The Indianapolis journal., 1883-06-30
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
How the Great Man Appeared Toward the
Close of His Life

Close of His Life.
Mrs Meikleham in Washington Post.
"My mother was Martha Jefferson. When
but girl she accompanied my grandfather
to Paris when he went to France as minister
for the United States. While in Paris she
met Thomas Mann Randolph who had come
from Glasgow, where he was being educated,
to see my grandfather, The acquaintance
ripened into an attachment and an engage
ment. This was the romance of my mothers
marriage. Young Randolph, who was after
ward Governor OF virginia, lived at Edge
Hill, just across from Monticello. Ny moth
er was my grandfather's favorite daughter,
and he hated to have her marry,
even though she was only going
across the river Rivanna to Edge Hill So,
after my mother was married-she married
at seventeen-she was constantly in and out
OF grandfathers house, aud thus it came that
/ was born in Monticello. lived there and
at Edge Hill until grandfather died at which
time L was twelve years old. 1 remember
him as grand old man, one of the purest
domestic characters that ever lived He was
always kind and amiable. / remember that
1t used to be my delight to climb upon his
knee, and, with one of those side-combs
which We're in fashion in those days, / used
to run the ecomb through his hair in my child
ish way. Never once would he put me down,
but would wait until | grew tired and
climbed down of my own will. Then my
mother would brush the gray hairs that 1 had
disarranged. remember also that there was
hall in the house, along which my grand
father would promenade 1t was a grand
delight for us children to run from one end
of the hall to the other, and have him stop us
with his arms outstretched. These were
happy days in the old home at Monticello"
You were in the house when he died?'
"Oh, yes, although | was not in the room.
The children were removed just before the
last moment In his sickness he was the
same grand character, patient, forbearing
and kind. do not think that he died mn
conscious, for just before | was taken from
his room, which was Just a minute or two
before his death, said to him, Grandfather,
do you know me% He did not answer but
felt slight pressure of his hand upon
mine which was lying in his. During his
illness he expressed a desire to live until
after l o'clock on the 4th of July. His wish
was gratified for it was ITO o'clock on July
4, 1926, when he died"
DO you remember any famous visitors to
Monticello?"
Madison was frequent visitor there.
remember him particularly because he al
ways wore knee breeches whereas my grand
father discarded them when they went out
of fashion AS far back as l can remember,
too, my grandfather wore queue. Lafayette
was visitor for nine weeks at Mont cello
and / remember him distinctly"
How was it that Monticello passed out of
tne family!
MY grandfather, in the unfortunate style
of those days. went security for a friend to
the amount of $40, 900 or $50, 900. and lost
everything. The place passed into the hands
OF a DR.. Barkley, who plowed up the beauti-
full lawn and made it a corn field. A favor
ite room OF my grandfather he filled with
silkworms and branches of trees, and in other
ways he seemed to do everything in his
power to deprecate the place. 1 am told
that he was little deranged or erratic. After
him Captain Levy, of til navy, owned
Monticello. He restored tn, place to some
degree. His descendants no occupy the
house and charge an admissio, ee to visit
ors When l was there, some elve years
ago, l was obliged to pay 25 cents to enter
the house where my grandfather lived and
where | was born"
There seemed to be a shade of bitterness in
Mrs. Meikelham's voice as she said this.
"Have you been there since?
mo; visit there would be too painful.
When l was there did not pay visit to the
home, for | went around into the grave
yard through the broken wall, so that |
might be there alone. | understand now
that the price of admission has been raised
m