Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-19
Ai.xa. Gazette a. Virginia Advertiser.
MONTICELLO.

lutr heats OK the metTOpOllS is q trip lO tue
mountains OF Virginia, and there enjoy, if only
ior week, the reviviiying air peculiar to that
SECTION and, with that view impressed, you!
correspondent, few days since, betook himself
to tins place.
Starting at a. m, bs Orange and Alexan-
drja railroad, we pass Manassas, Va, where
now is heard, instead of the SQUAD of hostile
guns, the hum of machinery, and where once
the surface bristled with white tents are now
comfortable dwellings,, churches, and ali the
a,pur,euances of we'll regulated village.
Passing rapidly by Warrcnton Station Gull
rrpcr, Orauge Court House and Gordousvillc,
We are landed at l:2O p. II. at Charlottesville,
Va, of which it is Well known the attractions
are the University of Va. and Monticello, the
homc aud burial place of jefferson.
CHARLOTTESVILLE
Itself is town of no mean proportions, being
Iald out in rectangular streets, all of which arc
a, closely built up as is common with iuland
Southern towns. Here is the Court House OF
Abcuarle county, where Jefferson, besides
>outhaI, Wiley, and other eminent lawyers OF
tygonc days contested for legal supremacy, and
hear by is the town hall, an antlquated looking
structure in the second story Of which au auO-
naiVus scene is presented, that of two places of
worship, one being a Catholic chapel aud the
other d Jewish synagogue. Or the former per
sua>iun there are but four here, aud OF the lat
ter the SAME ''respcctatle sprluking" winch
may DC found by Divine commandment all over
the world.
There are three hotels here, but how they
mautan even dcccut existence is beyond
close observers comprehension. Episcopal,
Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, and Melho-
dist church stccplcs tower high above the pla-
tcau ot house tops, OF winch three story
height is rather the exception than the rule.
Business seems to be at Standstill, aud there
prevails a llStIe>SnrSs which the inhabitants say
will only be brokcu by the arrival of sudouts
Irlor to the opening of the University on the
lst. Then, it Is said, the streets will be alive
with ladies' and misses, promeuadiug with a
view OF Introduction TO University students,
and the probable final worrying them into ma
trluonial lucluatious. This seems most plaus-
lbIr, as it is said all over ,owu, by mothers,
even, that the girls here hardly ever get hus-
bands, except among the students, as while
tie latter arc here the girls won't lock at any
oDc else, and after their departure the resident
young men keep aloot.
CONTRAST THE PRICES
Of living here with those of Washington No
market at all, but everything brought ln daily
10 The door by the producers, fresh, and Of the
best quality, at prices as follows: Beef, best
cuts, eight to fifteen cents per pound; chickens
Ten TO eighteen cents apiece; best butter, twenty
cents per pound; corn, fresh pulled, ten cents
pr dozen; tomatoes, twelve cents per peck k,and
>oon with all articles OF produce. Rents, how
ever, are apparently high, but there is 20 great
amount of taxation, the item OF police alone
footing up only four men at $43 80 each per
'l,n
strictly enforced that nothing is sold on Sun
days but medicines on physicians prcscrip-
tlon.
There seems to be feeling of perfect seca.
Iity against fire. as there is no fire department,
nor crrn piece ofhosc iu the place, aud when
lrc does occur it is said the whole popu-
lauon turns out to cxtngulsh it by the bucket
system, Pumps afford the on y water, although
III" hotels aud many private residences have
talks on the roofs filled from wells by holsa-
power There are but few wealthy citizens re-
>dlus within the city limits. To wind up
charlottesville, II can be said that it is well
g''Hurd, well lighted, and is blessed with
'UFatIy macadamiz d streets. 1t Is sur
'"Nnled by well-culivated farms, on one
VI which alone the owner. DR.. u. Niche, has
,"i'e hlndrcd and Scventy-hre thousand to-
'4'eo h''s, the profits on which, with ordinary
'5tN now, will approximate twenty thousand
dollars
JErPERSCN's HOME.
Is every one who stops at Charlottesville is
supposed 10 >'e where the quill OF independence
'"'a away forever, wc made a pilgrimage to
.4'ntlcctio, the home aud burial place of JET
arson 'nd were agre,ably disappointed to find
''A'' although not In perfect repair, it Is not IN
Ii'e Hapliatcd condition pictured By many
J'E''r'ore Situated on the top of a high and
1y">'y wooded mountain three miles east OF
N"atoEtc>vllIc, 1t commands a most lovely
'r~ OF the surrounding country, the fields,
"nys. aud even highly cultivated manors
",thinS away into obscurity. The road troui
w. o' Course, winds around the mountain
~ 'ohVrnItncc rake, and previous to entering
Wy Plateau on which the manSiou is located
,'u pass 10y the tomb of jefferson. 1t has
,''' SAID that his grave was marked by i
~ :"'a slab, partially buried in the ground, and
Ir,S'ct was the order of the Surroundings
,"e truth is, the remains of jefferson are uu-
At granite monument, the design of which
''> his own selection, aud apart from being
laced hy relic hunters, it is as erect as the
~ i was placed there. On either side are
,,1'P'tones ,' locating the graves of the Ran
.-.@p0> ana other members of this family, and
-, ;;.S entire site is lncIosed with substantial
.,,. .,A wall, which is in good repair, considering
~''' Years or more OF exposure.
TIE MONTICELLO MANSION,
o,~.lsh, Is, on account Of its looks and novelty,
.;iA Journey to see. He Inherited the land
,,", ~, upon concluding to build there, had the
,,A ~, H' the mountain leveled, which, together
~, "' !he cost OF the house, was $50 O,OO0,a much
.r'sor r'sl'or house to that at Mount Vernon 10
ill.,, way You are impressed with the idea
j, 4s oFlcSs aud mortar must have been dirt
a, 1p' and that il jeff" ever was a votary
n Wp>chore he must have ignored the square
M reference for the round dance, as there is
i n, rectangular corner in the building; and
'Nrate the care taken. in it's construction,
'OuIlortubly tenautable to day, although