here and there and there were a large number of new dealers in the field. Some of these found that it was not child's play, and soon dropped out. The business required considerable knowledge and also some capital, and a big lot of push and hard work. The collecting public included not only boys and young men, but elderly people, both men and women, professional men, men of wealth and men of reputation. The field was large. I had seen the business in its infancy and now I saw it when it had reached large proportions and became a recognized industry, employing thousands of people. I had already done considerable business myself.

I must take up some important private matters here. We had lived on Maple Avenue for several years now, and my wife's mother was still with us, but she had passed her three score and ten years and really was not well. Shortly she was taken with a slight stroke from which she really never entirely recovered, though she was not confined to her bed all the time, but later she was taken seriously ill and soon passed over the River. This was a sad shock and we felt it keenly. One had been taken that we loved. The end came December 27, 1911., two days after Christmas, and on Sunday, January 1, 1912, she was laid beside her companion who had passed on nearly 7 years before. We missed the cheerful character that had left us, and we miss her yet. The winter passed and spring came.

I was anxious to make another trip to Europe, a business and pleasure trip combined. I wanted

my wife and two boys to accompany me. My wife was extremely afraid of the great ocean, yet she felt she would like to make the voyage, if she was able to stand it. So it was concluded that she would take a short sea voyage with me before attempting to take the long ocean voyage. We would go to Washington, D. C., take one of the Old Dominion Line Steamers to Norfolk, Va., and from Norfolk to Washington, we would take another steamer. We took the trip, and while my wife did not escape seasickness entirely, she concluded to take the long sea voyage I had suggested. So arrangements were speedily completed. I had concluded to take a large stock of stamps with me, to sell for cash or exchange for stamps of various countries I intended to visit. These were valued at many thousands of dollars and included a large part of the stock of Bolivar stamps I had bought from Mr. Calman some years before. There were also many stamps from the Vincent stock, as well as others. School was closed and on June 29, we embarked for Dover, England on the "Zeeland," one of the steamers of the Red Star Line, a fine up to date ship. I was not in very good health. I had undergone a severe operation on my face and the operation had not been entirely successful. During my absence, my new office had to be closed.

Chapter XXIII.

THE THIRD OCEAN VOYAGE.

"A life on the Ocean wave,
A home on the rolling deep,
Where the scattered waters rave,
And the winds their revels keep,
Like an eagle caged I pine
On this dull unchanging Shore,
Oh, give me the flashlight brine,
The spray and the tempests roar!"

'UNE 29, 1912, We all left Pier 61 at 10 a. m., and embarked on the steamship "Zeeland" of

J

the Red Star Line, for Dover, England. We received a number of telegrams from friends in New York, who wished us a safe and pleasant voyage. My wife received a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and these were placed on our dining room table, where other flowers were also placed. The day was fine, and at night a concert was given lasting one hour. Later it began to rain and it was a little rough.

June 30, Sunday morning it was very rough, Many seasick, including Will and Herbert as well as their mother. I was not seasick and never had been on the previous voyages I had made on the It cleared during the day. Will lost his cap ocean. overboard and of course it was not recovered. There was music at night.

July 1, A beautiful day and not so rough. The boys and their mother were feeling better, not so sea