kind of talent is
most rapidly recognized and utilized, that this particular form of
swift promotion is really possible. But while Garfield was still at
his Institute, he was taking a vigorous part in local politics,
especially on the slavery question. Whenever there was a political
meeting at Hiram, the young schoolmaster was always called upon to take
the anti-slavery side; and he delivered himself so effectively upon
this favourite topic that he began to be looked upon as a rising
political character. In America, politics are less confined to any one
class than in Europe; and there would be nothing unusual in the
selection of a schoolmaster who could talk to a seat in the local or
general legislature. The practice of paying members makes it possible
for comparatively poor men to offer themselves as candidates; and
politics are thus a career, in the sense of a livelihood, far more than
in any other country.

In 1858, Garfield married a lady who had been a fellow-student of his
in earlier days, and to whom he had been long engaged. In the
succeeding year, he got an invitation which greatly pleased and
flattered him. The authorities at Williams College asked him to
deliver the "Master's Oration" at their annual festival; an unusual
compliment to pay to so young a man, and one who had so recently taken
his degree. It was the first opportunity he had ever had for a
pleasure-trip, and taking his young wife with him (proud indeed, we may
be sure, at this earliest honour of his life, the precursor of so many
more) he went to Massachusetts by a somewhat roundabout but very
picturesque route, down the Great Lakes, through the Thousand Islands,
over the St. Lawrence rapids, and on to Quebec, the only town in
America which from its old-world look can lay claim to the sort of
beauty which so many ancient European cities abundantly possess. He
delivered his address with much applause, and returned to his Ohio home
well satisfied with this pleasant outing.

Immediately on his return, the speech-making schoolmaster was met by a
very sudden and unexpected request that he would allow himself to be
nominated for the State legislature. Every state of the Union has its
own separate little legislative body, consisting of two houses; and it
was to the upper of these, the Senate of Ohio, that James Garfield was
asked to become a candidate. The schoolmaster consented; and as those
were times of very great excitement, when the South