The Washington herald., 1909-08-01

TO whether Alexander Hamilton shall or
snall not be hOnored in bronze in mem
ory OF what he did Tor the finances Of
the country. There would be no doubt
IN the minds Of those who knew Mrs.
Hamilton that she would be worthy OF 4
monument II II was the fashion 70 honor
the finest and best IN woman in that
way. Mrs. Hamilton was the Intimate
friend of Mrs Washington: they shared
the privations OF army life together. and
when Mrs Washington became the wife
Of President II was 10 the sympathy
OF her young friend, Mrs. Hamilton. that
she turned. Il was 20 her that Mrs
Washington complained Of "the waste OF
time she was compelled % endure" and
said, They call me the first lady IN
the land and think must be extremely
happy They might more properly call
me The chief state prisoner"
The last years Of a lifelong and varied.
but always on a high plane, were passed
In this city by Mrs Hamilton She lived
and died IN II street, near Thirteenth
street, and 20 the end Of her ninety-three
years her mind retained its clearness.
and she delighted TO draw pictures from
the gallery of her memory OF the stirring
times Of the Revolution and the happy
days Of her wfehoOd. OF the morning
when her dashing husband went 20 his
death on the dueling ground at Wee
hawken she never spoke but when her
daughter dressed her for the grave she
found an old leather purse over the faith,
ful breast that on examination disclosed
the letter Alexander Hamilton had writ
ten his wife an hour before the fight. and
for fifty years IL was treasured IN secret.
no one listening 20 the cheerful witty Old
lady would have guessed the wound dealt
her 50 long before had never healed.
Mention of the shadow on Mrs HamiI-
tons life recalls another saddened, even
blighted woman heart, known and loved
in Washington as the wife Of the naval
idol said TO be possessed Of the most
chivalrous spirit and physical perfection
Of his day, Stephen Decatur. The pic
ture IS drawn Of this officer with a splen-
did record and happy domestic life steal
ing softly from his house in the gray
dawn 10 meet q political enemy. Barron,
on the fatal field OF Bladensburg. A few
hours later he was carried home 70 die.
exclaimipg: i did not know It was pos
sible 20 endure as much pain as 4 feel 80
Mrs. Decatur fed from the world. Mrs.
Hamilton remained in il. the elegant
house the husband had taken pleasure IN
building for her became haunted 10 her
ears by his dying gr0ans OF the 'Bayard
Of the Seas and though she did not al
together fCrsake the country, associated
with the greatest happiness and pain OF
her life and went no farther than George
town College. where she found a retreat
and In religious duties and charitable
works found a starlight happiness after
the sun Of happy wifehood had forever
set II is pleasing 20 those who like 10
idealiZe wOman's name and fame that
these TWO distinguished victims Of the
code suffered through no fault OF their
own; that they were both loved and rev.
erenced by their husbands. and politics In
one case and naval preferment in the
other were the sole cause for the trag-
edies in these lives.
The very antthesis OF loneliness. always
In the public eye and the public interest
from the moment that Gen. Washington
md the commissioners rode over the site
Of the Capital City to be was Marcia
Burns. the charming daughter Of the own
er of most Of the selected land Always
beloved and always loving. unsponed by
sudden prosperity. her useful life was
passed within the city. and no single per-
sOnality deserves more honor for what il
did for the benefit Of others in the new
town than does this Scotch-American las
sic
David Burns has been painted In rather
lurid cOlOrs. but the first use he made Of
his new wealth was 70 have his only child
given the best education possible, and so
witty. pretty. and lovable was the little
maid that II is said the discontented Con-
gressmen were threatening TO forsake the
/ city Of morass and magnificent long dis
tances and take the government with
them 20 civilization, became recOnciled TO
the surroundings as soon as Marcia got
home from school. and the long. low old
cottage. on the Van Ness place. so re-
Gently razed, was filled evening after
evening with the appreciative Congress-
men assembled in courteous. but asssdious
contest for the hand Of the charming
heiress She wisely chose Gen. Van Ness.
and never regretted it.
Always was Marcia Burns a loving
! daughter. and when some one spoke slight
| ingly Of the house where she was born
she had mansion erected close 70 Il cost
/ ing the large sum. for the period, Of $50
800 and, though urged 10 pull down the
| little cottage. would not do so and IN
fact. it survived its fine neighbor.
Mrs. Van Ness established the first or
phan asylum. endowing II with S4Go0 left
| ii By viii N.900 more, and labOred with
Congress for the further endowment OF
$4,000 She was an active member OF the
Episcopalian faith, and gave part OF her
fathers farm. II street. adjoining the
family graveyard. 70 create the parish Of
the Ascension Church. At her own re-
quest, she was buried In the splendid
mausoleum between the orphan asylum
and the site OF the Ascension Church.
Her wishes Of remaining here with the
| bodies OF her father, only child, and
grandchild. and IN the shadow OF the
church and asylum, were disregarded by &
! later and utilitarian age. and an alley
now cuts through where the vault stood.
and the mausOleum was removed TO q
terrace in Oak Hin Cemetery.
There have been few funerals to ladies
| in the District as Impressive as the last
rites over Mrs. Van Ness. The coffin
bore two plates. one a gift Of the clti-
zens Of Washington referring to her
piety. charity. and worth; the other the
usual record, made unusual by the odd
| combination OF dates IN the momentous
events OF her life: Born May g I7s2; mar
ried May 9. 1902: died September g. 1882 ''
/ Little girls from the asylum, In divided
ranks, marched to the bier and covered il
with branches Of weeping willow, and
the newspapers OF the day were black
/ loaded and gave much space to eulogY
and memorial verse