The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-01
THE MONTICELLO PILGRIMAGE.
Some Incidents of the Congressional Trip
to the Tomb of Jefferson.
(WaShinpton Post. \


The first thing the visitors were shown
on entering the Jefferson mansion was
the great box-like clock, high over the
door, three or four times the size of the
ordinary 'grandfather's clocks of a
century ago, and made, so it was said, by
Jefferson himself. The weights consist
of dozen huge iron balls, the cords
being carried from the clock so that the
weights hang from pulleys in opposite
corners of the room. These would hardly
be an ornament in a modern reception
hall, but in this great high-ceilinged
apartment they were singularly attractive.
Beneath the clock depends weather
vane, which moves with the wind, for a
rod connects it with the vane on the roof
Jefferson was the first weather observer
in the United States and this continuance,
by which he could know the direction of
the wind on the stormiest or coolest day
without going out into the yard and look
ing up atsthe roof, was only one Of many
inventions Of a like character.
In another corner of the room was a
huge spy-glass, with which Jefferson,
from the roof of his home, was wont to
supervise the work going on in the vari-
GUS fields Of his extensive estate. It is
also related that he used the spy-glass,
which has powerful lenses, equal to any
thing of modern make, to personally
watch the construction of the University
of Virginia buildings, in which he was
especially interested.
Colonel Duke, one of the Oldest inhabi-
tants of Charlottesville, who was boy of
four years when jefferson died, told how
Jefferson, one day, watching the work.
men laying brick on a university build
ing four miles away, saw one of the men
putting in defective brick. The great
statesman Immediately descended, called
for his saddle-horse and dashed away
down the mountain and across the vail ey
to the university grounds, where he called
up the offending workman and made him
undo all that he had done since the poor
brick was laid. This story, Colonel Duke
said, Jefferson had often told his father,
who had related it to him.
Jefferson must have been considerable
of a liar himself" was the only comment
made, and that by senator who shall be
nameless, because he was Democrat.
Jefferson was wonderful man for
accuracy of detail,'' said Senator Bacon
VI OCol hAOW d IlldIl III lily SudUc
-Milledge is his name; the city of Mill
edgeville was named after his grandfath-
er, who was once governor of the state
who has in his possession letter which /
have seen, which is a most remarkable
illustration of this feature of jefferson s
character.
Governor Milledge--the grandfather !
am speaking of now-wanted to pay a
visit to John Randolph of Roanoke, and
asked jefferson to tell him the way. The
letter of which speak gives the most
minute directions for travelling from the
city of Washington to Randolph's home,
beginning with telling him where to take
the ferry in Georgetown to cross the Pc
tomac This letter l do not believe has
ever been published. 1t interested me
greatly and think / shall send for a copy
and have it published
No portraits of jefferson or any mem
Der Of his family now adorn the walls of
the old mansion. All the personal effects
of the family We're removed when the
estate was sold in 1S43. 1t was purchased
at forced sale by a man named Barkley,
who soon sold it, however, to Commodore
Levy. A portrait of the latter in uniform
adorns the wall to the right of the main
entrance. In his right hand is scroll
partly unrolled, which bears these words:
Author of the act that abolished fog
ging i'll the United States navy"
Many of the magnificent shade trees on