Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-09-02
tExract from the Life Of Jeferson1 or
MR.. JEFFERSON AS A ALovER-PERsoSAt
---. DESCRIPTION OE HIM L---.


With Mr. Jefferson, the lover succeeded
the schoolboy in the due and time honored
order, as laid down by the "mealancholy
Jacques" The only record of this af1rir is
TO be found in series of letters addressed
by him 10 his friend Page, commencing i'm.
mediaiely after he left college, and extend.
ing al intervals, through the two Succeeding
years. These are TO be found at length in
Professor fuckers life Of him, and IN the
congress edition Of his correspondence. -
lhey possess some interest perhaps, in rela.
llon 10 their subject natter but most, as the
earliest specimens of their authors epis,ola-
tory writing, which have been preserved
Though they display something of that easy
command of ianguage--that ''running pen"
-ior which he was afterwards celebrated
they exhibit no peculiar grace Of style OF
maturity OF thought. Perhaps, however,
these would scarcely be expected in the
careless, off hand efusons of boyish init
macy. II causes smile TO see The future
statesman "sighing like furnacen in first
love; concealiug, after the approved fashion
OF student life, the name of his mistress
under awkward Latin puns and Greek ana
grams, 10 bury secret which the world OF
course, was supposed 10 have vast interest
in discovering delghtfully describing hap.
Py dances in his "Belinda" in the Appollo
(tha, room in the Raleigh tavern where we
shall soon find him acting so different a
part) vo1ng the customary despairing vow,
that 'if Belinda will not accept his service it
shall never be offered 10 anoher,n and so on
to the eed of the chapter, in the well beaten
track OF immemmorial prescription. The
object Of his attachment was a Miss Rebecca
Burwell, (called Belinda as pet name or
by way Of conceameni,) whom tradition
speaks OF as more distinguished for beauty
than cleverness
Mr., Jeferson's proposals seem 10 have
been clogged with the condition tha, he
must be absent for two or three years in for
eien travel before marriage. Whether for
this, or because her preferences lay in a
different, direction, Miss Burwell semewha,
abruptly married another man inl764.
Mr.. Jefferson was generally, however,
rather favorite with the other sex, and not
wiihou, reason His appearance was enga.
ging. His face, though angular and far
from beautiful, beamed with intelligence,
with benevolence, and with the cheerful
viyacily of happy, hopeful spirit. His
complexion was rnddy and delca,ely fair
his reddish chestnut hair luxurian, and silken
His full, deep sci eyes, rather light in color
and inclning most 10 blue or brown, ac-
cording 10 the light in whio h hey are vlewd,
were peculiarly expressive and mirrored, as
the clear lake mirrors the cloud, every emo
ton which was passing through his mind,
He STOOD six feet Two and half inches in
heighh, and though very slim, his form was
erect and sinewy, and his movements dis
played elasticity and vigor. He was an ex-
pert musician, fine dancer, dashing rider,
and there was no manly exercise in which
he could not well play his part. His man.
ners were unusually graceful, but simple and
cordial. ag .l. J.. .a..ra O. f.i'
His conversation already possessed no in
considerable share OF that charm which, in
after years., was so much exlolled by friends,
aud 10 which enemies attributed so seduc,.
i've an influence, in moulding the young and
waverhg 10 his political views. There was
a .fankness, earneslness, aud coIdialiiy in
his tone, a deep sympathy with humanity,
confidence IN man aud sanguine hope
tuness in his destiny, which irresslably
Won upon the feelings not only of the ordna.
ry heater, but OF thuse grave men whose
comm-rce with The world had led them 10
form less growing estimates of it-of such
men as the schOlar-llke Small the sagacious
Wyihe, the courlly and giiled Fauquier
Mr.. Jefferson's temper was gentle, kindly,
and forarvnig. IL ii naturally had anything
Of that warmth which is The usual concumi-
lani Of affections aud sympaihies so ardent,
it had been subjugated by b.buual control
Yet: under its even placldily, there was not
wanting these indications Ui calm self.reli.
auce and courage which all inslinctiyey
recognize aud respect.
There is not an instance on record of his
naFlnS OeeH eilSaSeu III Il personal Tenconlre
on his having suffered personal indignily.
Possessing the accomplishments, he avoided
The vices Of the young Virginia gentry OF
the day, and class Of habits which, il not
vices themselves; were TOO often made, the
ptelndes 10 them. He never gambled. 20
! avoid opportunities to games which were
generally accompanied with betting, he,
never learned 10 distinguish one card from
another he was moderate in the enjoyment:
al the table 10 strong drinks he had an
aversion which rarely yielded TO any eireout
stances his mouth was unpolluled by oaih'
or tobacco Though he speaks OF enjoying
"lhe victory of iavorile horse" and ih'
death OF the fox," he never put but one
horse inlraining 10 run, he never run but 1
single race, and he very rarely joined in th'
pleasant exciiement-he knew il TO be toC
pleasant for the aspiring studeni-of ih'
chase. With snch- qualities of mind an'
character, with the favor of powerful friend
aud relatives, aud even vice-royaliy, 10 uTg'
him onward, MIR. Jefferson was not yount
man to be lightly regarded by the young o
| old of either sex. He became Of age in i76l