The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-04-06
TheOdOsia Burr.

/ 1tO4 dlQ ItOt, Ao Wao uue Gay QElflDS
along, a lonely ceuntry road in Ulster
county. New York, when his horse cast a
shoe, and he stopped at blacksmith shop to
have it replaced While waiting the COM
pletion of the operation, he happened to
glance at the door of the rude building, and
saw there truthful and vigorous drawing Of
his vehicle and team done in charcoal, which
must have been executed in very few min
utes. He inquired for the artist, and half
grown boy, dressed in coarse garments, step
ped forward and said II did it sir" Burr
entered into conversation with the lad, and
soon ascertained that though wholly unodu-
Gated he was yet unusually bright and intel
ligent that he was born and reared in the
neighborhood, and mad hired Himself to the
blacksmith for six months.
Writing few lines on slip of paper,
Burr handed it to him, and remarked: "My
boy, you are too smart fellow to stay here
all your life. II you ever want to change
employment and see something of the world,
put clean shirt in your pocket, 60 to New
York, and come straight to that address
His innumerable schemes, and cares and du-
ties of political life soon drove the incident
from the Senator's mind and he was surpris-
cd one morning some months later, whilo sit
ting at break fast at his residence at Rich
mond Hill, whena servant entered and deliver
ed him small bundle which had been brought
by boy who was waiting outside. Open
ing the package he found within a clumsily
made clean shirt
Thinking there must be mistake, he Or
dered the boy shown up, and in a moment
I'll 81, .L.3
with the slip Of paper given him as guide
and introduction. Burr gave him hearty
welcome, took him into his family, directed
his education, procured him instruction in
the primary principles of drawing and col
oring, and finally assisted himte go to Eu-
rope, where he spent five years. When mis-
fortune and misdeeds had driven the patron
iriendless, pennilcss exile across the sea
the protege was exhibiting his pictures at
the Louvre and gaining compliments and
god medal from Napoleon.
He did all he could to aid his benefactor
when they met in Paris, but though Wander
lyn had won fame, money was almost as scarce
with him as with Burr. He came back to
America, painted the Landing of Colum
bus, now in the rotunda of the Capitol at
Washington the portrait Of Jackson in the
City Hall, New York, and other well-known
works, and died not long since near the spot
| where he received his first encouragement to
study the art his achievements have adorned
Previous to his tour abroad Vanderlyn
painted the portraits Of Burr and his daush-
ter, which are now familiar to all through
the engravings attached to the lives of the
| former, written by Matthew i. Davis and
James Parton. This portrait of Theodosia.
next to the idolized original, Burr priced
more than all else the world contained 1t
hung in his drawing room at Richmond Hill.
| and whenever Theodosias birth day came
round, and after her marriage to Governor
Aston and remova! to South Carolina, it was
always brought out for the admiration and
toasts Of the assembled guests
| When he went % Europe he carried it
with him, and whether visiting the HOUSES of
distiue uished people in England, or hiding
in Partisan garnet, the sweet face looking
from the dumb canvass, was ever near to
brighten and to bless. He brought it back
to New York, and it was at his bedside when
he died. From the death chamber the por-
trait was transferred to the keeping of Miss
Theodosia Provost, daughter of John B
| EfeVoSt, DUR stepsou 1Hare IL remained
for some time and was then carried to
South America by another member Of the
family. Hl
Returning from thence it found Temporal
ry Judgment in the household of Rev. DR.
Breckenridge of Pleasant Hill, Missouri,
whose wife was also daughter of John b
Provost. A few weeks since it passed into
the possession Of Mrs. Lucy Breckinridge Of
Alton, Illinois, and is now in. the studio Of
Mr.. J. R. Stuart, corner Of Fifth and Olive
Streets st. Louis. This historic picture is
on canvass rather under the ordinary size
for half lengths, and still has the wooden
frame painted black and vanished, which it
! probably wore seventy years ago.
1t shows evidence of age and travel, but
1.-THE accurate drawing and careful cooring for
which Vandelyn was noted, are yet plainly
perceptible, and the soft brown hair, hazel
| eyes, clear cut nose and lips, cheeks blusling
with the pale tint of the rose, recall in life
like reality, the face and form of her over
whose unknown grave the ocean rolls. and
whose story is one of the saddest aud the NO
blcst recorded in American annals.
A poo DECIDES A CAsE.-An Interesting
exhibition OF canine sagaeity took place in
Mayor Cobbs' Court few days since, which