Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-07-04
From the N. Y. Cor. Of the Albany Express.l
A PERSONAL SKETCH OF MADAME
JUMEL, WIFE OF AARON BURR.

w 1t OE hA D
In. Lossing's Field Book of the Revo.
luton there is pictures of a house on
this Island that was erected one hundred
and fifteen years ago, and which was at
one time the headquarters of General
Washington. 1t is situated near the
High Bridge, over the Harlem river, and
though really within the city limits, is
surrounded by forest and delIs, giving it
a rural and wild aspect. The grounds
are beautifully improved, the gardens
laid out in taste, and everything around
the establishment bears the marks of re-
finement and wealth.
On this historical spot lives a venera-
BILE woman, whose history has been var
led as the changes in her country's pro-
gress have been rapid. Madame Jumel
is native of Providence, Rhode Island.
Her maiden name was Miss Bowen. She
came to this city about the year 1898,
and in 1905 was married to Monsieur Ju-
mel, native of France, but then a refu.
gee from the bloody massacre of St. Do
mingo. They did not live long together
from incompatibility of temper, or some
other cause. He soon afterwards died,
leaving her three millions of francs in
France.
She frequently visited Paris, always
living in style commensurate with her
husbands pretentions and wealth. She
moved in the highest circles, both in
France and in this country, of tn, day,
aud received the court and homage of
the most distinguished men of the time.
She subsequently married Aaron Burr,
somewhere about the year 1916, but
they, too, soon separated. After his
death, she continued to live in seclusion
at her stately residence on this island,
with the exception of occasional visits
to Paris.
She was there soon after Louis Napole-
on became Emperor, and was at the
Tuilleries on the occasion of a grand ball,
where the Emperor recognized her as the
widow of his old friend (which one ira
dition does not state. A friend of mine
visited Madame Jumel few days ago,
and this has brought freshly to my recol-
lection the romantic incidents of her che
Guered career. Her residence is described
as an earthly paradise, minus the an
gels.
Everything that art can achieve, or
taste desire, or money procure, may be
found there. Costly paintings, (and
among them genuine Ruben's, arti-
cles of vertu, presents from noble and dis
tinguished persons, autographs and eve
rything that is considered rare and cost
! ly, and curious, may be seen there in
lavish profusion.
Madame Jumel lives the life of a re-
cluse. She knows nothing of, and will
have nothing to do with her neighbors
around Fort Washington, with verv few
exceptions. Even the boys have Judi
cious fear of her, and trouble neither her
orchards nor her hOwer-gardens, nor
anything that is hers.
Every evening gun is fired off on her
premises to warn intruders. Very few
persons ever solicit permission to view
her grounds, and only a favored minori-
ty of these ever have their petition gran
ted.
This old lady, now seventy eight years
of age, has one penchant, and that is for
gathering around her refugees from Eu-
rope. She is always taking care of a
flock of them, and to make them useful,
whenever good musician comes along
she gets him the instrument with which
he is most familiar, and in this way she
keeps up very pleasant band of music,
which entertains her by their repeated
performances.
Madame Jumel, from having mingled
so much in the best society, has all the
courtly graces and blandness of manner
which distinguished les danes d. Hongeur
of the last century. To society and the
world generally she bears herself very
haughtily, forbidding anything like ap-
proaches to familiarity. She is as much
of despot in her own dominions as any
monarch who sways the sceptre. She
likes her mode of living, has wealth
enough, has seen the world, outlived the
desires of life, and will consequently prob
ably never again emerge from the quiet
enclosure other elegant residence. She
has beautiful niece living in Bordeaux,
who is married, and to whom her prop
erty will most likely descend.
The six degrees of crime are thus de-
fined. 6" He who steals a million is only
a fnancier. Who steals halfmillion is
only defaul;er Who steals hundred
thousand rogue. Who steals fifty
thousand knave. But he who steals
pair of boots or a loaf of bread is a
scoundrel of the deepest dye, and de-
serves to be lynched."
To enjoy to-day, stop worrying about
tomorrow. Next week will be just as CA
pable of taking care Of itself as this one
is. And why shoalln't it? 1t will
have seven day more experience.