The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-27

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! manded the first expedition 10 the Sou-h.
ere ocean ever organized by the United
states government bringing back with
hlm as one Of It's results the collection 81
pants which formed the nucleus Of the
NATIONAL Botanic Gardens. In 1893 this
couple removed to Washington. where
.hey occupied the dwelling on North Can
l'oi street Known as the Hllnan House.
anu said 70 nave been built by Gen. wash
lhs,oh. stone wall inclosed Il. along
~Hieh mrs. wilkes planted cuttings OF the
w drought from her mothers garden.
IN 1ne sort atmosphere az its new environ
.' iI :. sent iorth vigorous shoots. which
Co'sieu the inner side Of the wall and.
sealing IL. fell in exuberant beauty n .bs
pavement below. II ives the as,,,,,.ts',
OF every beholder. innumerable sIirs 49,,
taken. and thus was the graceful vs,e
hitherto unknown here. grad,aIIs s,s,
seminated at the National Capital
Mrs Renwick made annual visits 70 her
daughter, when she met celebrities from
All Parts OF the country, forming lasting
Iriehcships with many of these. and her
nome on barclay street continued to BE- a
maven OF delight 10 her grandchildren.
many OF the subjects OF interest which
adorned II are still treasured by them.
among them being picture--the properly
OF her hamesake, Miss Jeanne Wilkes. OF
Nashinston-of the old Van Tassel man
sion, where Ichabod Crane. the school-
master of Sleepy Hollow" who had "a
SOFT and foolish heart toward the sax
went to WOO Katrina, old BalthUs. bloom.
ing daughter, and around the chInnevs 81
which. after its destruction by fire. sun
ny Side" was built. She retained tn ira
last her charm Of manner. and much Of
the personal loneliness which had can.
tivated the beauty-loving eye of Burns.
VI her early recolleetious of him in mis-
frequent visits 10 her fathers house Mrs.
Renwick says:
Inspired Burns Poem.
How often have 1 seen him on a cold
winters night, when he had been riding
ior Eours over the moors and moses AT
Ter smugglers, open our little parlor door
ana stalk in with his great Eonskin coat
ana Iur cap covered with snow. and his
me Newfoundland dog ThurIow by his
side. looking stern ard sour as II al war
with all the world. With what kindness
he was welcomed by my dear parents.
While my sisters and myself seated him
IN my mothers easy chair brought dry
slippers and prepared for him a warm.
comfortable cup of tea. Then, seating
ourselves on our low creepies at his feet.
We would watch his countenance brighten
into almost more than mortal beauty and
intelligence, and listen 20 his inspired
words, every one of which was absolute
poetry"
The poem of which she was the subject
was written on a certain evening after her
father and herself had dined with MIN al
the house Of a Mr.. Nicol, then living at
Moifat. She was at that time only nf-
teen years old, and sic a wee Bit lassie"
that Burns danced with her In his arms
10 the carriage to her fathers singing:
Green grow the rushes o.
The next day he handed her two poems
willy Brewd Peck o. Maui" Mr..
Nicoi being the Willy whose Maui got
aooon the meal with the poet that night.
and the "Blue-eyed Lassie."
In regard to the latter Mrs. Renwick's
modesty was SUCH that she retained il i'm
manuscript until 1876, when. Welding 70
the wishes OF others, she consented TO its
publication. 1t is only since that period.
therefore. that II has been Incorporated
into the poems of Burns, and 10 those
who have never seen ii the following copy
may be of interest
When first I saw my Jeanies face
could la think what allied me:
Ny heart went futteriug pt-a-pst,
My cen had nearly failed me
Shes aye sac neat, sac trim and tight
All grace does round her hover,
look deprived o my hear.
And became her lover.
She's aye, aye sac blithe and zay.
She's aye sac blithe and CHEEKY.
She's aye bonnie bthe and gay,
o. gin were her desrie.
Had Dundas' whole estate
Or Hopetogn's pride to shine in
Did warlike laurels crown my fate,
Or softer bays entwine in
I'd lay them a at Jesne's feet
Could but hope to move her
And prouder than peer or knight,
Id De my Jeanie's lover
But sair doubt some happier swain
Has gained my Jeanies favor,
II sac may every bliss be hers
Tho / can never have her.
But gang she east or gang she vest
TNiKt Nth and Tweed all over
While men have eyes CT ears, or taste
She'll always find lever.
Mrs. Renwlck died in 1850. and her re-
mains rest in the city of her adoption IN
The Presbyterian churchyard, corner OF
Fifth avenue and Eleventh street.
The last time that / went to her
house." says one Of her friends, II carried
With me a bunch of hawthorn She was
absent, and leaving 1t with a servant
charged her TO say that had gathered IL
n the Elysian fields-a part OF HOboken
hen so-called. l expected a merry re-
oinder, but 1t did not come. She died soon