The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-03-18
AT THE GRAVE OF JEFFERSON
The Present Condition Of M,nticel.
lo-Tha Old Gig in Which JEFF
fsrson is Supposed to Have
Drafted the Declaration Of Inde.
pandanoe.
New York Star.l

From the pretty little village of
Charlottesville, the county seat OF Al
bemarle, famous Tor pippins, a narrow
road runs three miles 10 Mon
ticel!o, or the little "mountain, on
which stands the mansion and tomb
ui Thonas Jefferson, the illuslrious
author OF HE Declaration OF lndcpen-
dcnce and founder OF the Democratic
party. Thcnarrow road is nearly
traversed, the only visitors being the
new crop OF students at the begin
ming OF each university session or
souIe enthusiastic devolee hailing
from distance. After passing over
the intervening plain and entering
ihe gradual ascent of the Little
mountains" slope, one is struck by
lie surrounding scenery, and the
charm of this first glance is inlensi-
fed OIL reaching the leveled summit
OF the isolated peak. In this respect
lie old hero statesman could not
have selected lovelier point for
passing the last score of his earthly
pilgrimage it is confessedly the love-
loyeliest in all this beautiful noun
tain country of Virginia. The little
mountain peak itself is part of a spur
OF hills stretching fiom the Blue
Ridge mountains in a parallel direc-
ton with the chain, distance OF
twenty-eight miles, or from the Rap
pahannock river TO the James river,
the aforesaid spur assuming success
lively The ambitious title of "South,"
West" and "Greeu" mountains.
Monticello is located ON The portion
known as South mountains. On the
east side, or front, of the old man
sion, at the foot of the Little noun
TAIN" dance the sparkling waters of
the Rivianna.
Beyond tho streamlet, over The
beautiful and variegated plain, en-.
liyened here and there By the neat
and tasty Virginia cottage. surround
ed by well titled fields and fruitful
vineyards, looms up the distant Ches-
apeake, lingering the horizon with its
silver streak. On the right the eye
commands an extensive valley as Ear
as TO the James river, and on the left
another leading up to the Potomac.
On the west, or rear of the mansion,
the view is soon interrupted BY the
elevated mountains.
Monticello is $50 feet high; its sum
nit was leveled to an area of 800 feet
by 200. aud upon the lawn thus arti-
ticially formed, the Little mountain
sloping gently on every side, MIR.
Jefferson erected his residence Al
ter the lapse Of well nigh century,
the old house looks somewhat ailapi-
dated from disuse and mellowed by
the corroding seasons, but in the
main, such as it was built it remains.
There are TO. day, only three struo-
lures of any architectural pretentions
IN Virginia, and these are the out
come of the classic school Mr.. JEFF
lerson brought home with him from
Europe, viz; The capitol at Rich
mond, the University of Virginia and
Monticello. The first is success.
the Others are looked upon by good
judges as afcllilectual alortiohs. But
The latter is eminently the more
worthy OF attention, because lie lived
and died in it. Externally it is Of
the Doric order, with heavy corniccs
and MASSIVE balustrades. The main
rooms within are furnished in the
Ionic style. As one enters the pub.
lie hall, Mr. Jefferson's bust, by &C.
nacchi, an Italian sculptor, is exhib-
tied by a nearly blind guide with due
ceremony. fH
The floor of this hall is made from
len-inch squares of wild cherry
/ wood, very hard, susceptible of high
polish, and OF the color OF mahogany ;
the border OF each sqaare--iour
inches widc--is oil. beach wood, light
colored, hard, and also capable OF
bearing high polish, and after many
years OF use and abuse, a half hours
busting and brushing would make it
compare not altogether unlavurably
with the handsOmest tessalazioni.
An eagle with widespread wings
serves us centre piece. A clock,
whose weatherbeaten face is seen OIL
/ The exterior at the front, is still in
position. though not precisely in run
ming order; the rusty weights are ar.
ticles shown In the hall, as also the
queer Opcn-and-shut ladder which
was used in winding up the time
piece, a ladder fashioned by the own
er's own hands, exhibiting another
slight French importation.
| Opposite The main entrance to The
hall issa gallery, where the musicians
played and kept time, as it were, to
the stately minuet. The dining room
is connected Immediately with the
public hall by means of double-glass
doors, so conirived that when one is
pushed open the other opens also.
What looks to have been all e!e.
vatcd railroad or II dumb waiter
communicates with the kitchen and
numerous vino cellars below stairs ;
but the running gear OF this appar-
aius now appears so out of sorts that
guests, if there were any, would have
TO await long time before 1t would
satisfy their hunger or thirst. On
both sides Of the folding doors there
extended from the floor to the ceiling
an inlaid in the wall, large French
al. -.