Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-10

interested more in Arnold's story of his
courting of Peggy Shippen. or you ought
to be. You know she was his second
wife. His first wife died year or two
before he came to Philadelphia, leaving
him three sons. He was thirty.seven years
old and Miss Shippen was nineteen when
he met her. He had won fame as
military commander. II IL had not been
for him Burgoyne would have won the
battle of Saratoga. His expedition to
Quebec through Maine involved one or
the most heroic marches IN all history.
There Is no doubt that he was n hero and
as such appealed to the imagination of
the youngest daughter Of Edward Ship
pen. He lived in state as military Gov.
ernor Of Philadelphia. and that still far.
ther dazzled the eyes of the girl. She
married him when she was twenty and
he was thirty.eight, and in less than two
years. while her first child was only
few months old, her husband forfeited
his claim TO honor by deliberately betray-
ing his country. Yet she remained true
to him and accompanied him to England.
She bore him three sons and one daugh-
ter. one of her sons was made a knight.
but her husband never received the hon.
ors from the king which he had expected.
She must have felt keenly her position
as the wife of traitor from whom the
stain Of his treason could not be re-
moved
Poor girl" exclaimed Miss Ames.
"Yes, and unfortunate, misguided man"
said Doctor McFabre.
"It is fortunate that Mr.. Stimson has
written his book at this time" said l.,
"As a study in treason and its conse'
auences it is of great value and impor'
tance Just now when war is raging
and misguided individuals are harborins
the notion that they know better what is
good for the world than the military lead
ers and the Governments supporting
them in the field. We may be generous
and give Arnold the benefit Of every
doubt, and yet we must admit that he
made a stupendous ethical blunder. Mr..
Stimson has so constructed his story tina,
Il is easy to read between the lines and
discover the moral defects of the man.
He makes Arnold say bitter things about
Joseph Reed, Generals Gates ana Lee, anu
he has him complain about the activity
OF his enemies, as if that justified his
attempts to betray the cause OF the colo
MES. His plot failed. but the British did
not give him any opportunity to accom-
plish his purpose in another way. No
officers would serve under him, and, al
though he was put in command of one or
two raidng expeditions, he did not ac.
complish anything. His treason destroyea
his usefulness as an instrument IN any
cause. for he had forfeited the respect
of worthy men. A note of sad regret
sounds through the whole book. If Ed
ward Everett Hale had not pre-empted
the title years before, Mr.. Stimson might
well have called his story The Man With.
out a Country"
Perhaps if some Of our pacifist citizens
troubled with an ingrowing conscience
should read it they might take warning
lest they. too, should suffer the same
fate" said Owen.
TT is good reading for all of us at this
time" said I.
GEORGE w. DOUGLAS.
MY STORY: BEING the Memoirs of Benedict Ar
mold late Major General in the Continental
Army and Brigader General in that Of His
Britannia Majesty. BY F. J. ,stimson q. s.,