The age-herald., 1898-01-16
Aaron BuPP'S-
 D0uQht6p Th6OdOSI0

MI JdiAeS ueulcdlGu HIS 1lle anu Times of Aaron Burr to "the memory of Theodosia, the daughter" In this very in- teresting book. the author says that it never would have been written had he not been stimulated to the work by belief that the man who was the object of such reverential affection as Aaron Burr in- spired in such daughter could not have been "aS black as he is painted" and must have had far more of good in him than he is credited wi'h by popular opinion. In his darkest da,. $, when the sun of pros- perity had set forever. the daughter wrote this to his father: q witness your ex- traordinary fortitude with new wonder at every new misfortune. Often, after reflect ing this subject, you appear to me so superior, so elevated above all other men; I contemplate you with such a strange mixture of humility, admiration, rever- ence, love and pride that very little super stition would be necessary to make me worship you as a superior being-such en- thusiasm does your character excite in me. When 1 afterward revert to myself, how insignificant do my best qualities ap- pear. My vanity would be greater, if I had not been placed so near you; and yet my pride is our relationship. l had rather not live than not be the daughter of such a man"
 Col. Burr was married to Mrs. Theodosia Provost July 2. 11s2. She was of Swiss extraction, her family name De Visme; the widow of British officer, highly connected in England. and the mother of two boys at the time of her second marriage, and probably year or two older than her second husband-who was then only 26. When RUrF OCf0pppaTiar ha said to a near friend: "The mother of my Theo was the best woman and finest lady I have ever known
 The enly child of this marriage was born at Albany in 17S3 and named after the mother The idol of both parents and ex- ceptionally GTight, she was educated with the utmost care, and, from the unanimous testimony of those who knew her in later years. grew into an exceptionally brilliant and beautiful woman. She was only Il when her mother died, and at the age of A was the mistress of her fathers house, doing its horprs with ease, grace and dignity which would have been remarka- ble iH a young lady of much more mature age. At 19 she married Joseph Aston, a scion of one of the oldest families in South Carolina and afterward governor of the state. He was only three years older than his bride. From the time of her marriage Theodosa lived in Charleston, and at a country seat near by called "The Oaks,
 
 Washington and New York and maintain ing with him constant correspondence If Burr ever had a real confidant it was cer- tainly his daughter. One child was born of the marriage; son, bearing the name of Aaron Burr Alston, in whom the grand father took almost as deep an interest as did the mother. Meanwhile Burr had fallen from his high estate' to rise no more, and his only consolation, when literally facing a world in h dotY n lfnr and r, ..f,1 son. And of both of these he was soon to be robbed by remorseless death But six weeks after his return from bitter exile in a foreign land, Theodosia writes: "A few miserable days past, my dear father, and your late letters would have gladdened my soul; and even now I rejoice at their con- tents as much as it is possible for me to rejoice at anything. But there is no more joy for me- the world is blank I have lost my boy. My child is gone forever. He expired on the 3Oth of June. My head is not now sufficiently collected to say any thing further. May heaven, by other bless ings, make you some amends for the noble grandson you have lost" Gov. Aston add ed: "One dreadful blow has destroyed us reduced us to the veriest, the most sub- limated wretchedness. That boy on whom all rested, our companion our friend-he who was to have transmitted down the mingled blood of Theodosa and myself he who was to have redeemed all your SioAy anu SHSo ISW luSleT upOIl OuT ldIll- lfes-that boy, at once our happiness and our pride, is taken from us-is dead. Dead, too, at Il years of age; picture of boyish grace and beauty, with heart and brain worthy of the body that held them Burr was made of iron,. but the mention of this beloved child always brought tears to eyes not given to weeping, and then he would fold his arms tightly across his breast as if to keep down the emotion which threatened to unman him.. He never recovered from this terrible blow, but 8 heavier one quickly followed.
 From unpublished letters of Mrs. Alstor have seen, 1t is quite eviden. that hei health had been delicate for some time Possibly she inherited the cruel disease that destroyed her mother, and, quite nat urally, the dark cloud that had fallen upor her fathers fortunes must have worn up on an already enfeebled constitution though she gave no sign of all this in hel letters to him. These were always bright and cherry. full of hope and courage and confidence in the future; full, too of the sayings and doings of the boy who was everything to both of them-their joy, theil pride, the destined redeemer of broker life and blighted fame. But when the boy died, the mothers heart seemed to gc with him to the grave. Even her father was powerless to console her. A montf after the fatal event she writes to him "Whichever way turn, the same anguish still assails me. You talk of consolation An. you know not what have lost! think Omnipotence could give me nc equivalent for my boy; no, none-none.' She hungered for a sight of her father from whom she had been so long separated and under such dismal circumstances Ht could not come to her; she must go to him Col. Burr sent medical friend to Charles ton to report upon her condition and ac company her to New York, Gov. Alston'' official duties not permitting his absence The report was not favorable, and Dr Greene told her father that he must b' prepared to see great changes in her ap pearance when they met. They would hav' made the long journey by land in private carriage, but the fatigue promised to b' too great for the invalid, and it was fnall! decided to go by sea. small privatee schooner the Patriot had put into Charles ton nfter A cruise and it was about return