Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1890 — A Traitor’s Ending. [ARTICLE]

A Traitor’s Ending.

Buffalo Commercial John Fiske tells the old story of Benedict Arnold’s treason in an article of fascinating interest written for the October Atlantic. What may be new to many readers is Mr. Fiske's statement, that all the familyfyralition goes to shdw that the last years of Benedict Arnold in London were years of bitter remorse and self-reproach. The great name which he had so gallantly won and so wretchedly lost left him no repose by nightor day. The iron frame, which had withstood the fatigue of so many trying battle-fieldsand still more trying marches through the wilderness, broke down at last under the slow torture of lost friend-hip and merited disgrace. In the last sad days in London, in June, 1801, the family tradidion says that Arnold's mind kept reverting to his old friendship with Washington. He had always carefully preserved the American uniform which he wore on the day when he made his escape to the Vulture; and now as, broken in spirit and of life, he felt the last moments coming, he called for this uniform and put it on, and decorated himself with the epaulettes and swordknot which Washington had given him at Saratoga. “Let me die,” said he,, “in this old uniform 'n which I fought my battles 1 May God forgive ma for ever putting on any father.”