The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-02

AT TwEyTY-FoUR HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE
BAR.
children were born TO them. He died
when the youngest child was % months
old, leaving /, 900 acres of land and SO
slaves
Thomas at this time was IA years Of
nge, with thick red hair. He attended
William and Mary college two years
and then studied law four years under
George Wythe at Williamsburg.
At the age of "a he was admitted to
the bar. George Wythe, under whom
he studied, also gave Chief Justice
Marshall and Henry Clay their clear
and accurate notions of law.
Thomas Jefferson also studied the
violin, and after reading that claw is a
rule of action, prescribing what is right
and prohibiting what is wrong" he
would turn to his violin, expectorate on
the keys to keep them from slipping
while tuning up, and then practice, SO
his biographer says, for three hours at
time.
And yet he got votes enough in after
years to elect him president of the
United States.
Thomas jefferson was eminently sue
cessful at the bar for eight years, start
ing in with Is cases the first year and
gradually working up 10 430 cases in
his fourth year of practice. He studied
hard at the law even then, and il is
said that his industry rs a student was
something truly remarkable all his life
When his father died, jefferson went
at once TO the store and bought 20 gal
Ions of midnight oil. l get this informa-
ton from Joseph jefferson, who has
given me many of the points and con-
siderable of the data used in this little
sketch of the early life of Jefferson, the
statesman.
Thomas earned at the bar as high rs
$500, which was regarded in those
times as great income. He was very
economical, and ont of this income he
managed TO save enough for the pur-
rhase of 5000 acres of land, according
60 James Parton. in addition TO what
he already owned.
Mr.. Jefferson in 1772 married Martha
Shelton, n young, beautiful, wealthy
and childlesS widow, who died the fol-
lowing year, and thus doubled Mr.. JEFF
ferson' income.
In 1769 he entered politics. having
been elected a member of the house of
burgesses. These burgesses were men
who met occasionally to discuss the
previous question. Hew noted for his
liberality and for his disapproval of
slavery. He was not so ultra antislavery
as John Brown, whose soul is at present
engaged in marching on. but he regarded
the institution with grief and solicitude
Tor the future.
Though strongly attached to the
mother country, he united with Patrick
Henry and the Lees in denouncing the
rourse pursued by Great Britain toward
The colonists. He expressed himself
many times both by voice and pen rela-
hive TO this matter in no uncertain tone.
and the same spirit actuated him IN
his early efforts as is breathed in such
glowing language and soul stirring sen
hments us we find in the Declaration of /
independence in later years.
1t is said that Jefferson's i'll feeling
Toward the mother country originated
In 100, when representative of King
George visited this country and was in
troduced TO jefferson at plain Virginia /,
dinner of fried chicken and beaten (
bread. The Englishman' 5 name was Sir /,
George Attorney. and he had pompouS 1
way which jefferson did not like and /
eould not tolerate.
AT the dinner. IN conversation with /
Jefferson, Sir George, who had turned !
up his nose at the simple food offered I
him by his colonial friends. referred 10 I
his i'll health, and Jefferson asked him /
what his ailment was Sir George re-
piled that be suffered great deal from 1
Insomnia.
Il used TO have that good deal nv
self, said Jefferson, especially while (;
In college. but one day l went TO bed |
and slept it off Did you ever try that.
Sir George"
Ii is said that Alderney wrote home |
to one of the papers in London regard
ing the above incident, giving it as an
illustration of colonial Ignorance. This
made Mr.. Jefferson 50 mad that
throughout his long and useful life Re
never forgave the mother country.
After the dinner was over It Is report
ed that Sir George actually took Jeffer-
son aside and said 10 him: II beg par
don. M. jefferson bpt -Ycn know |