Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-04-09
MONTICELLO

Monticello, IN Virginia, the birth
place Of Thomas Jefferson, should be,
William J. Bryan believes, a national
reservation and memorial of the great
democratic President. The recent can
didate fer the presidency has set his
heart upon this project ind is going to
advocate it with all his characteristic
energy
Mr.. Bryan will put forth his ideas on
the subject next Tuesday before q
league OF democratic clubs. He will
advocate that Congress make an ap
propriation for the purchase Of the
property and the maintenance thereof,
aud should this project fall through,
then that the democrats of the country
subscribe sum of money for the same
purpose.
Mr.. Bryan is most enthusiastic ad
mirer of Jefferson and his principles,
aud apart from the political side of the
case believes that one of the most fa-
NOUS men of the country should be re-
membered in other ways than histori
cally. The Jefferson Home, he be-
lieves, should be national monument
for foreigners to see as we'll as for
Americans to venerate.
But there is this slight drawback to
Mr.. Blysn's hopes-the property is
owned Dv Jefferson M. Levy, of this
city, who takes so great a family pride
in it that he does not care to part with
It for any amount OF money. Mr. Bryah
is hopeful, however, and will push hi
entreaties aud negotiations.
Mr.. Bryan wrote to Mr.. Levy
last Saturday asking him to name
the selling price of the Monti
cello property and briefly out
lining the great project he had for
national memorial. Mr.. Bryan believ-
ed that private interests, no matter
how laudable, ought to give way to
public re quirements. He furthermore
believed that it would rebound to MIR.
Levy's honor to have the nation to
take hold of the birthplace OF the dis
tinguished President.
MIR. Levy on Wednesday sent cour
teous reply to Mr.. Bryan, to Washing
ton, and 3 duplicate OF it to Lincoln,
Neb The gist of his answer was thai
uot all the money in the United States
treasury would induce him to part
with it.
This is not the first time Mr.. Levy
has been approached on the same sub
ect. He has refused large sums of
money for Monticello. Mr.. Bryan
knows this, but hopes that if the pro
ect is taken up by the nation, the
owner may change his mind.
Mr.. Levy told ne yesterday that
were it not for his family. which took
hold of it soon after Jetfcrson's death,
10 1926, there would to-day be no Jefier-
son home to negotiate for. The Levys
nave preserved it and maintained it,
and have done better than the govern
ment could do.
The property consists of 740 acres" :"
said Mr.. Levy, ''all laid out in park.
Serpentine roads wind in and out f
Monticello for twenty miles. There
are no restrictions On the publlc-the
park is open to them at all times
When am there visitors are admitted
to the house, and when am away my
card is a 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, Commodore Uriah P. Levy, of the
United States navy. He and his moth
er made it their home. In 1854 Com
modore Levy presented to the United
States tie colossal bronzs statue of JEFF
terson by David de Aujours, now in the