, 1886-03-09
The GRAVE OF JET RsoN.


II is about 100 miles from busy, boom
ing Richmond TO the very heart of old
Virginia. where the author of the Declar-
alton Of Independence lies buried on the
high. wooded hill near his lonely and
nearly deserted residence, Monticello
Arriving at Charlottesville, | found
everything full OF snow and -slush.T The
mountain rivers were running red, for
the soil Of Virginia is strangely red-red
as some Titan battle field.
The dome Of the university OF Virginia,
fashioned after the Pantheon at Rome.
rose on a lofty eminence before me. Be-
yond the Blu Ridge and the Alleghanies
CLEANED in the snow under the bluest Of
blue skies. II seemed az il The Sierras
were here. Monticello which Is only
a residence, not a town, as one il apt to
suppose. lies three miles back toward
Richmond, and nearly half n mile-it
would seem. if you climb to it through
the snow. a. / did-perpendicular.
mo, sab, you cant walk it; can't cross
the rivah; and a keerage couldn't git
thar IN a coon's age; but II you could
ride. sab, II you could ride a colt, sahy-
Ride a colt could ride a cow, if
necessary. Saddle up"
The colt proved TO be n mustang.
They have brought this lively and much
maligned little animal all the way from
Texasin great numbers. The little mouse
colored animal with a mischievous eye
had been shut up in the snow a good
many days, l reckon, and 30 he was led
out with a man on either side hanging
on TO the bits. A crowd gathered.
stand i'm On his mead in the snow, bet
q nickel said some one back in that
black and ragged crowd Of sovereigns.
And then there was a grin and a chuckle
all around.
/ brushed off the two men who hung
ON 10 the bits, and talking a little old
fashioned mustang talk, which he per
haps had not heard since he left Texas,
] got n foot into the stirrup, and we both
jumped at the same time. On into the
river. red as blood, breast deep; over.
on, up the hill. and in the drifted snow
to his bcllyl Then | struck n bare and
bleeding spot OF red earth. Blu ON and
up plunged the colt the sacred soil Of
Virginia flashing and dashing and cling
ing 10 the tail Of my English ulster at
every junpi
In less than a mile, however, the
gallant little mustang and myself were
in love with Zach other. got off often
10 help him wallow through the deepest
places, and he not once tried to get away
or betray my trust. Three miles of hard
climbing. then turning TO the left
through an open gate | plunged into the
thickest wood and jerked off my hat.
Was ever such absolute quiet outside
Of death or a DESERT The world was far
below. The Pantheon dome Of the uni
versity which the great dead before me
had founded and for fifty years well
fostered vas under my feet. II looked
like one Of the many great domes of
Damascus. The rising submits of the
mountains above and beyond looked
down in kindly companionship.
The grave of the great Democrat is in
perfect order. Indeed, it is almost pain
fully perfect. l know the world would
find fault II this grave was neglected,
but at the same time | may say it panied
mo to see the splendid iron fence, ten
feet high II a foot, all tipped with gold,
and n big ~forbidding lock on the prison
like gate. And then the great lofty
granite shaft seemed 40 tall, and so
heavy, and 10 cold, and eternal. But let
US be content. The people, his people,
would have it 80. Heavy or light. tomb
or no tomb. nothing can break his rest or
mar his immortality now.
A dozen or more marble slabs OF vari-
Gus sizes are dotted about the great shaft
in the center Of the square iron fence;
trees lean and look over into the little
opening; on all sides trees-oak and fir
and pine and cedar. You can not see
the resting place Of Thomas Jefferson till
you come Immediately upon it on your
way to the residence which he built on
this mountain. Monticello" half a mile
further on. The snow was heaped in
drifts about the inclsure, The snow lay
in drifts up to my horses belly as | sat on
his back 80 M TO see through the iron fence
and read the inscription, familiar Ia all
the world. The snow had not been
broken this winter. So far us / could
see NJ foot had passed this way for n
long, long time.
No, bird, no squirrel, not even a little
snow-mouse, had made sign or mark in
the abundant snow. Nor was there any
sound of bird or beast or man. The cars
were coming in three miles away and a
quarter of "A mile below, changing their
bells AS they trundled through the long.
Struggling town Of Charlottesville. Far
away TO the north, against the Blue
Ridge, streamed a white tower OF smoke
as the cars came in from the Pacific
ocean Away toward Richmond the cars
ann screaming with energy and excite.
ment; for they were setting out ON a mis-
sion Of 1000 miles. The snow Of the ALE
ghanies. the dust Of Arizona, the orange
blossoms Of La Angeles all th,se to
gether lay Immediately before me-
joaquin Miller's Letter.