HALFORD AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES 145 



are almost perfect. But the broad fact faces us that 

 we must not say of any man that he is perfect. There 

 is a word, however, that years ago I applied to my 

 friend when I had learned to know and form a loving 

 estimate of him. He was thorough thorough in his 

 likes and dislikes, in his work, in his play, in great 

 things, in small things, in his common sense, in the 

 things he knew, in the things he did, in his many merits, 

 in the clear mind that planned no less than the deft 

 hand that executed, in the privacy of the home, and 

 in the brazen bustle of the world of business. That is 

 how I long looked at F. M. Halford. He was just a 

 specimen of a real man, the man you can respect, admire, 

 and trust ; and, should you know him well enough, 

 you may add your love without being foolish. I grant 

 you Halford was one of those men who require know- 

 ing, but that is another matter. It was my good 

 fortune to be an intimate friend of over thirty years' 

 standing. I was asked to supply the Field with this 

 " appreciation " ; for me, therefore, it is to justify 

 my high opinion, and to praise him. This I do with all 

 my heart, keeping myself in hand nevertheless the 

 while, and not permitting the dolour of Willesden 

 Cemetery to act in favour of him there laid to his 

 rest. 



But a man may be thorough, and at the same time 

 we should not object if he kept his thoroughness all 

 to himself. Halford was not of that kind. He was a 

 delightful companion generous, big-hearted, amusing, 

 a sayer of good things in a human way, and finely 

 opinionated, which, of course, was not a serious matter 

 when he expected and liked you to be opinionated also. 

 He was a dangerous man to tackle in argument if your 

 knowledge of the subject was rickety. He was em- 

 phatically what is termed a well-informed man, for 



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