The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-12
Aaron Burr's Daughter.

Aaron Burr's love for his daughter The
odosia was one OF the strongest traits OF
MS character. She II was he expected TO
! make the first lady of the Mexican king
dom over which he hoped to rule as Aaron
l, and her son ne expected to create heir
presumptive
Edgar Fawcett. IN an article in the Cos
mopoEtan Magazine dweiIs upon the CHAR
acteristic of the man who shot Alexander
Hamilton. AL through the exile which fol-
lowed the dissipation OF his rebeEous
hopes Burr continued 10 write the most
affectionate paternal letters to Theodosia.
Indeed" says Mr.. Fawcett, --in all epis-
tolary literature there is nothing more
winsome and touching and paternally de-
voted than the long-pubEshed series of
his letters to his worsniped child. In every
stage of dependence, perplexity and ago
niZed mental turmoil, he remembered 10
write her pages not only filed with the
brayest self-reliance, but breathing as well
the richest and most wholesome counsel
ings. He compl.mented her upon her
nicely of style, criticised her errors in lit
erary form and finish tenderly renonstrat-
ed, fondly guided and advised. From her
early girlhood to the time of her death,
their intervals OF separation were gladden.
ed for her by these precious and often
impassioned mementos. Theodosa was
blessed by a most devoted husband, but
her father was till the last even more her
lover than he. If Aaron Burr had been
one of the worst wretches the world has
ever known, his exquisite sentiment of re-
gard for this woman would have cast up
on utter vileness an idealizing if not a re-
deeming Light. AS II was, romantcism en-
veloped even his fervers of fatherhood. He
mt 1x- ND ~ oh. L
in the ordinary fatherly way; he pedes-
it were the statue of a goddess. and he
watched it through the perpetual incense
fumes of his own alteration.
And Theodos:a, as far as we can learn,
was worthy of this ardent desfication.
Possessing beauty both Of face and form,
she had inherited much of the magical
captivation which had made her father an
ornament of all circles wherein he moved.
TIL family disgrace fell upon Theodosia
Burr Allston, she was a leader of society
both in Charleston and New York, renown-
ed as much for the shining qualities of
her intellect as for the marked elegance
Of her manners.
'Gampillo' was the pet name that ne
had bestowed on his young grandchild.
and the diary which ne kept while in Paris
never llTeS pI iONlIlS dluSlOLS 10 the DOy.
We read such passages as: 1t is now so
cold that 1 should be glad of a fire; but
to that I have great objections; for what
would become of---someth:ng, l won't tell
what, which / mediate to buy for Gam
piIlo that will make his little heart beat
Or, again: L never spend livre that I
do not calculate what pretty thing It might
have bought for you CTheodosia) or Gam
pillo.'
He was to lose both of these dear ones
Gampillo died during his grandfather's So
journ in Paris and Mrs. Alston was lost
at sea while sailing from Charleston TO
meet her father at New York.
That her steamer was boarded by p:-
rates and that poor Theodossa, with other
passengers, was compelled to walk the
plank" is tale not verified, though some
what widely believed; and Burr was forced
10 suffer far more from the uncertainty
which forever clung about his daughters
fate than II actual details of it had reached
him.