The evening times., 1897-04-08

new 1OTAs apfu o.-MODuCellOi Au
Virginia, the birthplace of Thomas Jeffer-
son. should be, William J. Bryan believes,
q national reservation and memorial Of the
great Democratic President. The recent
candidate for the Presidency has set his
/. heart upon this project, and is going to
advocate it with all his characteristic en-
ergy.
Mr. Bryan win put forth his ideas on
the subject before the League OF Democratic
Clubs, which is TO meet in Washington
next Tuesday He win advocate that
Congress make an appropriation FOR the
purchase OF tie property and the mainten-
ance thereof. ana should this project fan
through, then that the Democrats Of the
country subscribe a sum OF money for
the same purpose.
MI Bryan is a most enthusiastic al
mirer Of jefferson and his principals,
and apart from the political side Of the
case believes that one Of the most famous
men OF tie COUNT should be remembered
ferson Home, he believes. should be a
national monument for foreigners to see
as well as Tor Americans 10 veneraUe
But there is this slight drawback TO
Mr. Bryan's hopes-the property is owned
by Jefferson NJ Levy, Of this city. who
takes so great a family pride in il that
he does not care TO part with il for any
A. FL
however, and viii push his cntreaties ana
negotiations.
Mr Bryan wrote to Mr. Levy last SatuT-
day asking him to name the selling price Of
the Monticello property. and briefly out
lining the great project he had for ma
tionaI memorial. Mr.. Bryan believed that
private interests, no matter how laudable,
ought t. give way to public requirements
He furthermore believed that it would re-
dound to Air Levy's honor to have the
nation take hold of the birthplace Of tie
distinguished President.
MIR. Levy Yesterday sent a courteous
reply to Mr Bryan, to Washington, and a
duplicate Of fl 20 Lincoln, Nebr. The gist
OF his answer wassthat not all the moneyin
the United States Treasury would induce
linn TO part with it,
itAn IL litS Alit lAaHI AiAlit MI l]tN Atcin
Teen approached on the same subject. He
has refused large sums of money Tor Mon
toello Mr. Bryan knows this, but hopes
that ifthe ploj ject is taken up by the Nation
the owner may change his mind.
Mr. Levy said yesterday that were it
not for his family, which took hold Of it
soon after Jcfferson's death. in 1926. there
would today he no Jefferson home to
4 no.
and maintained it and have done better
than the Government could do.
The property consists OF TAO acres, said
Mr. Levy. ''aH laid out in park. Serpen-
tine roads wind in and out Of Monticello
for twenty InileS. There are no restrictions
On the public park is open to them at
all times. When 1 am there visitors are
admitted to the house, and when I am
away my card is sufficient passport"
The Monticello mansion is known as one
of the most famous homes OF great men.
both in this country and abroad. After
the death OF Jefferson it passed into the
hands Of an ardent admirer Of his, Commo-
dore Uriah p. Levy, OF the United States
Navy. He and his mother made it their
home. In S34 Commodore Levy present
Id to the United States the colossal bronze
Oh SefEtISbu. Da Au9ouFSs
now in the Capitol. He fought on the side
of the Union.
When his nephew, jefferson NJ. Levy, be
came ofage he repaired andrestored the old
home toits former glory and grandeur after
AZ had been ciosedup for some fifteen years
Everything is retained In the house in the
same style al the time of jefferson. MT.
Levy has collected from abroad objects OF
art and has replaced the lostarticies OF fur
niture as near To the style of former years
aspossible. The great statesman n Is buriedin
the woodland, some fifteen hundred feet
from the house. A plain granite shaft
marks his grave, and high railing sur
rounds the graveyard.
Mr. Bryan is as fully alive to the beauties
of the place as well as to its historical value
and has often spoken Of it admiringly. II
Is situated on q small mountain, part Of
the Southwest Range, and is about three
miles from the city of Charlottesville. II
rises 523 feet above the sea level From
fts top the Blue Ridge Mountains are in fun
view for many miles.