Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
TIE SAGE OF MoNTICELLo.

The following bosutiful extract from the
BrftisA Spy has been justly considered ore
OF Mr. Wirts best eGJrts, and is SO vol worth
rcprinting that, at the request of a friend, We
givesit space in our columns:
"Of the chief of the Argonauts, us Mr..
Jefferson SO clnssically aud SO happily styled
his il!ustriors friend Of the North. it is my
misfortune To be able 20 speak only by report.
But every representation concurs, in drawing
the same pleasing and affecting picture of tho
homan simplicity in which that Father Of
his Country lived of the frank, warm, corr
dial, ard elegant reception that be gave to all
who. approached him of the Interesting
kindness with which he disbursed the golden
treasures of his experience. and shed aronnd
hlm the rays of his descending sun. Ills cons
vsTsation was rich in anecdote aud characters
OF the times that were past rich in political
aud moral instruction full of that best wis
d jm, which is learnt from real life, and flow.
ing from his heart with that warm and honest
fraukness, that fervour Of feeling and f,rce
OF dictiOn, which SO strikingly distinguished
him in the meridian of his life MANY of us
heard that simple and touching account given
OF parting scene with him, by one of our
eloquent divires When he rose up rroto
that little couch behind the door, on which
he was wont to rest his aged and weary limbs
and with his silver lUcks hanging on each'side
OF his honest face, stretched forth that pure
haod, which was never soiled even by sus>
piciou, aud gave his kind aud parting bcpe>
diction. Such was the blissful and honoured
retirement Of the sage Of Quincy. Happy
the life, which, verging upon a century. had
mat with but one serious political dioppoiut>
meut. aud for that, too, he had lived to re.
ccive golden atoDcmcnt. Even there where
he had garucred up. his heart"
LET US now turn for moment to the pa-
tEiot Of the South. The Roman mornlist, in
that great work which he has left for the gov,
ernmcut of man in al the Offices of life, has
descended even to prescribe the kind Of habi.
tation iu which an honoured aud distinguished
man should dwell. 1t should not. he saws
10 snail, aud mean. and sordid nor. ON
the other hand, extended with profuse and
wantou extravaganza. 1t should be largo
enough to receive and accommodate thesvisi>
tors which such a man never fails to attract.
ssd suited in its ornaments as we'll as it's di.
DeEsious, to the character aud fortune Of the
Individual. Monticello has now lost ts great
charm. Those Of you who have not already
visited It, will net DO very apt to visit it hero,
alter: aud, from the feelings which YOU
cherish for its departed owner. I persuade
myselt that you will not be displcased with
brief and rapid sketch of that abode Of 60,
mostic bliss, that temple of science. Nor is
1t, indeed, foreign to the express purpose Of
this meeting, which, in looking to his life aud
character naturally embraces his home and
his domestic habits. Can any thing be in
ditferont to US, which was SO dear to him. and
which was a subject of such just admiration
to the hundreds and thousands that we're con-
tinually rcsorting to it, as to an object of
pious pilgrimage!
The Mansion House at Monticello was
built and furnished in the days Of his pros
perity. lu its dimensions, its architecture,
its arrangements and ornaments. it is such
one as became the character aud fortune of
the man. 1t stands upon q elliptic plain,
formed by cutting down the apex Of noun.
tain and, on the west, stresshing away to the
North aud the south, it commands a view of
the Blue Ridge for a huUdred aud City miles,
aud brings under the eye one of the boldest
aud most beautiful horizons iu the world:
while, on the cast, it presents an extent of
prospect bounded only by the spherical form
of the esEth in which nature seems to slacp
in eternal reposo. as if to form one of her
fuest contrasts with the rude aud rolling gran
deur on the west. In the wide prospect. and
scattered to the north and south, are several
detached mountains. which contribute 70 ami
mate and diversity this enchanting landscape;
aud among them, to the south, Willis's Noun
tain. which is SO Interestingly depicted in his
Notes. From this summit, the PhiIosophe.
was wont to enjoy that spectacle, among the
Eublimest of Natures operations, the looming
OF the distant mountains; and to watch the
motions Of the planets, and the greater rsvo.
luton of the celestial sphere. From this
summit, too, the patriot could look down,
with uninterrupted vision, upon the wide ex-
pause of the world around, for which he con-
sidercd himself born and upward, to the open
and vauIted heaven which he seemed TO ap.
Proach. as if to keep him continually in mind
of his high responsibility. Il is indeed a pros
pect in which you see and feel, at once. that
nothing mean or little could live. Its
scene fit to nourish those great and high
souied principles which formed the element,
OF his character, aud was a most noble and
appropriate post for such a sentinel, over the
rights aud liberties of man
Approaching the house on the east. the
visitor iustinctiveiy paused. to cast around ona
thrilling glance at this magnificent panorama
and then passed to the vestibuIe, where, if he
had net been previously informed, be would
Immediately perceive that he was entering the
honse of no common man. Jn the spacious
and lofty hall which opens before him, be
marks 10 tawdry and unmeaning ornaments