Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-08
halt EMPOWERED in trees. On the south as

halt EMPOWERED in trees. On the south as
you approach it the broken windows and
cracked walls give it the look of COM
plete ruin, but in front and rear the spa
cious porticoes are il fair stste of pre-
servation, and the building otherwise
as an appearance of shabby splendor. 1t
is long brick structure surmounted by
dome, with the architectural devices
peculiar to Jefferson. The only sign of
life about the place was ragged and
grovelling old mana veritable tramp IN
appearance-wh rocked himself in the
warm sun in chair on the portico. It
was hard to believe that this faded and
threadbare person had taken possession
of the place many years ago, and eked out
subsistence by charging the university
students and such other visitors as rarely
came up from Charlottesville an admission
to the house. In the long pending lItiga-
ton of the property no one has had any
control OF ii, and this man has simply ex
ercised the doctrine of "squatter sovereig-
ty."
'sDo YOU want to see the inside of old
man Jefferson's h0use?' was his salution.
"Then it will cost you twenty five cents
The money paid, he hobbled through
one Of the main doors, and dropping an
iron bar they both swung and the visitor
stood in a lofty square hall, tine main or
central room Of the building, on one side
of which was balustrade, from which,
old man quantity said. Jefferson used
to make speeches to his guests" 1t was
evidently inteded for musicians, as this
hall and one above it under the dome Of
the house were used for bathrooms
There Was nothing in the room but a
folding ladder in corner and clock ovel
the door, both of which belonged to JEFF
ferson, ana chandelier Of handsome pat
tern, which hung from the centre of the
fine stucco work Of the ceiling. The
floor was laid in blocks Of white cherry,
and is in excellent condition. This room
opened by sliding glass doors of decided
modern look on the semi octagonal south
east portic Beyond on the right is a
semi oetagonal tea room and two COM
modious guest-rooms and dining room
A very handsome marble slab lad recent
ly been stolen from this room
On the left was Mr.. Randolph's room
and that of j jefferson. ans beyond, extend
ing the whole widtn of the house, the
library. The latter opened on the conser-
vatory, which is in ruins. On the upper
floors are the bedrooms, with alcoves in
each for the bed, cut up into all conceiy-
able shapes by the irregular form Of the
house. They are reached by a litlle, mar
row stairway in dark recess, built with
sharp angles at every few steps and
almost inaccessible to stout person. So
poor stairway in a house otherwise
commodlous was one of the mahy ''archi-
tectural Freaks which Jefferson displayed
in building this house and the University
of Virginia The dome is large, airy
apartment, known as "the ladies drawing
room," or ball room, of octagon shape,
with q wine closet attached. In one OF
the bedrooms the gig which Jefferson is
said to have used is slowed away. Above,
as below, not piece of furniture is to be
seen. The black walnut doors are in ex-
cellent condition and are self closng, and
sef-fastening when opened. The grounds
about are neglected and with decay Wis
ible at every turn. There is said 70 be a
reasonable prospect that the. title will
soon be quoted and the estate revert to
the hands OF those who will restore and
protect it.