Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-01
AARON BURR.

| 1ue interest which Colonel Burr took
IN the education of youth has been before
alluded to. He always hal;a protege in
training, uPon whose culture he bestowed
uhwearied pains and more money than he
could always afford. The story of.Van-
derlyn, tho mos: distinguished 1potcgc he
ever had, was one which was often related
in these later years.
"He was riding along in curriclc and
pair, one day during lrts sensational term,
when one Of his horses lost shoe, and he
stopped at the next blacksmith's to have it
replaced. 1t was lonely country place,
not far from Kingston, in Ulster county.
New York. lie strolled about while the
blacksmith was at work, and, returning.
saw upon the side of stable near bv a
charcoal drawing of his own curricle and
horses. The picture, which must have
been executed in few minutes, WAS won.
derfully ecoarste and spirited, and he stood
admiring it for some time. Turning round
he noticed boy, little way of, dressed
III coarse homespun.
"Who did that!' inquired Burr, point
ing to the picture. =
II did it, said the boy,
The astonishcd traveller entered into
conversation with the lad, found him in
telligent, thougl, ignorant; learned that he
was born in the neighborhood; had no in
struction in drawing; and was engaged to
work for the blacksmith six months. Burr
wrote few words on piece Of paper,
and said, as he wrote:
MY boy, you are too smart fellow to
stay here all your life. If ever you should
want to chsnge'your employment aud see
the world, just put clean shirt in your
pocket, 60 TO New York, and go straight
to that address" handing the boy the pa
per.
ale then mounted his curricle, and was
out Of eight in moment. Several months
passed away, and the circumstance had
nearly faded from the busy senator's rccol.
Ie.tion. AS he was sitting at breakfast
one morning, at Richmond Hill, servant
pat INTO his hand small paper parcel, say.
ing tia. i: was brought by boy who was
waiting outside. Burr opened the parcel,
and found coarse, couutry-mnde, clean
shirt. Supposing il to bo mistake, he
ordered the boy to be shown in. Who
should enter but the genius of the road.
side, who placed in Burr's hand the iden
teal piece of paper he had given him.
The lad was warmly welcomed. Burr
took him into his family, educated him,
and procured him instruction in the art
which Nature had indicated should be e,e
occupation of lis lifetime. Afterward,
Burr assisted him to Europe, where he
speLt five years in the study of printing,
and became nn artist worthy of the name.
"While Burr himself was wandering in
Europe, Fanderlyn was exhibiting pictures
in the Louvre, at Paris, and receiving from,
Napoleon gold medal, besides compli-
e,ents and felicitations from the emperor's
own lips.. Vanderlyn did all lie could for
his benefactor in Paris but, unhappily, he
had the successful artists usual fortune
poverty embittered by glory. He after,
ward had commissions from Congress, and
painted the we'll known Landing of Co.
lunbus, for Ianel in the rotunda of The
Capitol at Washington. lie also painted
the portraits of Colonel Burr and Theodo.
sia, from which the engravings were taken
by which their lneaments are now known
to the public. ii, Vanderlyu died, only 6ve'
years ago, at Kingston, near where lie
drew the charcoal sketch which decided his
careeE"
Nearly half century ago, Ebenezer
Eastman. Of Salisbury, New Hampshire,
now franklin, and Major Peter; Robinson,
of Concord, travelled, by private convey.
snce, to the then West. While stspping
at Albany, Mr.. Eastman purchased, at
auction, the private carriage of Aaron
Burr, soon after, as it was said, lie had
been arrested for treason. It was stout,
massive family carriage, auch rs was in
use, By the best families, fifty years ago, and
was the same, undoubtedly, which was the
subject of the "Charcoal Sketch Mr..
Eastman brought the carriage home, and
kept it for family use many years. After
it had served it's time in that capacity, and
became much worn, a store or truck body
was Phced upon The running work, and,