The Washington herald., 1911-05-07
Blacksmith and
Painter
COPYRIGHT BY JAMES ELvERsOy

become familiar even to people who never
were in Washington; for an engraving of it is
one OF the illustrations of national bank notes
of one denomination, and from it there was
taken the picture on the two-cent Columbian
postage stamp.
The painter was John Van der Lyn, and
there Is story connected with his youthful
life which is worth the telling.
Aaron Burr is prominent figure in our
history; He was brave soldier in the Con-
tinental army; he was a man OF brilliant
talents. and at one time almost became
President of the United States. But he had
tr'guer, and even when in the army he tried
to injurc the reputation of Washington.
Readers OF history all remember his great
scheme OF conquering Mexico and revolution
region from the rest of the Union, and form
ing it into an independent republic. This
scheme failed. but il resulted in his trial for
treason Although he was acquitted, his in
fiucncc was gone; he lived in poverty and OBJ
security. and died unregrcttcd.
Still there are few men who have not some
good qualities about them, and Aaron Burr
was not an exception. one Of the proofs Of
young Van der Lyn, and the way in which
he helped his genius to expand.
When Burr was a member of the United
States Senate. he was out riding one day in
&C. carr'aee rn near @ KINGSTON M n: y, when one % Of
and surrounded by forest but he soon
came to blacksmith shop by the roadside,
and stopped to have the shoe replaced.
The smiths apprentice was boy appar.
emily fourteen years of age He was dressed
in homcspun, his face was grimy and his
hands were hardened but his eyes were
bright, and he looked a manly, intelligent
While the smith was shoeing the horse,
Burr became restless and wandered away into
the forest no doubt to dream over his plans
for the future. When he returned to the
smithy, the horse was hitched to the car
riagc and ready to resume the journey.
Happening to look at a stable near by, Burr
was surprised to see on the side charcoal
drawing of his carriage and his horses. He
looked at it carefully.
1t was SPIRITED, correct and vigorous
sketch: and he wondered what artist could
have found his way into the woods and done
such an excellent piece of work. Turning
around he saw the backsmth's apprentice
watching him. and asked:
"Who did that!'
81 did," replied the boy.
Burr, who was very muc h astonshcd. be-
gan to talk To the lad and question him as
to who he was, and where he had learned to
draw.
The boy said that his name was John. Van
der Iyn. that he was born in the neghbor-
hood. that his parents were poor, aud that he
had never had any instruction in drawing.
Burr saw that the boy had great talent and
that it would be pity if it had to be buried
in the woods, or beside the blacksmiths
forge.
So he wrote his name and address on a
scrap Of paper, handed it to the boy and said:
'If ever you should want to go into the
world. put clean shirt in your pocket, start
for New York, and 60 straight to that ad-
dress"
Then he stepped into his carriage and drove
away.
Twelve months passed by, and Burr had
doubtless forgotten the incident. One morn
ing he was sitting at breakfast in his New
York home, when a servant came into the
room and handed him something bulky
wrapped in a newspaper, saying that boy
had brought it, and that he was waiting out.
side.
Burr opened the package, and finding that
II contained nothing but a coarse clean shirt,
said TO the servant that there must be some
mistake.
The servant insisted that the boy had said
the package was for Colonel Burr and the
latter lauchngy replied:
"Wcll, bring him in.
When the boy entered. Burr at once recog-
nized him as the blacksmith's apprentice. He
held in his hand the piece of paper which the
Senator had given him, and he had evidently
construed the order to bring II clean shirt
literally, and had looked upon the shirt as a
COuntcrsign or passport
Burr greeted the boy warmly. took him
into his family, educated him and put him
one OF whom was Gilbert Stuart, famous for
the portraits which he painted of Washing
ton.
In 1886, when he was twenty years of age
Burr sent him to Paris, where he studied
five years. Then he returned to America but
in 1903 went back to Paris and resided there
for twelve years In 1908 he painted a large
picture of Marus seated amid the ruins of
Carthage. For this he won the gold medal
at the Louvre. 1t was presented to him by
the great Napoleon himself with words of
high commentator. Burr was then in Paris,
poor, exied and disgraccd and Van der Lyn
did not forget him.
When the painter returned to America he
painted portraits of many distinguished pub
lie men. In 1882 he received commission
to paint full-length portrait of Washington
for the House of Representatives, and in
1S39 he uaintc ed "Ibc Landing of Columbus" ="