The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-01-08
4 STORY OF AARON BURR.

Burr is said to have been by Mr., Par
ton, Gin his biography one of the most
generous of men, and fond of educating
yonng people. He gives 4 curious story
in illustration
He was riding along in a curricle and
pair, one day during his senatorial term,
when one of his horses lost a shoe; and
he stopped at the next blacksmith's to
have it replaced. 1t was a lonely country
place not far from Kingston, in Ulster
county, New York. He strolled about
while the blacksmith was at work, end,
returning, saw upon the side of stable
near by a charcoal drawing of his own
curricle and horses. The picture which
must have been executed in a very few
minutes, was wonderfully accurate and
spirited, and he stood admiring it for
some time. Turning round, he noticed
boy little way off, dressed in coarse
homespun.
"Who did that p inquired Burr, point
ing to the picture.
II did it, said the boy.
The astonished traveller entered into
conversation with the lad, found him in
telligent. though ignorant, learned that
he Was born in the neighborhood, and
had no instruction in drawing, and was
engaged to work for the blacksmith six
months. Burr wrote a few words on a
piece of paper, and said, IS he wrote:
My boy, you are too smart fellow
to stay here all your life. If ever you
should want to change your employment
and see the world, just put q clean ahirt
into your pocket, GO to New York, and
go straight to that address, handing the
boy the paper.
He then entered his curricle and was
out OF sight i'll a moment. Some months
passed away, and the circumstance had
nearly faded from the busy senator's
recollection. As he he was sitting at
breakfast one. morning, at Richmond
Hill, a servant put into his hand a parcel,
saying that it was brought by boy who
was waiting outside.
Burr opened the parcel, and found
coarse, country made, clean shirt. Sup
posing it to be a mistake, he ordered the
boy to be shown in. Who should enter
bat the genius of the roadside, who
placed in Burr's hand the identical piece
of paper he had given him. The lad was
warmly welcomed. Burr took him into
the family, educated him, and procured
him instruction III the art which nature
had indicated should be the occupation
of his life time. Afterward, Burr assist
ell him in Europe, where he spent five
years in the study of painting, and be-
came an artist worthy of his name.
While Burr himself was wanding in
Europe, Vanderlyn was exhibiting pic
lures in the Louvre, at Paris, and receiv-
ing from Napoleon a gold medal, besides
compliments and fluctuations from the
emperor's own lips. Vanderlyn did all
he could for his benefactor in Paris; but
uuhappily he had the successful artists
usual fortune-poverty embittered by
glory He afterwards had commissions
from congress, and painted the we'll
known Landing of Columbus for
panel III the rotunda OF the capitol at
Washington. He also painted the por-
traits of Col. Burr and Theodosia from
which the engrayings were taken by
which their ineaments are now known
to the public. Yanderlyn died only five
years ago at Kingston, near the spot
| where he drew the charcoal sketch which
decided his career"