Clark Redpath; "Life of Garfield," by Edmund Kirke; and the memorial addresses of Senator George F. Hoar and James G. Blaine. Many friends have contributed generously from the stores of their private knowledge, and to them the author expresses his gratitude. Besides this, many newspapers, magazines and much private correspondence have been placed at the disposal of the author. It is his desire, therefore, that all who are entitled to credit should receive it. Except occasionally no credit is given in the body of the book for the information used. As the book is written for popular reading, and with a special desire to interest and instruct the young, this course was deemed the best. The author has made no effort to conceal his affection and admiration for the distinguished subject of his book. As another has expressed it, so he feels: "A great man has been cruelly snatched from us, when we apparently needed him most. And yet, as we linger over the story of his life, and catch the fine enthusiasm of his lofty nature, we can proudly point to his character as a glorious edifice, not made with hands, but beautiful in its harmonious proportions, its massive grandeur, and its graceful combination of strength and repose. There is a sense in which the empire of the dead is greater than the empire of the living. And, perhaps, there never was an instance in which this was more fully illustrated than in the marvelous range of influences which the death of our late President produced upon the world, and which, without any exaggeration, have revived our faith in human nature, and enlarged and ennobled our views of life." But it was the life of Garfield, after all, which made it possible for his death to exert such a "marvelous range of influences" upon the world. Loving wisdom much, he loved virtue more; and we are fully warranted in claiming that "he was one of the few great men who have left the world nobler, richer, and better for having lived in it." F. M. GREEN. KENT, Ohio, April, 1882. 1 CHAPTER I. THE WESTERN RESERVE. "No page of human history is so instructive and significant as the record of those early influences which develop the character and direct the lives of eminent men." This sentence, uttered by James A. Garfield in his oration on Joseph Henry, in January, 1879, is worthy to stand at the head of the pages whereon his own royal life is traced. There is but one "Western Reserve." Its name is significant, its fame is now as wide as the world, and its history furnishes a bright page in the world's volume. The character of a people is shaped or modified, more or less, by the character of the country in which they live. The mountains round about Switzerland have had their influence upon the character of the Swiss people. The mild and genial climate of Southern Italy and beautiful France furnishes, at least, one reason for the ease and grace of their people. The land of Palestine was a suitable place in which to develop the future religious conquerors of the world. The WESTERN RESERVE and James A. Garfield are names now linked together in a union "one and inseparable" forever. Because of this union and the relation |