but my hope has not been at all adequately fulfilled.  The Register had been most earnest in its desire for a better system of public education.  The late Mr. John Howard Clark, its then editor, wanted some articles on the education of girls, and he applied to me to do them, and I wrote two leading articles on the subject, and another on the “Ladder of Learning.” from the elementary school to the university, as exemplified in my native country where ambitious lads cultivated literature on a little oatmeal.  For an Adelaide University was in the air, and took form owing to the benefactions of Capt. (afterwards Sir Walter Watson) Hughes, and Mr. (afterwards Sir Thomas) Elder.  But the opposition to Mr. Hartley, which set in soon after his appointment, and his supposed drastic methods and autocratic attitude, continued.  I did not knew Mr. Hartley personally, but I knew he had been an admirable head teacher, and the most valuable member of the Education Board which preceded the revolution.  I knew, too, that the old school teachers were far inferior to what were needed for the new work, and that you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.  A letter which I wrote to Mr. Hartley, saying that I desired to help him in any way in my power, led to a friendship which lasted till his lamented death in 1896.  I fancied at the time that my aid did him good, but I think now that the opposition had spent its force before I put in my oar by some letters to the press.  South Australians became afterwards appreciative of the work done by Mr. Hartley, and proud of the good position this State took in matters educational among the sister States under the Southern Cross.

It was due to Mrs. Webster’s second visit to Adelaide to exchange with Mr. Woods that I made the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. E. Barr Smith.  They went to the church and were shown into my seat, and Mrs. Smith asked me to bring the eloquent preacher to Torrens Park to dine there.  I discovered that they had long wanted to know me, but I was out of society.  I recollect afterwards going to the office to see Mr. Smith on some business or other, when he was out, and meeting Mr. Elder instead.  He pressed on me the duty of going to see Mrs. Black, a lady from Edinburgh, who had come out with her sons and daughter.  Mr. Barr Smith came in, and his brother-in-law said, “I have just been telling Miss Spence she should go and call on the Blacks.”  “Tom,” said Mr. Barr Smith, “we have been just 20 years making the acquaintance of Miss Spence.  About the year 1899 Miss Spence will be dropping in on the Blacks.”  What a house Torrens Park was for books.  There was no other customer of the book shops equal to the Torrens Park family.  Rich men and women often buy books for themselves, and for rare old books they will give big prices; but the Barr Smiths bought books in sixes and in dozens for the joy of giving them where they would be appreciated.  On my literary side Mrs. Barr Smith, a keen critic