Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-25

1
mer &c Co. Binghamton. ". Z. The rcc~
| ular Decent and 81 Sizes are sold BY al
| irst-claSS druggists.
<s1.sr,ssu~ss.s-,s'.-zrussrzr
bushes IN the outer circle are unusuaRy
| large. while smaller bushes form the M
her circle. Inc plot which those circlaa
| hOwer-beds
The front porch is spacious. with I'm
posing white pillars, and is reached bu
q par or IRON steps extending It's full
length, which Is twenty-four feet. IND
small guest chambers are situated en-
tltner side or the hall. A. the end OF the
Iaii. IN the centre OF the building. IL the
9lning-room This room Ia twenty-6ne
lset square, with door at each side
one OF these doors connects with the
nan, ana the others open into three rooms
twenty-ciSht by fourteen feet I'm sazo
ihe room on the right oil the dining
room. or ne west room. was JofrersonPa
bed chamber. The east room was als0
| used Tor sleeping apartment. Two
wings about ten by fourteen feet. pros
! west rooms, and opening into them, con-
tain the staircases, which connect the
Two noors. Back Of the dining-room il
the beautiful room which was used ~
Jefferson as q drawing-room. Ii openA
! bY means Of two windows extending -
| the hoor and pair of glass doors, upon
the south porch. which is about ten fueG
| above the ground. All OF the rooms on
| fireplace at each end
THE LOWER FLOOR.
The lower or basement roor is a daipii.
cate of the main door. except that the
rooms are not so high-pitched and that
1 they open into each other end to end.
/ thus making completes circle. Under
4 the centre or dining-rOom and oponinE
into these outer rooms, IL the large wine
| cellar twenty-one feet square. and Duilr
J of the most substantial masonry.
| Such is the mansion that Jefferyou
| erected I'm the latter years OF his Me- and
| here 1t was that ne sought seclus'on from
the busy outside world and from tho
| troublesome visitors that fockcd to Nom
| tcelo In these visits to Poplar Forest.
| OF which he made several during each
year. he was accompanied by some OF hig
| grandchildren. He generally remained
| there several weeks. for In their society
he seemed completely happy.
II was At this quiet mountain hong
| that the third President Of the United
| States sought rest after the wear and
| tear of his first administration. during
which he had reduced the public debt
more than twelve millions though at tho
! doubled the area Of the United states
averted the danger of war both with
| France and Spain and I'm many othen
ways promoted the welfare OF our coun~
| try.
! In the spring Of 1914 while at Poplar
Forest. Jefferson employed himself in
| reading Piato's Republic From THIS ha
| turned to the subject Of classical learn
| ing. the neglect OF which in the educa-
| ton Of his time, he deeply deplored. Them
| IT. was that he began TO look forward 10
| the establishment Of a college in VIZ
ginia In which every branch or useluk
| science should be taught.
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
Tn one of Jefferson's letters. written IN
| 1890. we find the following: II can wailS
| the round Of my garden not more; bat
| ride six or eight miles Gay wlthoue
| fatigue. / shall set out for Poplar ForGss
| within three or four days. n journey FROM
| which my physician augurs much good,
| This Journey did bring about much good
| although not Of the kind that the physi-
| clan had In mind. fer IL was while on
| this visit TO Poplar Forest that he wrote
many letters TO members OF the Virginia
Legislature in behalf of the University
| OF Virginia. It was Largely through those
letters that he gained the support or the
State I'm his great undertaking
Even here at Poplar Forest. while lee
| ing from society, Jefferson entertained
, his friends General Jackson was ms
guest there shortly after the battle OF
New Orleans. and there were yearly al
/. ways some Of his admirers visiting. him
there. a venerable old lady is now living
| in Bedford City who visited tho place as
| a young girl, and can distinctly renen-
her our grand Old statesman as he sat IN
| his study busy with his corresponoenccs
| gathered his grandchildren about MN ON
across the shadows Of the poplars, or
clad in bright red knickerbockers. rode
over the estate TO look after his affairs.
HIS QUIET DAYS
To find out a mans real character va
must know his domestic life. No perlod
affords us q better opportunity 10 Judge
that side of Jefferson's life than the qulee
days he spent. surrounded Dy MS famllys
at Poplar Forest. ~ this place. aooso
all others the Father Of Democracy
was revealed I'm a true light a. nobles
kind-hearted broad-minded citi2en-truo
TO himself, 10 mankind, aud TO God.
At Jemerson's death Poplar Forest went
| TO his grandson and then 20 BIS son-ln-
law. Francis Eppes. who decided toe eetata
TO Bishop Cobbs The house and about
800 acres Of the estate Is nov owned ~
Bishop CObbs grandson, Mt G. ,. hntters
of Lynchburg. who uses IL as his summer
home.
The interior Of the house was destroyed
by fire i'm 1873. but the masonry was so
substantial that not DICK tell- me
house Yves repaired the following year,
and the only change made was the doing
away with the dome that gave light TO
the centre room. They also used tin to
cover il, and did not replace a wooden
| railing that extended around the TO0f.
During the war between the states tho
place was Overrun and sacked by Hunt
or's men when they raided Lynchburg,
but no serious harm was done.
Mr. Hutter takes much pride In tho
old house, and has made few changes.
Some OF Jelerson's furniture Is SAN in
the house. and the whole place Is kept
as near as possible as IT was left BY
Jefferson.
There are many spots in Virginia dear
to all of her sons. but none should be
nearer 20 their hearts than the homo OF
their greatest statesman. IL Is true much
20 the discredit Of Nirginians, that Few
have seen. or even heard, OF Poplar Forest.
Monticello has TT place I'm history, and
well should IL have, but Poplar Forese
should occupy place by It's side. and
also be famous as tho beautiful home %
Jefferson. CHARLES Il. MACGILL~
University OF Virginia.