The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-07-08

name Indicates, is q mountain, and after
weary walk of an hour or more, we arrived
in the gap ON the summit where the road
crosses, and where pure, cold, bold spring
leaps from the earth and dashcs joyously
away down the mountain-side. Near the
spring stands an old walnut-tree with a
protruding root forming rustic seat, and
naturally supposing that Mr.. Jefferson had
often sat there, dropped into it as Il mat
ter of course AS the mansion was still a
quarter of a mile or more away, and upon
still higher grounds, we remained long en-
ough to cool off and reflect upon that good
providence which distills so pure and re
freshing beverage exactly where it is
most needed D ..
After a rest of some 10 or ID minutes, we
proceeded upward along the comb of the
mountain, and between the spring and the
mansion, in secluded spot in the forest,
we passed the grave of the great sleeper,
inclosed with high brick walls, and mark
ed by rough shaft of native granite, selec-
ted and fashioned by Mr.. Jefferson him
self, to perpetuate his name and his deeds
to coming generations. Shaking off the
sombre thoughts awakened by the charnel-
house and the garnered harvest of the Great
Reaper in that silent spot, we hurried on,
and were soon at the mansion, moss-cover-
ed, dilapidated and criminally neglected
The building is of the French chateau style
of architecture, a mass of angles with a
dome on top and filled with narrow passa-
ges intricate stairways, dark rooms and
quaint inches and closets. The upper rooms,
small and lily ventilated, were originally
lighted from the roof, but shingles having
been substituted for glass, the rooms are
now as dark and gloomy as the cells of a
prison. was told that the estate original
ly comprised IA 900 acres, and that the i'm
provements were very near the centre, and
cost, including the grading of the site,
some $4,000. And just here | will take
occasion to say, that while Mr.. Jefferson
was great philosopher and statesman,
and knew all about the construction of
laws, constitutions and other political and
moral fabrics he seemed to have but slight
conception of comfort and economy in the
construction of a house to live in. The
mansion on Monticello is, in my opinion, a
monument of bad taste in architecture, as
are also the University at Charlottesville
and the Capitol at Richmond, the plans for
which were fashioned and submitted by
him.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Jefferson had A.
600 acres upon which to exercise his skill
in architecture he seemed to have a pas
sion for burrowing in the earth, and the
summit of Monticello is as full of subterra-
mean passages as a mole infested sweet
potato patch.
But to return to the building. At the
cost of u stipend, we were conducted all
through the mansion by an intelligent and
communicative old gentleman, in whom we
realize the personitication Of the Wander
ing Jew, and were more than compensated
for the fatiguing walk, in the qualification
of seeing the many relics of the great man s
household, to say nothing of the magniti-
cent view of the surrounding country
Among other things was the staff from
which the national flag iloated on the dome
of his house during the days of his Presi-
dency, and the seat of the sulky in which
he rode to Philadelphia short time be
fore he drew up the Declaration of inde-
pendence. In addition to these were a
chair or two, mirrors, bedsteads, &C., all OF
which have been permitted to remain, and
simple and commonplace as they are, had
an absorbing interest with me. 1t may be
a weakness, and probably is, to attach any
value to such things, but such ismy nature
and can't change it, and wouldn't il
| could.
After examining the house from cellar ia
garnet, up and down narrow, dark and
winding stair-ways, together with the
wine cellar and its quaint machinery fol
elevating the bottles to the rooms above
took stroll through the grounds, from
| w hipb fhn ,noct cnlanli1 viaU 10, tn no "a Il
that have ever witnessed except that from
White Top. l lost my bearings, not being
able to exactly distinguish the cardinal
points, but in the direction took to be
east the wild and beautiful Rivana lodged
in and out among the hills, till its bright
waters. disappeared in the distance like d
silver ribbon streaming out upon the wind
And then toward the north, or at least tc
the left, lay the town of Charlottesville
nesting almost at the base of Monticello
with its domes and steeples all glistenine
in the rays of the morning sun, and farther
on, lifting itself high up among the clouds
lay the long line Of the Blue Ridge, dotted
here and there with cultivated fields and
rural homesteads, presenting an appearance
not unlike bed-quilt of the olden time
with patch work ofyared shades and hues
And then in the opposite direction, taking
in the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna anC
Louisa, and portions of Buckingham anc
perhaps Goochland and Cumberland, the
view is grand beyond my power to describe
A mountain in Buckingham, said to BE-
50 miles distant, is plain to the naked Wis
ion, standing out like a solitary watch
tower in all the plain.
/ cannot attempt to describe the view
but loved to contemplate it, not only OF
account of its intrinsic beauty and gran
deur, but because Mr. Jefferson admired
and loved to contemplate it, and reared
his habitation where lie could live ano
die amid those gorgeous surroundings.
Charlottesville, with its University and
400 students, splendid adjacent WATERPROOF
er and rich surrounding country, is pleas
ant and quite busy place. but it has moi
profited as much as it should have done
through its advantages. A dozen enter
prising men with capital could make q
second Lowell of it, but it has been con
tent with the advantages accruing from
the University, and with the honor it Dor
rows from Monticello.
Hoping that this hasty letter may not bt
without some little interest to some of youl
readers,
] am yours, very respectfully,