The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-04-13

To-day, April 18th, Is the 139th
anniversary Of tho birth Of Thomas
Jefferson. the author Of the Deciar-
alton Of Independence, the third
President Of the United States and
the man whose life and teachings
constitute the inspiration and plat
form Of the Democratic party.
Thomas Jefferson was born at
Shadwell, Virginia, April Is, 1743.
He was the fhirdchild Of Peter Jeffer-
son and Jane Randolph. His grand
father, Isllam Randolph, owned one
Of the most valuable tobacco planta
tions Of his day on the James river,
when the land was new and rich,
when tobacco was fourpence . pound
in London docks, and negro slaves
were twenty-five gaineas q head
Two years before Peter Jeferson's
marriage he bought . thousand acres
Of land On The Ravenna river, then
q wilderness. Hero he set to work
to clear mp . farm for himself and
his posterity, and here in 1888, he
brought his bride, the best shelter
that he could olier her being q rude
cabin house. he was q man Of won
derfdl physical strength, aad it Is
said Of him that he could raise two
bogsheads Of tobacco, each weigh
ing . Thousand pounds, from their
sides and stand them upright He
worked - hard - any Of his men,
and slept By night in . hollow tree
while laboring On his farm. He be-
came . leader among the people;
was . justice u the peace; county
surveyor; coloael Of militia, and
finally 3 member Of the legislature.
Thomas Je6erson's early educa-
ton was thorough for those times
He commenced going to school al
i've, and ct nine began to study
Latin, Greek and French. His father
died il 1857; aged fifty years. At
the ago Of IL he entered William
and Mary College, ct Williamsburg,
where be spent seven years. the
nost important part Of his young
ill., Here his most intimate friend
w1 Patrick Henry, the widest and
joliiest Of Oh his college mates. He
was married in 1772, to Mrs. Martha
Shelton, . daughter Of John Wayles,
agreet lawyer, following In this re-
spest, the example Of Washington
aod Madison. His wife IL described
asbesatifal, childless, fbad Of music,
and ~ yearsof ago at the time Of
their marriage.
HI. Jefferson was President for
eight years, and for sixteen years
following. master Of the administra-
tioss Of james Madison and James
Monroe. Under his administration
the vast territory known ~ the
ssLoaisiana Purchase forming en-.
tirely or in part the present States
Of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri,
Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska,
Oregon, Ooleeado, and tho Terrific
ries Of Washington, Wyoming, Mon
tana, Idaho Dakota, and part Of
Indiaa HerTitoey-was purchased
from Napoleon. He was the author
of the ordnance removing slavery
fhom the Northwest Territory; was
ths sucesssfhl enemy Of the alien
and ssdition lawn. and the founder
u The University q Virginia. He
was the ffisnd and champion Of uni
versal education, and to-day his in
fuence Is the strongest, and his
memery the freshest in oil the polit-
ical literature Of the Union.
~D-e~0@-
One o. moro Of the Surgeons Of
the Surgical Inflrmary Of Indianap-
oils, win b in Shreveport, Saturday
and MsadAy, April 18th and 18th.
An having inAAmsd o. sore eyes,
cross eyes, cataracts or other defects