The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-10-25
Jefferson's Hospitality.

Randall's life of Jefferson shows what BIS
hospitality cost him-for keeping "open
doors" or leaving the ''lateh string" always
out-as follows: z@,s s.ss..,,..,--
Mr. Jefferson, while in the public service,
was compelled to neglect his large pianta-
tions, and, therefore, in retiring, found him
self in debt. This he soon expected to ex-
tinguish from the proceeds of his farms, and
would have done so, but for an unforeseen
cause. Monticello became Mecca for all
sorts of Pilgrims. His mansion was more
thronged than popular hotel; and with this
difference, that his guests did not go away.
Friends would remain weeks and even
months! And thisexcess of company, con-
tinuing year after year, actually impover-
ished too generous lost. But let US take
Mr.. Randalrs account:
" We have already introduced to the
reader old Wormly, the gray haired servant
of Mr.. Jefferson. We once stood with him
before the dilapidated pile of Monticello
The carriage houses, three in number, were
at the moment under our eye. Each would
hold four-horse coach. We inquired
!" Wornily, how often were these filed in
Mr.. Jefferson's time? LIVERY night, sir,
in summer, ard We commonly had two or
three carriages under that tree" said he,
pointing to large tree. Z" It took all hands
to take care of the visitors" we suggested
" Yes, sir, and the whole farm to feed then"
was the concise and significant reply. The
last was literal truth, and expressed less
than the fact. We find in list of Mr. JET
ferson'S allotment of his servants, between,
farming, mechanical and menial occupations,
as early as 1910, that the house servants
(including children) numbered thirty seven.
Thes'whole Monticello estate, so far as he
had laborers to work it, did not in some
years, furnish surplus of feed sufficient for
his guests and their horses, and servantsl-
The general mode of travelling then in Tir-
ginia, was on horseback, or by carriages
drawn by at least two horses; and the stran-
gers who came from q distance very gener-
ally took carriages from some Virginia town.
Male and female servants mucI more COM
monty accompanied travellers than now
Mrs. Randolph, who presided over the do
mestic establishment at Monticello, being
once asked what was the greatest number of
guests she had ever been called upon to
provide beds for over night, she replied,
q she believed fifty r Not only was every
thing that was raised at Monticello thus
consumed, or exchanged for articles of
made on the Bedford estate. ,er,z.zs4
"And such horde of fashionable COM
pany consume something beside common
farm products. When Mr.. Jefferson first
reached what he fanced was to be retire
ment he was asked by his daughter on
what scale he desired to livc-how he would
have the appointments of his table al will
live Ike plain country gentleman" was
the answer. But this standard could not be
followed under the actual circumstances. A
delicious Virginia ham on its led of greens,
enGirdlcd by its rim of eggs IA la Old Do
minion), and slice of chicken or turkey,
might do very well for a plain country gen
tleman'S dinner two or three times week,
and these could be had for the asking on
qyy"Ex ,NirQinia, tarm- peQnle offashion,
might not expect to be kept three weeks
on Turkeyr Clarct might suffice "plain
country gentleman" particularly il, as in
MIR. Jeffersons case, he preferred it to all
summer wines. His visitors might choose
something else ! aud it is not for the hospi
table and supposed wealthy entertainer to
impose his tastes to his guests. No one need
be told that '!entcrtaining handsomely is
an cvDenciye amusement