The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-15
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
TOM JrrrERsos AT COLLEGE.

TOM JEFFERSON AT COLLEGE. II
Inthe winter of 1850 there resided at
w iliiams burg, in Virginia, a gay younxi
man OF about eighteen, called by his in
innate friends 'Tom Jefferson" He was
the son OF Peter jefferson, respectable
planter, and was born in 1T43, at his
fathers estate of "Shadwell," in Albe-
marie County, whence, after attending
one OF those rustic academies called
sOld Field Schools" he had come to
William and Mary College to complete
his education.
In person he was not graceful. His
figure was tall and thin, and his face,
according to an enthusiastic admirer,
''anguar and far from beautiful" His |
| complexion was sunburned, his hair of
| sandy red, and his eyes gray flecked |
with hszel-an indication generally OF
| intellect. IL will thus be seen that young
| Mr.. Tom jefferson was very lar from |
being an Adonis, and many persons said |
| he was ugly; hut the animated express
| sion OF his couUtenance went far TO re- |
deem hin from the charge. The gray |
! nazel ewes could ill with eloquent ana
winning,lig
| The angular face, a. little hard at fist
sight, became in moments ol excitement
a very mirror of the thought or emotion
4 of the brain or heart. IDe tall, thin
| frame, 1uCdpdUlG W loSOiNt
movement, was adapted to every eXer-
else, walking, dancing, and horseman-
ship. He was devoted to dahcing, and
i even when SO old that he could scarcely
drag his steps along mounted and con-
! trulled with nerve and skill the most
mettlesome thoroughbred. His manners
were easy and cordial.
He dressed somewhat after the fashion
OF a beau-in Powered waistcoat, a silk
/ ,,f.do h, Ln
by tancilully worked garters, and used
powder. In after-years the Statesman
and President wore severe black, dis
carded DO WIDER and silk stockings, and
3 became the apostle in all things-in CO.'S
tune as in political prInciples-ot u
leyeling democracy. At Williamsburg,
in 1860, he dressed in colors, powdered,
Q carried his line laced hat be-
{. meath his, arm, bowed low, paid
!, gallant complimentsnto the fair sex, and
danced at every ASSEMBLY" held IN the
: capital or the vicinity. Insa,wOrd, the
r afterward celebrated Mr.. Thomas JET
/. terson was a beau and 'macar0nl,
uad strong preference apparently for
l. all that was in conflict with his subse-
# quent social theories, laughed, jested,
@ made love to the little bellies of the little
n capital, and was, THE yeryla man whom
auy one would have Regarded as the fu-
l. the writer OF the Declaration Of lnde.
J pendence.
JEFFERsoN's MARRIAGE.
. The aft AZ was quite LLLle comedy IN
J. some Aspects, and ended, as all come.
d dies should, with everybody made
q 4 happy.
years, and her old admirer was ap
'e lproaehing thirty, when he met with d
e Young lady Of twenl nly-two, o,wno produced
= strong impression upon MIN. She was
!" u little above the medium height, slen
'e der, but elegantly formed. A talr com
,e pieXion, with a delicate tfnto the rose
n large hazel eyes, tun of lie ana feeling
ana luxufianL halr Of arich soft auburn
Horned a combination OF attractions
which was eminently calculated t0'mov'
the nearJ oil a outhful bachelor.
p. In addition to all this, the lady was
q admirably graceful; she roue, dancet
a and moved with elegant ease, and sam
M and played on tue harpslchord Yer.
M sweetly. Add still to these accomplish
ments the possession OF excellent goo,
r. sense, very considerable cultivation,
nt wuim heart anu acousiderable fortune
in ana IL will not be d lftieult to understand
n. how the youthful Mr. Jefferson cam5 t,
-, visit very frequently AT the ladys resi-
an denee, IN the county of Charles City.
no was called "The Forest" and the nam
ct of the lady was Mrs. Martha Skelton.
co She was a daughter OF John Wayles
"a an eminent lawyer, and had married, i
es her seventeenth year, Mr.. Batlurs
e. SHELTON, who, dying in 176S, left hi
re- Young wife q widow at nineteen. AS tn
n. three years of mourning began to expire
ne the beautiful young lady found herse
an besieged at The Forest" by numerou
he visitors. Or these, three were tavorite
with the far Mrs. SkeltOn, OF whom Nj
a Thomas Jeff arson was one. The trad
o9 ton runs Lhat the pretensioIs Of th
he rivals were decided either BY the mus
4 cal accomplishments OF the. young coul
r. seller or by the Ie lrs of his opponents.
wo The tale is differently related. On
n, version Is Luat Lne LWo unfortunate gen
an tlemen encountered each otner Oh MIR
no Skelton's door step, but hearing Jetfe
nd sons violin and voice accompanying II
.ofI lady in y patHetic song, gave up the cOl
nj test thencefOrth and relred without e
no tering, Convinced that the affair was b
me- yond their control. The otner story
ara tuat all three met AT the door, and agree
nj that Lney would take thslr turns. Jeffe
H.. son entered first, and the tones OF u
ne lady III singing with her companion d
IL prlved the lis leners OF all hope. Howevt
on. This may be, it is certain that the beau
tar iui widow consented to become Mi
ME Jeffer son; aud on the 1st day. Of ia
,ot uary ,,1772, thereswas a great festival
eS "Tne Forest" Friends and kindred a
ex sembled from far and near; tnere W
or! lrolIcking and dancing after the abu
to- dant old fashion; and we find from Il
ichI backgrounds notebook that the ser
old ANS and tiddlers received ices from h
the especial POCKET. II showed Without, b
md within all was nirtn anu enjoyment,
ire the light and warmth of the great Il
nj. fires, roaring in honor Of the occasio
Soon after the performance Of the cel
tly mony, the bridegroom aud his b.ide s
10 upt III their carriage for 'Monticellv
ma. where jefferson had commenced bull
the ing in 1853, just before the destructi
nIy Dy fire OF his patrmonal house OF "Sha
ers well.n The journey was NOT to end vii
yes out adventures.
ed AS they advanced toward the mour
,ii. aims the snow increased i'll deptn, a.
the finally they were compelled to leave u
ind carriage and proceed upon their way
De- horseback. Stopping to rest at .sBle
Tor heim," the seat OF Colonel Carter, whe
out they found, however, no one but an ovt
Vas seer, they lett 1t at sunset, resolute
,hn bent upon reaching Monticello th
nuj night. Ii was eight miles distant. al