The daily gazette., 1876-02-24

with balcony TO the right, while by
the opposite one we enter the parler
in size so by 25 feet, adorned with
many cngravings, together with ye
ancient European mIrrors. extending
from ceiling to floor, this latter is tes-
selatcd having CLASSY like surface.
To the north of this is the dining room,
together with small tea room used
alone by Mr.. Jefferson, the stairway
connecting the first and second fie Ors
is very narrow, 80 much so that wnen
Mrs. Jefferson died her body had to be
lowered from one of the circular win
do ws. as it was impossible to convey
u coffin up or down. The second story
| is mostly divided into dermitories, in
in which occur no beds; but alcoves in
the walls, with Stats fastened in these
| alcoves, serve instead, The large ball
room occupy the main central portico,
which is octagonal with four windows
of the same shape.
| Upon the whole it may well be said
that Monticello presenting such a pre-
possessing appearance in the time OF
Jefferson, was without a rival in the
Old Dominion, and was noted above
all others as was its father.
1t is of no doubt but that there has
been assembled here more love of lib
crty, virtue, wisdom and learning,
than upon any other private spot in
America. Here it was that Mr.. Jeffef.
son had his home for sixty ears. The
greater part of which he filled public
offices which necessitated his absence
save on short visits to that place.
Finally in 1900 retiring forever from
lpublic life, he repaired to his dear
Monticello, where the remainder of his
days was passed in literary research
and in establishing the University of
Virginia. In 1926 he was visited twice
by Lafayette, once ON his way through
the Southern States, and again on his
)retHrn, and between these two gentle
men existed that love characteristic
more of brothers rather than between
men of alien birth. He was received
with great courtesy during both visits
by the students of the University of
Virginia, by whom great ovations were
rendered the Marquis.
In 1926 Mr.. Jefferson died, having
been from home so much, he had
J found no time to attend to the business
interests of his large plantation, which
being managed by slaves, went to ruin
; as fast as time could see them. In the
course of time Monticello passed into
the hands of strangers, Captain Levy,
t an admirer of Jefferson and United
States Naval officer bought it and kept
in good repair, till the beginning of
the late war, when he died, leaving it
2 to class which probably it will never
r reach or benefit.
e His will in part is this: bequeath
S Monticello to the United States, or to
c such persons as Congress shall appoint
r to receive it, and all my real estate in
e New York, for the purpose of estab-
Y fishing and maintaining on my farm
t Monticello in Virginia, an agricultural
school fer the purpose of educating as
8 practical farmers, children of the War
. rant Office of the United States Navy,
who Sc parents are dead. Should Con-
gress not accept of this, bequeath all
the property hereby devised to the
people of Virginia, in order that the
same design may by them be execu-
, ted.
1t was by the New York Court of
Appeals decided that the will was in
. part invalid and void, and that il could
: not be carried out in Virginia.
In the meanwhile Monticello had
been sadly defaced by. the hands of
war. The will after the war was prov
ed in Virginia. but as it had been de-
) clared null and void, it remained to
, the family of the deceased to provide
for the preservation and disposition of
the estate, this being able to be done
only by means of suit for partition.
This suit was brought and the Vir-
ginia Court set aside the will, and or
dered sale and partition among the
} heirs of the Commodore. The estate
5 passed into the hands of the commits
! sioner appointed by the court, and
8 there still remains.
Monticello of to day is total wreck
, its decay is the decay of time and it is
complete. The shingles on the roof are
so rotten that at every frequent shower
rain drives in, and it is dangerous, and
D liable to fall at any moment. The
paint Of former years has lett no YES
tige, and what was once bright and
beautiful, is now stained and effaced.
: ihe old English bricks, durable as
: time, are darkened from the effects Of
- countless rains and storms, the covered
e walks are moulded and overgrown
t with q green sediment. the result Of
dampness and darkness.
8 The front of the house is carved and
:. disfgured with names of frequent visi-
: tors. Monticello though clad in gloom
t and solitude receives yearly visits from
h the students OF the University togeth-
i er with the many fair daughters of
t Albemarle, who unite in giving an
L nual May parties, and upon those days
9 surely is arrayed the galaxy of Vir-
j ginia's lovely naidens, And as stu
/, dents, these days will ever remain
d bright in our remembrance, while yet
e others probably more important may
be entirely forgotten. And In conclu-
d sion we may say that though Month
C cello stands the picture OF hopeless de.
# cay, yet its fame should have won for
d it better fate, but the baleful cause
g of poverty has left those who would
Il have rescued it powerless. In few
= more fitting years the Little
IS Mountain" will be shorn of its glory,
It and only heaps of rubbish will remain
| h hot on