reigned
alone. That he was an _autocratic_ chairman, his brother directors, were
they now living, would I am sure attest. But though a strong, it was a
beneficent sway that he exercised. He could be hard at times, but his
nature was essentially kind and generous and his friendships numerous and
lasting. He prided himself on his knowledge of the railway staff, down
to the