school, and in the law office of Honorable W. B. Webb. In December, 1879, he became a member of the Washington bureau of the Boston "Herald," becoming chief of the bureau in 1892. He also has been chief representative of the Philadelphia "Record." He has written for the "Atlantic," the "Forum," and other magazines and periodicals. For years he has taken a deep interest and active part in the civic affairs of Washington. He was appointed commissioner of the District by President McKinley, entirely on Mr. McKinley's own motion, May 2, 1900, and was elected president of the board, May 9, 1900. He was reappointed, without solicitation, by President Roosevelt, two months before his term expired. He is also president of the William McKinley Memorial Arch Association; of the Rock Creek Park Board of Control; of the Washington Public Library Commission. He presided over the Jubilee International Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association, May, 1904, at Buffalo, New York.
He is a member of the Republican party, although he supported Cleveland in 1884. Change of work, walking, conversation, he regards as his best modes of relaxation. "It was my desire to be self-sustaining as well as my circumstances, which led me to take the first profitable opening; and the strong impelling motive of my work was to succeed and please, and to help my family. Home, school, early companionship, private study, and contact with men in active life, have each had their influence on my life in the order named." "If there has been any failure in my work," he says, "it is due to myself, rather than to circumstances; more preparation, more patience, more persistence was needed." He is a member and an elder of the Presbyterian church. The principles which he commends to young Americans in order to attain true success, are "those of the true Christian." He is a vice-president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Washington; and a member of the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association.
In drafting legislation, or in reporting upon bills referred to the commissioners by congress, in addressing the committees of congress, as well as in all his public addresses, Mr. Macfarland has maintained the dignity of the District, and in response to the proud interest of the people of the country, has claimed for the National Capital the greatest consideration on the part of the national government. He holds that the present form of the District government, declared "perma-
