The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11

each. This, as I say, was comparatively
easy for the Government had printed most
of them. Everything else was manu- script,
widely scattered and very often hard to
obtain.
AT last I was swinging along in the
narrative, and had brought him to his early
military exploits. when noticed title in
one of the big magazines. There was some
more Arnold.
This was called The prologue to the
American Revolution and in four or five
issues went over the same ground as the
other book. going but little further 1t was
written by professor of Dartmouth Col
lege, and besides embodying everything
/ had found in that epoch, I'm afraid the
man wrote better.
Il resolved to kill all about the expedi.
ton in my biography, although / had
cherished that part fondly. One of these
authors had gone over the line OF march
In a canoe, SO ] could hardly have been so
accurate, unless l stole the description
bodily. I recast what | had written and
went on quietly and secretly.
within two mouths came another blow.
This was book on the battle of Saratoga.
claiming the victory FOR Arnold and proving
that Gen. Gates, who was uuminally In COM
mand, was entitled to none of the glory.
This man had collected number OF
letters that testified to the intent of Gates
to Islander and humiliate Arnold He $50
introduced some correspondence of the
Conway clique that showed that they, IN
cluded Arnold with Washington in their
purpose.
An this had imagined my exclusive
domain. ! was compelled again to re-,
vamp my stuff to avoid putting as original
what ! had hunted up year before.
1t with some novelty till fellow brought
out two big books frankly, entitled BIZ
ography of Benedict Arnold In these
there was not a single idea or fact that
had about Arnold's wife and her con
nection with the sale of West Point that
was not set forth, and done very well, too;
apparently he had had resources that had
been closed to me.
"A month later a retired army officer
published brochure on The Assault on
was followed by similar volume on The
Tactical Skill Of Gen. Benedict Arnold
A 400 page Defence Of Gen. Arnold came
next, and finally the magazines took II
up and essays appeared all over the
Il gave it up in despair and pigeon-holed
my manuscript, in the faint hope that
enough Of what had been printed would
be forgotten after q few years 10 allow me TO
make a short article or two.
Il pitched the whole thing away when
Jones came in last week. Jones makes
pictures for the weekles. He had been
up the State for few months and he burst
in on me, vibrant with enthusiasm. BY
the way, ! don't think he ever reads any
thing but historical novels and isn't much
in touch with current literature.
BY Jove,' he said, all out of breath
I've got one Of the most original ideas
for a little book I'm going to write you
ever heard! I've been up to Lake Cham
plain, near where Benedict Arnold was in
l775. / always thought that there was
more to that West Point bust
ness than was ever revealed After he
won the naval battle on the lake I've dis
covered that Gen. Schuyler became ftii-
ously jealous OF him and his enmity and
Mrs. Arnolds sympathy with the English
Hold on said I. Wait until / get rid
Of this pile of paper / threw it into the
CRATE. There II goes, l went on-'your
Inspiration, too Then I told him about
the other fellows"