Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-19
4 PEEP INSIDE.

consummatOn BY letter while frcslucnl VI tne
United States.
A PEEP INSIDE.
1t is two-sory main building and wings,
the former projecting front and rear 10 lm- :.
mense porticoes Of solid stone. the center OF
the building being capped with plain but
illy-ligatcd domc Oa the ceiling of the trout
poriico is large compass dial, and Immediate,
ly over the main door there is set III the wall
d large clock, with dlals showing inside and out
aud there is now exhibited ladder made BY
Jefferson himself, and with which he wound
up the time keeper at stated periods by the
weights suspended from pulleys on the walls
of either side The main entrance really con
sists of three double glass DOORS all OF winch
can be removed, aud you hrst enter VestlDule,
octagoual in shape, and pass immediately luto
parlor o! the same shape. lhe two apart
merts have nlaid floors OF walnut, mahogany
and cherry, which have yet 10 be SURPASSED py
any work Of the kind in this country Although
in constant use in jefferson days, as he always
had lots Of company and have been used slnce,
and are still, by picnic and dancing parties, they
are not warped nor Injured in the least, and
need, apparently, only soap and water to restore
them to their original glossy appearance. There
are two small dining rooDs, one 10 each wing,
the rest of the building being cut up INTO small
and adly.lighted bedrooms. Ventilation seems
to have heeu buried beneath every other con-
sidcratiou, as there is no room 10 the mouse
through which there could be gained direct
air current. The beds, even, are located 10 re-
ccsses or alcovcs 10 the walls, TO form which
space and room are sacrificed, aud the STAIR
ways one in each wing are so constructed ana
of such scanty bead that their descent would
be pcrilous in the daytime without a lantern.
A covered way, which is in rather dllapldat-
ed condition. leads from either wing to his llD-
rary and Office respectively, aud an uuder
gIoupd passage. through which he made his
cscap pc from Col. Carleton and the British cav,
ahy, is shown to visitors There Is suspended
in the vcstihulc tour-hght lantern, but be-
yond the old gig body, III which 1t Is said he
used to ride to Charlottesville, there Is not an
article OF furniture or curiosity ln the house.
The ianitor or keeper of the premises is a
white man, named Thomas Wheeler, who lives
in the cast wing He was the overSeer tor
Commodore Levy, the last tenant OF the entire
mansion aud as the property is pow IN litigation
he reuains 10 charge by sutfcrance, sustaining
himself by what he can make OFT the farm and
The collections twenty-five cents cach) which
ne demands from visitors.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
About one mile and ahalf from Charlottes
vile, and westward, is the University OF Vlr-
guia, Which was founded by and erected under
the personal supcriutenicu Of Jefferson, whose
pride it was during his life. The plans are
Jcffcrsonian Also massive walls and columns,
the inevitable totunda and dome, with lawns
fanked by covered ways. Even the brick walls
inclosog the gardens are scrpcutlne Instead oil
being in direct line; aud there are nuuberleSs
other evidences Of his pecuiiar notions of land
scape and architecture The appointments Of
the University are the best south OF the Poto-
mac, but the place looks comparatively desert
ed now, the season not having yet opened
j. f. ID.