The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-27

f. Ii M0MA0S 0EMGf8O0s
Mrs Randolph s Domestic Lie Of Thomas
Jefferson Is one Of the most agreeable books
of the present year, and though little oft is
| new 10 those who have read the various lives
of jefferson and his correspondence rs pub
lished in many volumes, it will be new to u
great many readers. and will correct some Of
the foolish prejudices against Jefferson that
political hate eng4ndered. 1t seems odd in
the face of such evidence as we have had
these hundred years of Jeffsrson's freedom
from the common Southern vices. and the
general rectitude both Of his intelligence and
his morals, that he should have been so per-
sisfentIy slandered-while Dr. franklin who
is much more open to some of the charges
brought against jefferson. has been an ideal
Character for the imitation Of New England
youth. Seventy years ago Jefferson. was de-
nsunced as an atheist, dehauchee. de-
noralizer Of society in reality he was as free
from vice as Washington himself, and was -
unlike the mass Of the Virginia planters as
/ that great man was. In their religious opin-
ions Jefferson and Washington were striking
customs of the regien where they were, out
Of respect to the feelings of others. but had
their own views of this world and the next.
Practically they held to the opinion which
the first Earl Of Shaffesbury ("that Marcus
Tullius Cicero. the little man with three
expressed when happening to say, in the
hearing of a lady, Men of sense are all OF
one reIigion," she asked what religion was
that pray2 ssTnat. madam, said the cautious
Earl. with bow, ssmen Ut sense never tell
The similarity in opinion on these subjects,
between John Adams and jefferson appears
in their later correspondence. of which Miss
Randolph gives us only two specimens. This
lady is a great granddaughter of Jefferson.
being the daughter, we suppose, OF his grand
son and namesake, Thomas jefferson Ran
dolph, the SON of Martha Jefferson, whose
portrait. as well as that OF her father, adorns
the volume. He does not seem to have been
handsome man, Though always of easy ana
genial manners. and one of the most accom-
pIished political characters of his time. It !
was not generally remembered, perhaps. that
he wrote the Declaration of independence at
the age Of 33. having been borne in 1743. He
was married at the age Of 20, and his wife |
lived but ten years longer, dying in 1852.
He outlived her for more than forty years.
but never married again, and always cher
ished her memory with tenderness. In his
volume We find her epit2ph Is he composed
it; also his own,g in which he commentaries
the three acts which he wishes most to be re-
membered-that he was the author Of the
Declaration. of the Virginia Statue tor reli-
gious freedom, and father OF the university
of Virginia. xs 5eg asia s
The Lakes Of Nevada.
Nevada has seven lakes of considerable
size. Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevada
mountains, is 5000 feet above the sea. 1t
lies about equally in Nevada and California.
is remarkably clear and cold, and is cele-1
brated for the abundance, elegance ard ex-
cellenee of it's fsh--trout weighing 20 to 30
pounds being often caught in it: The scenery
is beautiful and it is a great Summer resort.
The lake is 20 miles long by 10 to u miles in
width.
Washoe Lake, in Washoe Valley, is but
six or eight miles in length, by three or four
in width. @
Pyramid Lake is 60 miles in length, and
ten or twelve wide. A solitary peak rises
1000 feet above the surface in the form OF a
pyramid, and gives name to the lake. 1t
abounds in fine trout.
Walker Lake, in Esmeralda county, is an
irregular sheet of water 25 miles wide. 1t
has an elevation Of 1900 feet, and is we'll
stocked with fish. s
Carson Lake, in Churchill county, is oval
in shape, and is about ten miles in diameter.
The water is very salt.
Humboldt Lake. in Humboldt county, 10
25 miles long by ten wide. The water is very
impure with alkal and salt.
The Sinks OF the Carson and Humboldt
rivers are long, shallow sheets Of very brack
ish water. extending greatly in every diree-
ton during the rainy season, and constructing
very much in the Summer. S,
Sending Gold by Mail.
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