New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
MONTICELLO CWEST 'FRONT.'.

ginIa Isolated spurs one Of whch-Carter's Noun
tain-bears Monticello on its nstep. send down from
their forests Of oak, chestnut. walnut and tulip
trees perennial rs 10 every quarter. The original
tract Of Monticello Itself go and It con-
ialns the same area OF land now 1t IS owned by
jefferson " Levy. The estate came into possession
o: Commodore Trlah y. Levy I'm 1850 Commodore
Levy was senior flag officer Of the United States
Navy when the CIVIL War broke OUT. AS he re-
maincd loyal TO tho Union. Monticello was confs-
Gated by the Confederate Government and all the
furniture slaves and in fact. everything except the
family portraits and the great mirrors set In the
walls OF the mansion sold. When the war end
81 the Levy family came again In possession and
began TO restore the estate. which had been neg
ected and injured by the ravagcs OF soldiers and
rec-hunters.
jefferson. Ike Washington. believed in n good grip
upon the face Of the earth. and had turn for chain
and compass instruments thereto. His birthplace
the Oh Shadwell house. nearby. was burned when
he was twenty years old. Tradition records that the
future statesman absent at the time OF the fire
probably at William and Mary College and that he
was informed OF his loss by an old servant who
softened tho tiings with:
'Mahs Tom de house am burnt. but dat don mex
no dinuncc; dun sabe de fiddle"
"Mahs Tom enjoyed the solace OF the same when.
ten years later. n more serious confagration en-
wrapped the continent.
Not vestgc remains OF the Shadwell house. Just
now the only monument to mark II Is "A shock OF
fodder. which stands among some score of its fel
lows on the bare hill overlooking the Kivanna and
the ruins OF the old mill burned few years ago. On
the Shadwell property Colonel Peter jefferson and
his wife. parents OF the author OF the Declaration
OF Independence. are buried. few years ago an
upright blucstonc only marked their resting place
Peter jefferson IS said to have been in his own way
almost remarkable man rs his son Thomas
Physical strength Is remembered as one OF his most
striking points His besi-known public service was
the establishing OF the line between Virginia and
North Carolina Al were horsemen In those days
that IL IL not too much To say that he helped to
make his son the daring, rider who at eighty with
broken wrs ON on Eo Of ga ,b sT
Illness OF young friend.
jefferson. after the burning Of Shadwel.. began
the erection OF Monticello in 1864 and he moved into
IT in III He brought Italian workmen from Europe
ana N laying on, The broad grounds around it,
Descendants OF some OF these Italians are now
Mr.. jefferson. with an eye ever to progress sent
home slips from the best wine -maklng vines OF
wcll-corducted vineyards hcreabouts Jefferson
the originator of the Norton. the great wine grape
of Virginia, though this fact Is not recorded his
Visitors to Monticello and they Ill almost a con-
slant procession OF carriages In the summer, viii
find. as said. the mansion and It's appurtenances
owner jefferson NJ. Levy All the old oaks. beeches
and lindens have been preserved with scrupuous
care Many of them planted by Jefferson have
grown TITO towering trees There is a grassy slope
leading up to the western portco OF the house the
Rome. 1t under the pavement OF this portico
that the family plate was concealed on the occasion
of Tsretons raid in ISL; The proceedings that
occasion were hurried The servant handing
down to another below the silver. piece by piece
Just as the last piece received the alarm
was given that the British were In sight The flag
stone was instantly dropped. and the man below
kept In durance vie for some hours Until the coast
clear.
In the park about quarter of mile from the
house Is the tomb OF Jefferson granite obelisk
erected by Congress at n cost OF $4,000 marks the
spot. which Is incosed by a handsome iron railing
This monument replaces the original tombs one
which was practically carried away by relic hunt-
obellsk. Mr.. Levy keeps Waterman guarding II
all hours from the destructive hammer OF the too
ardent patriot.