Utterly fearless in the expression of his views, his friends know him as one upon whom they can depend, while his enemies find in him a man who can neither be frightened nor cajoled. A weak politician of an inferior grade will truckle to his adversaries and strive to conciliate by unworthy means. Mr. Haskin is the type of a politician who boldly defies his opjjonents and challenges them to a contest which they generally have the prudence to avoid. Among the notable instances of his traits may be mentioned his fearless letter to the authorities of the St. John's College, of Fordliain, representatives of a power to which weaker politicians would have yielded with obsequious reverence, while his bold and scathing rebukes of many of the prominent politicians of the present time are too well known to require mention, and his firm self-reliance has shown by its success the truth of the saying, "They can concjuer who believe they can."

MATHIAS liANTA.

Mr. Banta, who is among the best known jurists of Westchester County, and by his activity in the espousal of every just cause has brought himself prominently before its people, both in i)olitical and social life, was born in the city of New York, October 3, 1828. He was one of ten children and the only son of Solomon Banta, who married Maria Roome, of New Jersey.

While quite young his father sent him to Public School No. 3, in the Ninth Ward, New York City, from which he graduated. He then attended the private school of Mr. Starr, in Amos Street, leaving it at the age of sixteen to enter the University of the City of New York.