The Portland daily press., 1871-12-05
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
TUESDAY MORNING, DEC. s, 1871.
A Virginia Gentleman of the Old School,

We find the following description of Presi-
dent Jefferson's domestic life and habits, after
his retirement from public life, written by his
grandson, Col Jefferson Randolph:
his manners We're of that polished school
OF the Colonial government, so remarkable in
Its day-under no circumstances violating any
OF those minor conventional obseryances
winch constitute the well-bred gentleman,
courteous and considerate to all persons. On
riding out with him when lad, we met ne
gro VINO bowed to us; he returned the bow;
did not. Turning to me, he asked,
DO you permit negro to be more of
gentleman than yourself?''
MIR. Jefferson's hair, when young, was of
reddish cast, sandy as he advanced in years
his eye, hazel. Dying in his S4th year, he
had not lost a tooth, nor had one defective;
his skin thin, peeling from his face on expo
sure to the sun, and giving it tettered APP
pearance; the superficial veins so werk, as
upon the slightest blow to cause extensive
suffusions of blood-in early life, upon stand
ing to write for any length Of time, bursting
beneath the skin; it, however, gave him no
inconvenience. His countenance was mild
ana Demgnant, and attractive to strangers.
WINE PRESIDENT, returning on horseback
from charlottesville with COMPANY whom he
had invited to dinner, and who were. all but
one or two, riding ahead of him, on reaching
stream over which there was no bridge, a
man asked him, to take him up behind him
and carry him over The gentleman in the
him down and ridden on, asked the man how
it happened that he had permitted the others
to pass without asking them. He replied,
''From their looks | did not like to ask
them; the old gentleman looked as if he
would do it, and asked him. He was very
much surprised to hear that he had ridden,
behind the President of the United States. -
Mr.. JeffersOn's stature was commanding
six feet two-and-a half inches in height, well
formed, indicating strength, activity, and ro-
bust health his carriage erect; step firm and
elastic, which he preserved to his DEATH his
temper, naturally strong, under perfect con-
troll; his courage cool and impassive. No one
ever knew him exhibit trepidation. His NOR
al courage of the highest order-his will firm
and lnfiexlble-it was remarked of him that
he never abandoned a plan, principle, or a
friend.
A bold and fearless rider, you saw at
glance, from his easy and confident seat, that
he was master of his horse, which was usual
ly the fine blood-horse of Virginia. The only
impatience of temper he ever exhibited was
with his horse, which he subdued to his will
by fearful application of the whip on the
slightest manifestation of restiveness. He re-
tanned to the last his fondness for riding on
hor orseback; he rode within three weeks of his
death, when, from disease, debility, and age,
he mounted with difficulty. He rode with
confidence, and never permitted servant to
accompany him; he was fond of solitary rides
and musing, and said that the presence of
servant annoyed him.
His habits were regular and systematic.
He was miser of his time, rose always at
dawn, wrote and read until breakfast, break
tasted early, and dined from three to four; re-
tired at nine, and to bed from ten to eleven.
He said, in his last illness, that the sun had
not caught him in bed for fifty years.
He always made his own fire. He drank
water but once day, single glass, when he
returned from his ride. He ate heartily, and
much vegetable food, preferring French cook
cry, because it made the meats more tender.
He never drank ardent spirits or strong wines.
Such was his aversion to ardent spirits that
when, in his last illness, his physician desired
him to use brandy as an astringent, he could
not induce him to take it strong enough.