Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-04
AIetan0ria 6axette
THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 4.
{ charlottesville and the University

some interesting facts about charlottesville and
The University of Virginia:
In our winter rambles in the Old Dominion
We have found few spots that have more deeply
interested US than this venerable town OF
Charlottesville. 1t is among the Oldest towns
in the State, having bctn named after Queen
Charlotte, the wife Of King George III, in
the old colonial times, but incorporated as the
county scat Of Albomaro county in Novem-
Der, 17G1; and the old court house completed
the following year, though quaint and oden,
still stands on the north side Of the public
square in the centre of the town, where it has
served it's purpose already for over century,
and is likely 10 serve it still for years, If not
for century to come.
But what perhaps, more than aught else,
renders Charlottesville SO full of interest to
every American, is that here, almost within
sight of each other, were the homes Of three
successive Presidents of the United States
Thomas Jefferson. James Madison, and James
Monroe; and if Virginia bears the name Of the
"Mother of Presidents" surely Charlottesville
Is worthy Of being styled the "Home OF Pres.
idents." On Monroe Hill, which now forms
a part Of the grounds of the University OF
Virginia, mile west of the town, still stands
the cd Monroe mansion, now occupied by
Prof. Thomas r. Price, of the University,
where President Monroe once resided.
Msdisons home was about 20 miles distant
from Charlottesville just beyond the East
Mountain to the northeast Of the town, in
Montpelier in Orange county, near the border
of Abemarle, amid Its own picturesque scenery.
But With no name is Charlottesville more In
timatcly connected than that Of Thomas jet
ferson, whose almost world renowned home:
stead which he named Monticello pronounced
Monte -chello from the Italian, little mountain),
is situated about three miles to the east OF the
village on the crest of the eastern horn OF
Crescent Mountain, and commands one OF the
finest views in the State. To strangers 1t
forms leading Sattraction, and but for the
sadly dilapidated state in which it now stands
with absolute ruins in prospect, might so con-
tinue long.
Ono feels as if trcading on halowed ground
at almost every step in these parts. In Vlr-
ginia, sleep the remains Of perhaps more OF tne
distinguished men whose names are household
words the continent over, than in any other
State. Since visiting this time honored
locality, the vistas of by.gone times have been
brought more in the actual present than We
have had there since the days when We sat at
the feet of old Revolutionary soldiers and
heard their thrilling tales of the "'Har that
tried mems souls" At least two persons are
still residing here who have seen three presNl-
dents together in these streets, the venerable
librarian of the University, William Werten:
backer, who is the soul surviving appolntee OF
Jefferson in the University service, aud the
only librarian the institution has ever had, and
Col. James T.. Fry, Of charlottesville, to
whom We had the honor Of personal intro
duction a few days since. Many arc the
anecdotes and incidents related by the elderly
residents here of former scenes, and none IS
more thoroughly posted in the tradltlonary
lore of the region than James Alexander,
ESQ.,, who started and for many years pub
lished the Charlottesville Je0erso''lan here,
and who has been resident of the place nearly
ever since the death of Jefferson, wh osc mem
ory he cherishes. ,,,
The University was the foster child OF
Thomas Jefferson, and formed his ideal OF
what University should be, and bears MS
impress in all lis leading features. 1t Is per-
haps as complete in its design as any similar
institution, embracing all the departments
usually found in any University, with ono ex-
ceptior: it has no theological department. Ibis
was intentional; it was in fact Jafcrson's ex-
press restriction. He had, as is we'll known,
his own ideas of theology as part of liberal
education; and though he was not, as some
have olasscd him, an infidel, fo- he was mem.
ber in regular standing in the Episcopal
Church, and even vestrymarl, as the reoorcs
of the Church in Charlottesville will attest,
vet he insisted that religion, or rather sccta'
rianism and education were to be kept dis
tinct. Hence bis we'll known advocacy of Tree
schools, free speech, free press, and iret
conscience. 1t was he who uttered the sen
timent long 5nco passed into all accredited
provcrb, Error Of opinion may be tolera tea
where reason is left free to combat IT, II
did rot strive like Stephcn Girard, to ezcll1d
the clergy. Nay, ho ever maintained hig'
respect Ter them and whenever any clergyman
visited him st his bonestsad it va his in
variable custom to request him 10 "s ~ grace
at the table.
But with bis peculiar religious sen timcnts
We have little now to do, barely il pas sing re
marking, that such was his deeply serted at
tachment to freedom Of conscience that b.
threw open the privileges Of the university t
ministers and clergy Of every demo mins'tiol
free, and even went go far as 10 sane ton tn
system Of rotati7e chaplsincy for the beneh
of students attending the various class es, haV
ing its incumbent chosen tor two yea. 3 tern
from the four evangelical denomination sue
ocssively, Episcopal Presbyterian, Bapti 50 an
Methodist, an arrangement which is still KEEP
up, the present chaplain being Baptist.
The University grounds, situated as a read
intimated, mile to the west of the tow
comprise il all about 500 acres, Of Whlc h IL
or more are in a high state of cultivation und