Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25

made to rehabilitate Aaron Burr IN the
minds OF his countrymen 1t IS by no means
remarka BILE that plea should be entered IN
behalf of the arch traitor, Arnold, whose
name today remains, as even his present
apologist acknowledges, "byWord. Mss
ing and a reproach." Mr.. Todd, who IS a
descendant of Burr has already undertaken
defense of that person, In different style
from that employed by Mr.. Pidgin of Bos-
ton, who sought to cover the historical de-
ficiencies of his material by resort to nc
ton. For Arnold the present author enters
the plea of Adam. who aXerred ;, thaJ sis
cards as insufficient the explanation which
history has accepted that Arnold was
tempted by British gold and stung into
treason by American ingratitude ana mus
tice To find the real cause of his defectlon
one must seek deeper, and his defense OF
Arnold therefore rests upon the assertion
that it was Mrs. Arnold who suggested and
pressed the idea of treason to her husband
Mr. Todd describes her as a Tory-Arnold
married her in middle life while military
governor of Philadelphia, she being his sec
ond wife-who held the utmost contempt
for the revolutionists. She had consorted
with the British officers during their occu-
patton of Philadelphia, notably with Major
Andre, and when Arnold was reprimanded
by Washington at the instance of court
martial before which Arnold was tried on
series of charges brought by the supreme
executive council of Pennsylvania she
played upon his pride until he yielded to
her opportunities and to the British over
lures instigated. Mr.. Todd believes, by her.
The evidence adduced to support this view
is flimsy It consists merely in supposed
confession to an intimate friend that Mrs.
Arnold was acting part in her hysterical
deplorings Of Arnold's treason following
his flight. That confession has in turn been
assailed as having been manufactured by
Aaron Burr, who, Mrs. Arnolds family
aver, attempted to seduce her while acting
as her escort in travelling. Thus Mr.. Todd
Io@1 v,of he co n ArYnnI INV
stronger than It was before. assuming that
complete proof of his wife's part in the
treason would in any measure have re-
habilitated him in the mind of posterity. 1t
is to be questioned whether Arnold. who.
whatever may have been his faults and
however great his crime, was undeniably a
brave man, would have cOuntenanced such
an effort to hide his shame behind his
wffe's skirts It Is to Mr.. Todd's credit
that he does not attempt to condone the
treason itself, and his description OF Ar
nold's career prior to that event, while par
tisan, is interesting.
CHILDREN OF DESTINY. By Molly Elliot Sea-
we'll author OF ranGeska, etc Ta Phss
MERRILL Company.
Miss SeaweA is gradually shifting her
ground. From 1.-The Sprightly Romance Of
Marsac" to Children of Destiny is a long
stride, carrying this popular and versatile
author into ground with which her admirers
are not in this connection familiar. There
is no trace in this story of the Bohemian
flavor of her stories of modern Partisan
life. There is no leaven Of sparkling wit
to tighten the tragic lump. There are dis
courses on theology. on the other hand.
and a steadily advancing fatal cloud which
finally envelopes the characters in gloom just
as the brightness of a long day seemed
certain to be theirs. They are interesting
people. residents of Virginia In the early
part of the past century. The neighborhood
race track is an important factor in the de-
velopment of the story. and the novel IN
cludes among its most interesting features
a description of great match race which
has a potent influence on the lives of the
principals. The eliminating tragedy, in
volving the rescue of young lad whose
true status forms the mystery around
which the plot rev0lves. and the death Of
the central figure. his natural father, man
Of fine qualities and commanding the SYM
pathies Of the reader despite his unpromis-
ing Introduction. Is dramatically rendered
although its force Is lessened by debate
upon questions OF philosophy with which
the story closes.