The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-02-25
Aaron Burr's Generosity j..


Burr is said to hive been by Mr.. Parton
lin his recent biography one Of the most
generous Of men, and extremely fond Of
educating young people. Ho gives a curl.
ous illustration: ...... ... .,..s-.. ,,.-,-.
"He was riding along in a currielo and
pair, ono day, during his senatorial term
when one of his horses lost a, shoe; and he
stopped at the next blncksmith's to have il
replaced. 1t was lonely country place,
not far from Kingston, in Ulster county
New York. He sTolled about while the
blacksmith was at work, and, returning, saw
upon the side Of a stable near by q charcoal
drawing Of bis own curricle and horses
The picture, which must have been execut.
ed in a very few minutes, was wonderfully
accurate and spirited, and he stood sdmiriDg
it for some time. Turning round, he no.ic-
ed boy a little way of, dressed in coarse
homespun. a.....-..-s.s d. 7-.. ID. ..... g..
"Who did thatl" inquired Burr. pointing
to the picture. .g .j-.s.~ g .s, q. srss as
81 did it," said the boy.
"The astonished travelled traveller enter
ed into conversation with the lad, found
him intelligent, though ignorant, learned
that he was born in the neighborhood, and
had no instruction in drawing, and was en-.
gagged to work for the blacksmith six months.
Burr wrote few words on : piece Of paper
and said, as he wrote: ',s'
"My boy, you are too smart fellow to
stay here all your life. II ever you should
want to change your employment and see
the world, just put clean shirt into your
pocket, SO 10 New York, and 60 straight TO
that address, handing the boy the pnper. ~
"He then moanted his curricls and was
out Of sight ina moment. Several months
passed away, and the circumstance had
nearly faded from the busy senutor's recol
lection. As he was sitting at breakfast one
morning. at Richmond Hill, servsnt put
into his. hand small paper parcel. saying
that it was brought BY boy who was wait
ing outside. z1 o. ..s .r .a
"Burr opened the parcel, and found q
coarse, countrywide clean shirt. Suppos
\ ing it to be q mistake, he ordered the boy to
be shown in. Who should enter but ths
Genius Of the Roadside, who placed In
Burr's hand the identical piece Of paper b
had given him. The lad was warmly wei
cOmed. Burr took him into his family, edu
Gated him, and procured him instruction IL
T the art which nature had indicated should b
the occupation Of his lifetime. Afterward
Burr assisted him to Europe. where be spen
five years 10 the study Of painting, and bs
/ came an artis, worthy Of the nams.
/ awhile Burr himself was wandering IN
/ Europe, Vanderlyn was exhibiting, picture
In the Louvre, at Paris, and receiving frou
b Napoleon gold medal, besides compliment
= and fluctuations from the emperor's ow
lips. yanderlyn did ell be could fer hi
I lbeaefactor In Paris; but uBhsppily he ha
n the successful artist's usual fortune-po,
" erty embittered by glory. He afterwar
had commissions from Congress, and pain
ed the we'll known Landing Of Columbus
A for panel in the rotunda Of the Capitol I
+ Washington. Heaiso painted the Portra
A Of Colonel Burr and TheodOsia from wliic
: the engravings were taken BY which the
!. lineaments are now known to the publie.-
II vanderlyn died only Ave years ago at King
. ton. near the spot where he drew tho cha
\ coal sketch which decided bic career"