The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-06-05

Glancing through the vista OF the
tong vanished past, entwined as 1t
Is with legendary lore. and filled
with shadowy shapes OF generations
long gone to dust, one sees in fancy
forms and faces which have long
since faded from public view except
as they look down from ancestral
walls or appear as veritable appari-
tions out OF musty records and old
letters.
In recalling the feeting memories
oi the long ago we are prone TO over
8ook the sentimental phase Of the dis
tinguished personages of colonial
days, and the romances Of these great
men come as forgotten melodies. The
correspondence of Thomas Jefferson,
carefully preserved for future gen
erations, has brought to light much
OF the youthful romance OF Virginias
talented statesman. Among his con-
temporaries there is not one whose
love story is sweeter, purer or more
beset with stony paths.
In March, 1860, he journeys from
mis- home at Shadwell to Williams
burg, the colonial capital, and the
seat the renowned college of Will
liam and Mary, there to enter upon
his career as student. tie Is seven
teen years of age, long. lank. rcd
headed youth OF six feet. His eyes
are blue and his long nose slightly
Surned up. He Is fond of dress.
ecrupulously neat I'm appearance and
as attired in suit of Mecklenburgh
silk The old capital is the scene
of much gaiety and festivity on his
arrival, and he enters the social life
OF the college and town with the
greatest enjoyment. f1e is fond of
riding. chess, dancing and all of the
sports and amusements of the day.
Notable among the pretty girls who
grace the assemblages, stroll through
the quiet street down '~overs' lane"
TO the wishing tree or out toward the
Indian camp with the admiring col
tege youths, are Jennie Taliaferro,
famous for her sweet voice and de-
lightful music on the srinnette;
Patsy cambridge, Sucky Potter,
Nancy Wilton, Fanny ana Rebecca
Durwell and a numbef of fair girls
celebrated for their charm and
tractiye femininity young Thomas JEFF
ferson singles out the lovely and fas-
cinating Rebecc1 Burwell for his most
ardent admiration. This noted belle
lives in a handsome manor hous, on
the banks OF the James. just seven
miles from Williamsburg. When she
IS not visiting her gay friends In town
the red-headed youth mounts his
saddle horse and covers the distance
60 the home OF his euamorata In
scarcely more than an hour. when
the evenings are balmy and moonlit
they sit on the wide veranda over.
looking the river, or perhaps on the
terrace while he invokes the muses.
with his fiddle. During the following
two years OF his college life the twr
are constantly meeting and he lose,
no opportunity of giving her "man,
assurances OF HIS esteem as h,
quantity expresses himself. Tn,
lovely Belinda presents him with {
watch-paper OF her own cutting
which he "esteems much more
though It were a plain round one
chan the incest I'm the world cut b,
other hands"
in December, 1899, his course o
true love meets with setback an,
be philosophers thus:
us there any such thing as hap
piness in this world? No, aud as TO
admiration, ! am sure the man VIII,
ponders most. perfumes most, EN-
broiders most. and talks most non