and appointed my old friend and neighbour； Captain Meade of Earsham Hall； to act for me when I was away。 I was touched at this evidence of their regard and confidence。
In 1895 the mittee did me the honour to elect me to the Athenaeum Club under Rule 2； and in the following year I was chosen Chairman of mittee of the Society of Authors； a post which I held until 1898。
About this time I made the acquaintance of one of the most interesting of all my friends； Major F。 R。 Burnham； D。S。O。； concerning whom and whose career I should like to say a few words。 Burnham is an American； born among the Indians on the frontiers of Minnesota in 1861； and one of the best specimens of that great people whom I have ever met。 Indeed； taking him altogether； I am not sure that when the circumstances of his upbringing and life are considered； he is not the most remarkable man whom it has been my privilege to know。 He belongs to the seventh generation of pioneers； as his family went to America from England in 1635。
In personal appearance he is small and quiet…mannered； with steady； grey…blue eyes that have in them a far…away look such as those acquire whose occupation has caused them to watch continually at sea or on great plains。 He does not smoke； fearing； as he told me； lest it should injure the acuteness of his sense of smell； and he drinks less liquid perhaps than anyone else。 One wineglass of water； or perhaps claret； is the amount he will consume during a long meal。 He has trained himself to this abstinence in order that； when scouting or travelling where there is no water； he may still be able to exist； with the result that on one occasion at least he survived when all or nearly all of his panions died； I think in the deserts of Arizona。 He is not at all municat