steal　it　—　Silver　mine　—　Tarantulas　—　Mishap　on　journey　back　—　Return　to　England。

During　the　year　1889　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　my　late　friend　J。　Gladwyn　Jebb；　one　of　the　most　delightful　persons　whom　I　have　ever　known。　Some　irony　of　fate　brought　it　about　that　Jebb　should　devote　his　life　to　the　pursuit　of　mining　and　mercial　ventures　—　a　career　for　which　he　was　utterly　unsuited。　The　result　may　be　imagined：　he　worked　very　hard　in　many　evil　climates；　broke　down　his　health；　dissipated　his　large　private　means　in　supporting　unremunerative　enterprises；　and　died　saddened　and　impoverished。

I　have　described　his　character　in　my　introduction　to　“The　Life　and　Adventures　of　J。　G。　Jebb；”　by　his　widow；　from　which　I　quote　a　short　passage。

In　the　city　of　Mexico；　where　business　men　are　—　business　men；　he　was　respected　universally；　and　by　the　Indians　he　was　adored。　“He　is　a　good　man；　Jebb；”　said　an　honourable　old　Jewish　trader　of　that　city　to　me　—　“a　man　among　a　thousand；　whom　I　would　trust　anywhere。　See；　I　will　prove　it　to　you；　amigo：　he　has　lived　in　this　town　doing　business　for　years；　yet；　with　all　his　opportunities；　he　leaves　it　poorer　than　he　came　here。　Did　you　ever　hear　the　like　of　that；　amigo？”

Would　that　there　existed　more　of　such　noble　failures　—　the　ignoble　are　sufficiently　abundant　—　for　then　the　world　might　be　cleaner　than　it　is。　It　matters　little　now：　his　day　is　done；　and　he　has　journeyed　to　that　wonderful　Hereafter　of　which　during　life　he　had　so　clear　a