The St. Louis Republic., 1901-09-01
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Columbia, Mo-, Aug. 3i-The original
monument designed by Thomas Jefferson,
and erected over his grave at Monticello.
and which now stands upon the campus OF
the University Of Missouri, at Columbia,
VIII form the center of the Missouri Uni
yersiiy exhibit at the st. Louis Worlds
Fair in 1903.
1t is a simple obeiisk of granite. eight feet
in height and without the slightest attempt
at adornment.
Two miles from the spot where Thomas
Jefferson was born. near the Junction OF
the Rivanna and James rivers. IN ialos-
marie County. Virginia. on the lands whicn
he inherited from his father. rises Mol'ti-
cello, or 'The Little Mount. so feet nish'
the home for more than sixty years ana she
final resting place Of the patriot and states
man.
During the long summer days OF the yeas
lIss on a rustic bench near its summit pe-
meath the branches OF majeslc CAR
could be seen two young men IN the carry
bloom OF manhood, students OF the law anu
devoted friends. The one was Thomas Jei-
ferson and the other Dabney Carr senator
Vest thus described the scene:
lifting their eyes from the pages OF
Coke on Littletou, they rested upon
landscape Of enchanting beauty; on the
right the lowlands OF Virginia stretchea
away in an unbr0ken plain TO the ocedh'
with the Riyanna and the James hke
threads OF silver, whilst on thets ieit the
Blue Ridge robed in azure nue. looked
down upon the billowy hills that nestled az
their feet. II was here that the Two trieilds
made solemn compact. mutually pisdSins
their sacred honor, that beneath THIS oak
shouId be their burial place. and mere thsif
ashes rest"
Roth Buried Under the Tree.
pabney Carr died first. He had married
Martha. sister Of Thomas Jefferson. ahd
,,-h, wears later at the very commence
nnent OF what promised 10 be most brii-
liant career, died, leaving to the care OF
his distinguished brothe--in-law widow
and six children. Fffty-tfree years later,
after forty-four years in puonc service
Thnnss Jefferson died and was buried be-
s,Go his noykocd friend under the great oak
Among his papers after death was FOUND q
rough sketch in Ink Of an obeiisk, together
with this inscription for marble tablet:
Here was Buried
Thomas jefferson.
] Author Of the
Declaration Of American Independence,
The Statute Of Virginia for
Religious Freedom.
and
Father OF the University OF yi-sinin.
The marble tablet which formerly was
attached to and formed part Of the granite
! obeIisk was badly broken when the Uni
yersity buildings were DESTROYED by fire on
January 9, 1892. II now. for safe-keepins.
rests under glass in the freDroof vault Oh
the pr octor Of the university.
The epitaph is a significant one. Thomas
Jefferson had been member of the vir-
einia House of Burgesses and Of the Conti-
| mental Congress. Governor Of Virginia. Min
| lister to France, negotiator of the Louisiana
| Purchase, Secretary Of State. Vice President
and President Of the United States: but none
| of these honors did he wish Inscribed upon
| his tombstone. The stern Old Democrat
l preferred instead. as passport to iHnortaii-
| ty. remembrance Of his advocacy Of ths
! rights Of man. religious liberty and uni
| yersal education
| Thomas jefferson died a bankrupt. Beau
l tiful Monticello passed into the hands Of
| strangers and the simple Rravestone was
| neglected and mutiiated. On April Is, 1862
| in the birth month of jefferson, Congress
appropriated $1,000 ':for the erection of a