Memorabilia 



many letters unanswered, at least 

 when in camp, was because he left 

 them unopened, having many other 

 preventing occupations, and he thus 

 unknowingly neglected due response 

 to certain communications which he 

 had not consciously received. Many 

 of his promises and engagements re- 

 mained unperformed because it was 

 a physical impossibility to keep them. 

 In his friendly and obliging way he 

 recklessly made many conflicting and 

 interfering appointments, which, with- 

 out the gift of ubiquity, he could not 

 possibly keep. In the long run, how- 

 ever, he usually more than made up 

 for his failures ; and it may be truly 

 said that if he could not always be as 

 good as his word, he was almost al- 

 ways, sooner or later, a great deal 

 better. Moreover, he held a some- 

 what unusual view concerning" one's 

 obligation to perform certain prom- 

 ises, especially marriage engagements, 

 412 



