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154 Engineers and to a number of other engineering and military organizations. Aside from social duties he finds his principal recreation in horseback riding. While contact with men in active life in his own opinion has exerted the most important moulding influence upon Colonel Biddle's character, he has avoided politics, confining his activity to his military and official duties. He seems to have been led into his profession by chance rather than by any intentional influence from his parents, or any especial predilection of his own; though it may be believed that the distinguished part played by his ancestors in military and naval affairs influenced him, consciously or unconsciously, in the choice of a career.