worst, Vail wrote an open letter to his stock-holders, in his practical, The instinct for completeness, which is one of the dominating characteristics of his mind, compelled him to consent. It was the call over, but Vail still refused. They spoke of old times and old memories, Since that May morning, 1907, great things have been done by the men of energetic and prosperous. Under the brilliant leadership of Frederick P. the "Old Guard" of telephony. They had fought under Vail in the pioneer the telephone and telegraph world. The Bell System was brought through farmer-like way. He said: and the need of another strong hand at the wheel until the crisis was the panic without a scratch. When the doubt and confusion were at their Fish, it had grown by leaps and bounds. But it was still far from being of the telephone. but he shook his head. "All my life," he said, "I have wanted to be a Then they drew a picture of the telephone situation. They showed him "Our net earnings for the last ten months were $13,715,000, as against $11,579,000 for the same period in 1906. We have now in the banks over $18,000,000; and we will not need to borrow any money for two years." the directors put before him his unfinished plan, he surrendered. directors persisted. They spoke of the approaching storm-cloud of panic days; and now they had come to ask him to return to the telephone the SYSTEM that Vail had dreamed of in his younger days; and so, when He was its architect, and it was undone. The telephone business was farmer." business, after twenty years of absence. Vail laughed at the suggestion. "Nonsense," he said, "I'm too old. I'm sixty-two years of age." The that the "grand telephonic system" which he had planned was unfinished.