The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-17
the bloom of single bush of agiantine
only relieves the decay which meet one

the bloom of single bush of agiantine
only relieves the decay which meet one
at every step.
There is no trace whatever of the
grave of Mrs. Jefferson, which was about
the first interment, and which was 10.
Gated by the side of the obelisk of JEFF
lerson. He survived her forty-four
yyhe ma a yge aaa Mh rs be saG s@ %.
pie inscription: martha Jefferson, born
in 1747 o. S. Intermarried with Thomas
Jefferson January 1, 1772; torn from
him by death September 6, 1882: this
monument of love is inscribed" On the
other side of the obelisk the slab cover
ing the grave of Jefferson's oldest daugh-
ter is partially legible. What is missing
is in brackets:
an. A. R.-[Martha Jefferson Ran
dolph, eldest daughter of Thomas Jeffer-
sson, born September 27--(1772). Inter
married with Thomas Mann Randolph
February %, 1890. Died October 10,
1886. She possessed strong and cult
waited mild and gentle tenn
per; warm, afectionaate + and
self.sacrifcing in all her duties. This is
slight mark of the love borne by her
son, Thos. Jefferson Randolph" The
latter, the first grandson of Thomas JEFF
ferson, died but a few years ago. (He
was President in 1872 of the National
Democratic Convention, which met at
Baltimore.) He was present when JET
ferson died, and furnished Mr.. Ran
dolph, his biographer, an interesting ac-
count of Jeferson's last moments.
From him it is learned that Mr.. JEFF
ferson had no funeral. 1t was his wish
that his interment should be private and
without parade of any kind, and no
notice of the hour of interment nor invi-
tations were issued. His body was borne
down the mountain side from his resi-
dence by little procession of his family
and servants, but at the grave his friends
and neighbors had gathered in drench::
ing rain to pay their last tribute Of affec.
ton. The burial service of the Episcopal
Church was read over the remains at the
grave. Mr.. Jefferson was invited to the
city of Washington on the 4th of July
the day on which he died-to join in the
celebration of the fftieth anniversary of
American independence, but he declined,
on account of i'll health, though anxious,
as he said, to see his ancient neighbors"
in, that city.
In. his last days Jefferson wrote to
Madison: "Take core Of me when dead,
and be assured shall leave with you my
last affections" Although Mr.. Randall
tells us that this probably referred to q
defense of his political life it is an appeal,
now partially needed, to the American
people to save from further desecration
this temple of silence and .reconcilia-
tion.".
Monticello itself, at the time of our
visit, was in possession of tramp.
When we reached the hill top from the
graveyard and walked to the front of the
mansion, an old man in rags sat half
asleep in the sun on the portico. He
aroused himself at the barking of a half
fed dog, and greeted us grufHy with: "Do
you want to see old man Jeferson's
house, gentlemen p We answered.
s.'Then it will cost you twenty-five cents
apiece" The money was paid, a chain
across the main door was unlocked, it
swung open,. and we entered spacious
ante-hall. The appearance of decay in
his earthly habitation" was not so great
as we had been led to believe, but was
not the desecration in keeping with that
down the mountain slope? The home
of Thomas Jefferson in possession of 8
tramp! Who could believe this unless
he had seen it. Yet inquiry proved this
to be the literal fact. This old man had
sat himself down there without authority
from any one and levied admittance to
Monticello, where Washington and Mad
ison aud Lafayette had been welcomed
The description of the house is possibly
too we'll known to require one here. 1t
stands on the very apex of the mountain,
and was formerly surrounded by orna-
mental grounds and is now half embow-
cred in trees. It is a long brick structure
of lofty balustraded single story, sur
mounted by dome with porticos front
and rear. One Of Mr.. Jefferson's lido
syncracies was a fondness for architec-
ture. While the hall was large and the
rooms spacious, the stairway was 80 mar
row as to be uncomfortable to stout
person, and quite in contrast to the stair
ways of that date at Mount Vernon and
Montpelier. The hall opened into an
octagonal dining room with sliding glass
folding doors with finish that looked
modern. The second floor was cut up
into all kinds of inconceivable bed rooms
owing to the form of the house. In the
dome there was one room used for dane
ing parties, and at other times as draw
ing-room. In all of the bedrooms there
were dark, narrow alcoves for the beds,
which were partly fixture in the walls.
There were here and there odd places of
furniture, and an old carriage, which be-
louged to Jefferson; but "the marble
and brescia tables, French mirrors and
handsome sofas" which adorned the
house with the statuary and paintings
have gone long ago.
The view from Monticello is magnifi-
cent. For fifty miles on the left, till the
scene is melted into the haze Of the Blue
Ridge to Willis mountain on the right,
forty miles distant, there is one vast sea
of verdue stretched out like map
under the feet" There may be more
beautiful views, but they must be rare
very rare from an eminence suitable for
dwelling place.
Montpeuer-The Grave OF Madison.