Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-27
The Female Stranger.

adelphia Press writing from Kansas
City, Mo-, says "a short time ago Tde
Sunday Press printed a very pretty story
in which it is assumed that the grave
of the Female Stranger" at AleXan,
dria, Va, is the resting place of Theo-
dosia Burr, only daughter of the great
Aaron Burr, and wife of Gov. Allison,
of South Carolina. Is it?
After his disgrace Aaron Burr went
to Europe but returned in 1912 and
learned that the only child of his be.
loved TheoGosia was dead. He loved
and was beloved by no other person,
and but for Theodosia he felt and said
that he was severed from the human
race" So he urged Theodosia, who
then resided in South Carolina, to come
to him in New York, and for the pur-
pose of complying with his request she
embarked on small schooner, which
was wrecked. All on board perished,
and the accepted theory is that Theo-
dosia Burr found q watery grave III
January. 1918. The "Female Stranger
did not die until October, 1916, when
she ''sigbed out her latest breath
iu the arms of her "a isconsolate hus-
band. "
Among the many unique and quaint
inscriptions found in the old cemeteries
of Alexandria no one of them as boy or
man ever so fascinated Inc as did this:
To The Memory Ola
FEMALE STRANGER
whose mortal sutferings terminated on the
14th day of October, 1916 aged 23 years and
5 months.
This stone is placed here by her disconso
late husband, in whose arms she sighed ont
her latest breath, and who, under God, did
his utmost to soothc the dull cold ear of
death.
How loved, how valued, once, avails thee not,
To whom related or by whom bcgot;
heap of dust alone remains of thee,
'Tis all thou art and all the proud shall be.
"To Him gave all the prophets witness, that
through his name whOsoevcr beiieveth in dim
shall receive remission of sins. Acts, 10th
chapter, 43d verse.
Many years ago a citizen OF A'eyan-
dria, in weird but clever and inter-
esting little book, published under the
title of Narrative OF John Trust, :"
gave to the world what purported TO
be the history of this "Female Strang-
er," and therein described her as
stately, yet graceful; her queenly
form rose from the undulation which
acknowledged my greeting. She seem
ed, indeed the mold of form, the
union of elegance and grace before un-
dreamed Of Her eye, q diamond when
she listened, flashed like sword when
she 81 oke. A Grecian nose, perfectly
feminine in the softness of its outline,
relieved the masculine swelling of the
upper lip and made womanly the en-
tire contour of her face. Her hair lay
in its raven bsilliancy es if it had been
chisled upon her noble forehead. On
such features repose wore an air of
command and emotion took stateli-
ness
He describes her coming to Alexan-
dria at a time when the seeds of death
daily brought her nearer the sleep etc.,
nal and says "the ladies of fthehospitable
town were kind TO her; they never
asked her name or that of her family,
for, said one of them, she is stranger
and sick-two letters OF introduction
from heaven
That sounds so like the famous hos
pitality of Old Virginia that one wishes
this narrative were true, and regrets,
with Sigh, that it is only fancy
sketch, in which the vivid imagination
of the author converts the molehill OF
fact into the mountain of entertaining
fiction.
The known facts relating to the ''Fe-
male Stranger" are but few and simple.
At the close of the war visited great
aunt of mine who was born, reared and
lived at Alexandria, and was a recog-
nized society leader there in the good
old days when all the balls and recep-
tions of the National Capital were
given in that then famous and fashion
able city. She had seen the Strangers
and, perhaps, knew more of them than
anyone living. One day, nearly thirty
wears ago, upon my return from the
old cemetery, took from the lips OF
this clear headed, venerable lady the
following:
''In the early autumn of 1916, when
this city was the best part of the Dis.
| trlCt OF SOIunold, d Seuliehau az u
lady, supposed to be husband aud wife,
arrived at Alexandria and took suite
of rooms at the City Hotel, then our
principal inn. Iremember them we'll
The gentleman was travelled, scholar
| ". cultured seemed possessed of am-
Die fortune, and aside from an occasion
al hour with other gentlemen of ele'
CANT leisure, spent all his time with his
wife.
"The lady was tall and graceful, ac
complished in music and literature
dressed with exquisite taste, had mosl
beautiful hands and feet, voice o.
marvellous richness and tenderness anc
conversed as one who understood the
world, its history, literature, phi!oso
ply, music, poetry and religion. DC
casionally they appeared together or
the streets, at church, and in their lone
evening walks.
"Neither ever told their names o.
whence they came or why, nor do
remember that any questions were ask
ed, exclusive and aristocratic as oul
people then were. People were not 81
ineddlesome or SO curious as now, ant
while we really knew nothing of them
vct they were so kind and good. 81