The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-30
TRAGEDY IN LIFE
OF AARON BURR
Recalled by the Death of His One
Time Benefactress.
PASSION THAT SWEPT TWO LIVES
Death Strangely United the Two Low
crs Beneath Classic Princeton's
Elms-Thc Sad End Of Gather
inc Bullock, His Child-Loyc.

The death OF Miss Caroline Swartout.
who sheltered Aaron Burr in her home az
ter his duel with Alexander Hamilton. re-
calls the memory OF the great traitor TO
many. 1t is a fact little known that
carly in Burr's life he figured in a story
which was more pathetic and more tragic
for one actor than any Of the latter cpl
sOdcs Of his eventful life.
A gentleman of Princeton, y. J.. visit.
Ing Cincinnati last week. said that scarce
ly a day passes that some visitor 20
Princeton does not lay flowers on the
humble mound above the sleeping Cathe-
rine Bullock. while the grave Of Aaron
Burr. which is also in Princeton, IS, IL
scarce need De said. never honored in
similar manner.
The story that links these graves to-
gcther IS a romance of the early days Of
the republic and it IS as sad and tragic
in It's way as any OF fiction.
II was in 1869 that Aaron Buff made his
appearance I'm Princeton. 10 was I'm the
year when WING Hall was founded and
before the Boston tea party had been
thought of. He WAS only fourteen years
old. His father had been president Of
the college and Jonathan Edwards, his
grandfather. was president when he en-
tered His intellect was wonderfully
developed for his age. He led lonely
life. caring little for the society Of his
fellow students. much for that Of his
books. I'm religion he was skeptici I'm
morality. Of loose principle wide con-
trast 20 his Calvinistic ancestors. In this
solitary way he passed the first two years
of his college course. lie was then ready
To graduate. but the faculty refused 20
allow him 10 do SO on account of his eX-
treme youth. His senior year was there
e. IL. ~, hr
Of college duties. lie spent his time In
reading and in taking long walks about
the town.
THEIR MEETING.
II was some time in the spring Of 1772
that he met Catherine Bullock. the
daughter of a farmer whose land abutted
the town. She was young ignorant
girl slightly older than Burr. extremely
beautiful and full Of life and passion He
was also very young well formed, with
"a face Of manly beauty and Intelligence.
Already his manners had much or that
suaye grace which made the titled women |
of Europe love him I'm after years, when !
he fled his country q despised and rejected !
outcast. He was fun of ideals, and cm- |
bodied his ideal in the passionate rustic /
beauty of Catherine Bullock Each loved |
the 0ther-he with the brief. fierce pas |
sion that kills the object of its love: she. |
with the stoadier flame of alteration that |
burns on and on through sorrow and |
shame until d.. too. destroys the heart |
in which II burns
He told her Of his love In the flower |
strewn fields. and as they walked to- |
gethe7 i'm the grand old forests. where |
then the progress Of civilization had made 1
no impression. lie swOre the old. false. |
sweet VOWS that have cursed many a /
woman's life before and since. And she /
listened all too willingly. forgetting her
stern farmer father. her lowly position,
the rank and fortune Of her lover.
vows EXCHANGED.
Then came the college commencement /
and Burr went away. promising TO return
and leep the vows DE had sworn. But
ne never came again. The mad current
OF life in New York. the exciting events
preceding the revolution caught and
swept him away-away into a wider and
broader life, I'm which she had no part
She waited on patiently, silently, en-
during The thoughts Of the shame that
must soon come upon her. never faltering
I'm her love. Perhaps once or twice
badly spelled. tear-stained note came 20
disturb the pleasure of the miscrcant |
lover. But doubtless. also. he never paid
any attention TO IL. for women were all
ways kind 20 Aaron Burr and many q
victim fell beneath the charm Of his adj
dress. The country girl with the ra-
diant cheeks and the glowing form was
with some remorse with
more Impotence
The summer came and ProvincetOn took
on its faircst dress. The shout Of the
student, the ring Of the chapel bell. the
hum and hustle incident TO college life
AN were hushed. The town slept be-
meath its leafy bower But the peace
and quiet of town and countryside only
intensified the wild struggle Of the.lonely
girl with her burden Of sorrow. Her
stern and religious parents would look
Irnrr, ., garnrfnro fror1 tho ct~afoh. and |