"If I misappropriated a cent, and in walking down town, saw two men talking on the corner together, I would imagine that they were talking of my dishonesty, and the very thought would drive me mad."-Letter from Chester A. Arthur to a friend, written while holding the position of Quartermaster-General.

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CHAPTER I.

ARTHUR'S EARLY LIFE.

HE exodus from foreign lands to this country has, at all times, since the early

years of the present century, been remarkable for its steadiness-though varying during the decades. A home in freedom and a chance for a fortune in climes where centuries have not bound with iron every man's position, is always an incentive to brave spirits.

Among those who took the tide in its flow, at the beginning of the twenties, was a young Protestant Irishman, from Ballymena, County Antrim, who bore the name of William Arthur. He was eighteen years of age, a graduate of Belfast College, and thoroughly imbued with the intention of becoming a Baptist clergyman, and advocating the cause of Christ. In this he persevered, was admitted to the ministry, took a degree of D. D. and began a career of great usefulness, which did not terminate until he died, at Newtonville, near Albany, October 27th, 1875. He was, in many respects, a remarkable man. He acquired a wide fame in his chosen career, and entered successfully the great competition of authors. He published a work on "Family Names" that is to-day regarded as one of the curiosities of English

erudite literature. From 1855 to 1863, he was pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, in New York City, and he, at other times, filled pulpits at Bennington, Hinesburg, Fairfield and Williston, in Vermont, and York, Perry, Greenwich and Schnectady, Lansingburg, Hoosic, West Troy and Newtonville, in the State of New York.

He married, not long after entering the ministry, an American, Malvina Stone, who bore him a family of two sons and five daughters. Of these, Chester Allan, the subject of this sketch and, to-day, nominee for Vice-President of the United States on the Republican ticket, is the oldest.

He was born at Fairfield, Franklin County, Vermont, October 5th, 1830. After the troubles of infancy were over he encountered those of school-life, the early days of which were passed under the tutelage of his father. From his home studies he went to a wider field of instruction in the institutions of Schenectady, in the grammar school of which place he was prepared for entering Union College. This he did at the age of fifteen (1845), and took successfully the regular course, excelling in all his studies and graduating very high in the class of 1848. He was a member and took a deep interest in the Psi Upsilon Society. During this time, like many another boy who graduated with honors from an American college, he eked out his funds by teach