The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-10-23


and had not been heard of for three
years. Then suddenly. from far-of
California, comes check for the full
amount, sent by Mr.. Denton himself.
Il am Joseph Denton said he, and
this Is my wife. My life-work is end
ed And in five minutes he was
dead.
ANECDOTEs OF AARON BURR.
Some "Reminiscences 81 TAings Net
IneluAea In the Biographies, and
Some ConsradictIens 81 the Bleg.
raphies.
- &c. B. T. in New York Evening Post1
There was one New Yorker of q for
mer generation who possessed indiyid-
uality enough to be vividly remember
ed by the present, and that person was
Aaron Burr. Other famous men Of
the day were a. closely identified with
the city's history as he, but their per-
sonal memory seems to have pretty
much faded from the minds Of its clti-
zens. With Burr, however, the case
is different, and there are scores Of gray
haired gentlemen In the city, and some
old ladies, too, who remember him
perfectly. and il properly approached
will entertain one for hours with Viva
cious gossip and anecdoteI Iconcerning
him. Many OF these anecdotes were,
OF course, collected and published by
Burr's biographers, but some have es-
capped their notice; among the latter
are several related by an old gentleman
occupying Irresponsible position in this
city, and who was an intimate friend
and connection Of Col. Burr, which
refute some assertions concerning him
made by historians, and as tending to
help the public to juster estimation
of his character, are worthy of publi-
cation.
give them very nearly in the words
Of the narrator, permitting him to
speak hereafter, but avoiding double
marks of quotation:
When I first met Col. Burr, he be-
gan, he was an old man. and, as you
know, under a cloud, not bowed down
and decrepid, as expected to see him,
but ruddy and fair-faced, with the
brilliant eye and erect carriage Of q
man in his prime. Our leaye-takiAg
on this occasion most impressed me :
"You must come and see me often. -
said he. "I am an old man you are
young, and my experiences Of the world
and among men has been such that I
may be of benefit to you."
That Washington disliked Burr is a
matter of history this was due partly
to Hamilton's influence, but chiefly, II
think, to Burr's freely-spoken criticism
on his generalship. Burr thought
Washington q poor general, and, con-
ceited yougster - he was, was quite
Outspoken in his opinions ! He never
sought to impress his peculiar views OF
the man upon the young. however, as
an incident which can relate will
show. In our intercourse-as cordial
and unaffected as that between father
and son-he was speaking one day of
the battle of Monmouth, which he
characterized as succession Of mere
skirmishes, magnified by fulsome his
torians into q battle, and which, he
said, might have been won for the pa
triot arms on several occasions had
WasMngton-and here checked him
self, and after moment added: LET
us stop here. would en- no account
destroy the veneration and esteem that
you have for the character of WASH
ington."
Andrew Jackson, in his younger
days. was an ardent admirer Of Burr,
and was to have been the lAtter's most
trusted Lieutenant in the proposed
Mexican expedition. He also stoutly
defended him at the time of his trials
for treason in Richmond in 1907.
Twenty-one years after, in 1928, their
positions had changed Jackson was
the Democratic candidate for President, J
and Burr was living obscurely in New
York, poor and under q cloud; they
were not then on speaking terms. Burr
had letters and papers In his possession
that would have nipped Jackson's
Presidential aspirations in the bud;
he also held the fate of more than half
the political aspirants of that day at
his disposal, and often wonder at his
forbearance in not using this power,
the more az in many cases by SO doing
he might have cleared himself. But I
think fidelity to friends was one of his
most striking traits. Burr voted for
iJaokson for President, and his appear
ing at the polls remember perfectly.
The polling places were then in Bowl
ing Green, near the Battery, and on
this occasion there was gathered there
very much such turbulent crowd a.
now disgraces our elections. At length
Col. Burr, accompanied by friend,
one of the Swartwouts, think, drove
up, and it was soon whispered about
that he was present. Every one SEEM
ed anxious to see him; the noisy de-
monstrations Of the crowd were hush
ed. and q lane was formed, through
which he advanced to deposit his bal
lot; some of the citizens even lifted
their hats In spontaneous tribute to the
man. There was o presence about
Burr rarely met with, which made him
. marked man IN any company, and
preserved him tom personal insult.
Indeed, I never know an instance in
which he. was insulted personally,
though he was 50 often and 30 grossly
assailed by persons at q distance.
Another thing not generally known,
I believe. IL that Burr once projected q
comprehensive work on the men and
events .of. the Revplution; his more
intimate friends, however, kneY this