Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-22
WHY AARON BURR PLEASED.

A Charming Grace of Manner that Modern
Society Men Might Copy.
4 chapter devoted to DR.. Hague's early
impression of that remarkable parsonage
in our American history, Aaron Burr,
deserves more than a passing notice.
The family relation ship to his accom-
plished and brilliant wife gave the shooI-
boy AMIDST daily opportunities for observ-
ing the charm of Colonel Burr's manner
and conversation. DR.. Hague enlarges
with enthusiasm upon the ease with which
that accomplished man put himself in
communication with people of every
class, from the highest to the lowest,
from the most cultured to the rudest, old
and young alike; instinctively quick to
adjust himself, as to thought, tones and
manner, to any personal presence what
soever, confident in his ability to win re-
sponsive feeling, ard realize the aim, or
even the wh1m, that may have compelled
him at the time.'' For Illustration he
describes the entrance of the colonel into
the pa1gor, once when he had himself been
left there for moment alone: "His
physique, air, style of movement, realize
boys highest ideal of the soldier and
the gentleman, while his keen aud genial
glance and sunny smile, expressive of q
personal interest as real as if had been
Senator, awaked q feeling quickly re-
sponsive to the tone Of cheer in his greet
ing: well, Will, I'm glad to see you,
Have they left you here aIone?' DR..
Hague sums the aggregate of the impress
sion which this fascinating man made
upon him as a boy, and says that Colonel
Burr realized to his youthful concription
'the highest type of cultured manhood,
and awakened an intense desire TO appro-
pirate an6 assimilate the elements of
manly power of which he was ever before
me as the most complete exponent"
DR.. Hague has made ATTEMPTS to ana
Iyze the secret of the wonderful social
success of Aaron Burr and ascribes it to
the neverfalling courtesy and cordiality
which he manifested to all, and to his
readiness 80 adapt himself to others and
to express interest in them and sympathy
for them. He pleased because, buoyant
with life and enthusiasm, he sought to
please. A careful consideration of this
chapter might repay some of the young
as pIrants to social success at the present
day. For some years type Of character
that has long been known in Europe has
begun to be copied in this country. 1t
consists in the adoption of sort of blase
manner which seeEs designed to an
rounce that TIE happy individual is so
profoundly impressed with his own i'm
portance that he cannot possibly make
an effort to please any one else; that he
has already seen everything in the world
that is worth seeing and done everything
that is worth doing, that he has judged
everything, and has concluded that there
is nothing more that can possibly inter
est him. With this there is an effort to
cultivate perfect nexpressiveness as of
manner, and to look down with pitiful
Kind of condescension on the weakness
of those who manifest any capacity for
hearty enjoyment or any indication of
enthusiasm or interest in anything.
Aaron Burr certainly did not affect a
Buddhist's stolidity; and a profound
contemplation of nothing is not the high
est achievement of the human intellect.