The several months spent in Atlanta had given the young correspondent a glimpse into the new South, for this energetic city embodied a Southern spirit that was several decades removed from the Civil War.

After this came nearly two years in New York and Washington, where Page gained his first insight into Federal politics; in particular, as a correspondent attached to the Tariff Commission--an assignment that again started him on his travels to industrial centres--he came into contact, for the first time, with the mechanism of framing the great American tariff.

And during this period Page was not only forming a first-hand acquaintance with the passing scene, but also with important actors in it.

The mere fact that, on the St.Joseph _Gazette_, he succeeded Eugene Field--"a good fellow named Page is going to take my desk," said the careless poet, "I hope he will succeed to my debts too"-- always remained a pleasant memory.

He entered zealously into the life of this active community; his love of talk and disputation, his interest in politics, his hearty laugh, his vigorous handclasp, his animation of body and of spirit, and his sunny outlook on men and events--these are the traits that his old friends in this town, some of whom still survive, associate with the juvenile editor.