The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-05

4 u which New Haven people are
proud, but associated with his
early life here are still to be seen some
interesting relics. New Haven consoles
herself, however, with the reflection
that the Benedict Arnold who trod her
green. who instructed and led her sol
der youth and who was foremost in
New Haven society and trade for
decade just before the Revolutionary
war. was a much more respectable
man than the Benedict Arnold who be-
trayed his country to the British later
at West Point.
In fact, the Arnold whom New Ha-
ven knew from 1851 10 1775 was one
worth knowing Ambition carried him
away later, when he joined the AIneri-
can army under General Washington,
and envy ruled his career still later.
when he was Governor of Philadelphia.
and. deprived of the military honors
which he considered were his due he
wound up his public life the victim OF
his own weak pride, ending his days q
social outcast among the people to
whom he had given over his honor But
when he lived in the old Water street
mansion in New Haven, which is still
standing, and was at the height of his
family business and social career, he
was a different man. Tradition has 1t
that he was among the finest gentlemen
of New Haven, that ne was the life OF
much or the best society. that he led
in all the gayeties of the town, carried
on lucrative West Indies trading, and
was regarded by every one with the
greatest respect and admiration.
1t is not difficult to believe this. Ben
edict Arnold was a man ambitious for
personaI advancement. assiduous IL dU-
ties that reflected credit upon himself,
but weak in the face OF temptation,
and easily led by adverse circumstances
to choose the worst part and show the
worst side Had Arnold lived at an
other time he might easily have be-
come q most honored citizen. Living
when he did, and falling victim TO
the petty jealousies of a disorganized
army. he gave in and turned traitor.
His personal pride was stronger than
his patriotism.
But when he lived in New Haven
there was no man who held high
head higher or who had better reason
COR so doing. Arnold came 10 New Ha-
ven from Norwich in 1852, an appren-
tice to a druggist. He was of Z good
family and of fair circumstances in
Norwich, but his early love for a life
of greater activity than his native town
could promise sent him to New Haven,
then the largest town in the colony.
He stopped in New London on his way
here. but left few relies of his stay be-
hind him In after years he led reg
iment of British troops on hostile
visit to the town. and wreaked
bloody vengeance on his former assoc
ciates. This will always remain one or
the worst bIots on Benedict ArnolG' s
memory. To have been able 10 put his
own countrymen to the sword showed
that he was sunk even deeper than i
political traitor
Arnold had learned the trad o. an
apotrecary, and he took this - r+hen
he came TO New Haven with inrnedia te
success. He started in business IN
Chapel street, opposite the Yale cam
pus. but later moved 10 substential
shop in Leather Lane. now George
street. near the spot where New Ha-
ven was settled in 1881 This shop was
at the town market place, where cour-
trynen and tradesmen gathered every
day. and his business waxed prosperous
at once. The sign which he swung
over his shop door is now hanging in
the New Haven Colony Historical So
ciety rooms. and reads: