Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-24
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
As He is Recalled by His Granddaugh.
ter-His Happy Home at Month
cello Now Despoiled.
The lIlustriOus Patriot and Statesman
as He Appeared Toward the Close
OF His Life.

Mrs. Meikleham, the granddaughter OF |
Thomas Jefferson, recently interviewed by |
The Washington Post said: any mother was
Martha Jehersoa. Wh'n bat gtri she ao-
companied ny grandfather 10 Paris when he
went to France az Minister for the United
States. While in Paris she met Thomas
Mann Randolph, VINO had come from Gias-
gov, where he was being educated, TO see my
graudfather. The acquaintance ripensd into
an attachment and an engagement. Ihls
was the romance OF my mothers marriage.
Young Randolph, who WAS sfterWard Gov
ernor of Virginia, lived at Edge Hill, Just
across from Monticello. My mother was my
grandfather favoriIe daughter, and be hated
TO have her marry, even though she was only
going across the river Rivarna TO Edge Hill.
So, after my mother was married-she mar
ried at seventeen-she was constantly In and
cut of grandfather's house, and thus it came
tn al WAS born 10 Monticello. l lived there
and at Edge Hill until grandfather died, at
which time / was twelve years old. re-
member him as a grand old man, one OF the
pursst domestic characters that ever lived
He WAS always kind and amIable. / remem-
Der that 1t used to be my delight TO climb
upon his knee, and with one Of those eide
comb which were in fashion in those days,
used to run the comb through his hair Ia my
childish way. Never once would he put me
down, but would wait until / grew tired and
climb down OF my own will. Then my
mother would brush the gray hairs that
had disarranged. / remember also thai there
was long hall in the house, along which
my grandfather would promenade. TWAS
grand delight for US children 10 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 Mon.i-
cello"
"You were in the house when he died?"
"Oh, yes, although l was no, in the room.
| The children were removed just before the
last moment. In his sickness he was the
same grand character, patient, forbeariug
aud kind. / do no think that be died I'M
| conscious, for Just before / was taken from
| the room, which wss Just minute or two
before his death, | said TO him, Grand
| father, do you know neP He did not an
swer, bu. felt slight pressure of his hand
upon mine, woich was lying in HE. During
| his illness he expre:s I'd desire TO live until
| after o'clock on the 4th of July. His wish
wss grali6ed, for il was l: 10 o'clock on July
4, 1926, when he died"
"Do you remember any famous visitors 10
Monticelo?"
Madison was a frequent visitor there.
remember him particularly, because be al
| ways wore knee breeche-, whereas my grand
| IAHer QlecarGSO t0Sm Wutu iucJ Ncll tAa VI
fashion. As far blck as L can remember,
too, my grandfather wore queue. Lafayette
was visitor for nine weeks at Monticello
and reLlember him distinctly"
"How was 1t that Monticello passed out Of
the famiiy?"
"My grandfather, in the unfortunate style
of those day., went security for a friend tc
the amount Of some $4,000 or $4,000, anC
lost everything. The place passed into the
hands OF a DR.. Barley, who plowed up tht
beautiful lawn and N Ade it a cornfieid. A ia
vorite room of my grandfather he filled witt
silkworms and branches of trees, and in othel
ways he seemed TO do everything in his powell
to deprecia;e the place. / am told that h'
was a little derauged or erraCc- After hiu
a Capt. Levy, of the navy, owned Monticello
He restored the. place to some degree. Hi
Gescendanis now occupy the house, snC
ehargs an admission fee 10 visitors. Whel
l was there, some twelve years ago, wa
obliged 10 pay twenty five cents to enter tn
/ house where my grandfather lived aud wher
l was born."
There seemed to be a shade OF bitterness
10 M,s. Meikleham's voice she said this
: "Have you been there sinceW
"No; visit there would BE- too painful
When was there did not pay 10 visit tn
graves, for / went around into the graveyard
through the broken wall, SO that l might b
alone. / understand now that the price 0
admission has been raised to fifty cents"