Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/298



N the beautiful city of Geneva, lies at peace the great Postal Reformer, Sir John Henniker Heaton.

His restless spirit has found rest at last, and he who in time of peace fought so valiantly the battles of his fellow-men may now sleep undisturbed by sound of cannon and clash of arms.

"To make communication as easy as speech and as free as air" was his life's ideal, and yet when he lay within the shadow of death communication with his own family was denied him. Telegraph lines that should have brought him loving messages were blocked with news of bloodshed and battle; trains that should have carried his anxious family swiftly towards him were filled with troops hurrying to the Front.

Sir John was among the English visitors in Carlsbad when War was declared. On September and, 1914, with a party of other non-combatants, he left Carlsbad on the return journey to England which, alas, he was destined never to reach.



I, George Platt Waller, Jr., American Vice and Deputy Consul at Carlsbad, do hereby certify that