The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-11

an Honest
"Penn," in the Philadelphia Bulletin.
There seems to be something like
a tendency to set up new estimate OF
Aaron Burr. Edgar Fawcett in his
latest novel of old New York draws
half-romantic picture of him in his old
age. Not many weeks ago Mrs. Bur-
goin, Mrs. Bates and other New York
women in a society for Political Study
took him up for a theme and came to
the conclusion that he was a man too
big for his time. a victim OF circum-
stances, etc. 1t is curious that women
should concern themselves at this late
day In vindicating or Frightening up
the character of q man whom their
grandmothers were taught to regard
as the most sensual lbertine in the
United States. Forty years ago James
Parton attempted, but with limited re-
suits, to incite sympathy for Burr;
but Parton liked to write biography
with a mild sense of the literary sem
sationalist in striking at a rooted opin-
ion. On the part of men who may
row think it their duty to give us a
revised estimate of Burr it is really
rot unfair to question a want of the
robust sense of distinction between
right and wrong in both private and
public morals On the part of wo-
men who now find him an object of
sympathy, If not of admiration. 1t
WOULD seem that the magic with which
he charmed their sex has survived the
grave at Princeton in which that lit
tie prince of gallantry has slept for
sixty years.
BURR AND JACKSON.
1t was said of Andrew ia ykson, who
met Burr in the old senate chamber at
Sixth and Chestnut streets, that the
virile courtliness of manner which
caused Old Hickory at one time to be
ranked with Charles X and the Indian
chief, Tecumseh, as the three nest Iiv-
ing specimens of dignity and gracious
NESS. came from contact With the pol
ished urbanity of the New Yorker.
There is not much foundation for this
remark so far as it concerns the inti-
macy of the two men; but it serves to
show the regard in which Burr's man
ners were held by both the men and
women of his time. With his fine black
eyes, his graceful carriage, his ready
conversation on any subject and his
art, as he called it, of talking sweet
little nothings," there were few women
who could resist entirely his fascina-
toin when he choose to exert it. From
the time when the notorious Mrs. Cogh-
Ian, who at fourteen, with the mould
and the desires of a woman, felt the
influence of the amorous young soldier,
Gown to the time when almost an oc-
togenarian, he married the spirited
Madame Jumel for the sake of her
property, only the period of his happy
union with Theodosia Provost is rea.
sonably free from the suspicion of an
intrigue. The career of such a lover
of their sex would. indeed naturally
interest all women.
NOT A HYPOCRITE.
Perhaps the most favorable thing
that can be said of Burr's conduct is
that he was never known TO play the
part of a hypocrite, not only in ordin-
airy morals, but in politics and religion.
He often seems to have had a frank
way of confessing his vices and weak
nesses with the confidence of a vivac-
ious man of intellect who can afford, in
the absence of the moral sense in his
composition, to be candid. For exam
pie, he was naturally antagonistic to
Washington, refused to acknowledge
sneered at him as a sort of rustic block
head. True, on such occasions as when
at the head of the senators he called
on Washington in his Market street
house to present the address of con-
graduation which he had written, he
used the adjectives of formal courtesy,
but each had privately an instictne
distrust and contempt of the other. If
woman saddled upon him the re-
sponsibility for the paternity of a child,
as happened when he was long past
his three-score and ten. he was in
clined to be proud of making the ac-
knowledgement. When living here he
entertained Talleyrand and Volney and
other Frenchmen whom the people
looked upon as the vilest reprobates in
irreligion, and even offered hospitality
to Louis Philippe in his youth, he had
no apologies TO offer. A Princeton lad
OF eighteen, he came to the conclusion
that the Calvinistic theology of his
grandfather, the great Jonathan Ed
wards, and of his father, the Aaron
Burr who is illustrious in the history
Of the College of New Jersey, was a
humbug, deliberately rejected it, and
set W the Chesterfieldan code of the
y Honor of Gentleman as his moral
standard; and he never seems even
for the sake Of political success to
have affected the appearance of piety,
=. despite the constant appeals made to
Kim by the clergy in the name of his
pious ancestors.
AS A LETTER WRITER.
1t is one of the traditions of Phladel-
phia history that when Burr's father
died, the orphaned lad was brought
down from Princeton and sheltered for
time in the Shipper household. The
daughter of the house who married
Benedict Arnold, fled to him for pro-
lection, and he kept the secret of her
completely with her husbands treason
until after she was beyond the power
OF her enemies to resent the disclos-
ure, 1t was here that he wrote day
after day In the senate chamber to his
wife and his daughter Theodosia the
mCst charming little eplstles Burr APP
pears at his best in his relations 10
these women. His wife was ten years
older than himself, neither rich nor a
beauty and with children OF her own
by first marriage. But she must have
had supreme charm Of mind and man.
ner to captivate Burr, who long held
her IN he the AnaQt nA NJ