PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

as an apprentice in the dry goods and drap— ery house of Robertson & McGibbon, at Paisley, this being the same store with which was connected the late famous Glasgow mer— chant, James Arthur, of James Arthur & Company. After serving a four years’ ap- prenticeship, Mr. Paton remained in the same employ two years longer, and then came to Prince Edward Island, locating in Charlottetown, where he entered the employ ‘ of Robert Young, dry goods merchant. About , a year later he entered the employ of Weeks & Findlay (afterwards W. A. Weeks & Company), and shortly afterwards, when Mr. Findlay retired from the firm, Mr. Paton became a partner and continued in business association with Mr. Weeks until June, 1892. During this time they ran two stores, one being run under Mr. Paton’s name. In 1892 Mr. Paton took over the entire business and has met with a very gratifying degree of success. He has since admitted as a partner Mr. John A. McLaren, and together they form a business combina— tion of unusual strength. The store building is forty by one hundred and sixty feet back, having also a frontage on Sydney street of seventy feet, and includes three store rooms and basement, in which they carry a full line of furniture, carpets, clothing, millinery and everything found in an up-to-date gen— eral store.

Mr. Paton has taken an active part in local civic affairs and was for a number of years a member of the city government and on the 14th of February, 1906, he was chosen to the office of mayor of Charlotte- town. Following the election, exceptions were taken to the result as announced and a scrutiny of the vote was demanded. How- ever, after proper consideration and acting on the advice of Recorder Haszard, City

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Clerk W. W. Clark made the following declaration: “I hereby declare James Paton elected mayor of Charlottetown by a major- ity of two hundred and thirty-five votes. The scrutiny demanded on behalf of Fred- erick F. Kelly (if any) I am advised is frivolous, for the reason that the number of votes polled for James Paton which are marked objected and subject to scrutiny is fifty-six, and if all should be held to be bad it could not affect the result.” In editorial comment on the election, the Charlottetown Daily Patriot of February 15th said: “Mr. Paton, the mayor-elect, enters upon his term of oflice under exceptionally favourable Cir- cumstances. He has a splendid support from citizens of all classes and creeds, and his declared policy for continuing the work of improvement in Charlottetown has been heartily endorsed. In Mr. Paton’s election to the chief magistracy of’the city of Char- lottetown there is shown a striking example of what pluck, perseverance and ability can accomplish. * * * It is not too much to say that Mr. Paton has been an alert and singularly successful business man, ranking with the mercantile princes of Prince Edward Island. While de- voting the greater portion of his time to busiress, Mr. Paton has not been unmindful of his duty to his fellow citizens and to the city in which he carries on his business. He has been identified with many movements for the moral and commercial advancement of the city. Besides being a member of the Tourist Association for the past four years he has been an active member of the city council and chairman of the street commit- tee. In this latter capacity he proved himself eminently fitted for the elevated position to which his fellow citizens have just promoted him. We therefore heartily congratulate