The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12

j.. M.
TRUE THOMAS

We have 4 way of disempodying those
who have made a profound impression
upon us; a way of ruonumentalizing peo-
re, so that they grow TO mean to us
whatever is our maturcd opinion of them.
If the sentiments that form the opinion
lie in our heart. then the object of them
is our love, and soon becomes the very
pattern of our domestic Ideal; thus, also.
our heroes in public life take the shape
of their deeds and are high and noble,
mediocre, or low and vile, already, IN
life, falling into the mold and fashion
of statuary.
The artist, following his inspiration.
seizcs upon the salient charactefisucs-
1Iefforces-that have made the great man
to be great and is blessed. when, under
his genius. the living fire glows from ms
cold canvas or animates his marble
When our minds turn TO jefferson, 1t is
to a Mind that most Of US turn; TO d
towering Figure, at whose feet are
carved: Author or the Declaration OF
Independence, Governor of Virginia,
Secretary of State, Ambassador TO
Franco. Founder of the University, Pres
idcnt OF the United States, Founder Of
the Democratic party Mr.. Curtis gives
us a glimpse of bright lad leaving his
plantation home on the Riyanna ana
going 10 williamsburg TO prepare for
William and Mary, Of the law student
the practitioner, the politician and tho
statesman: and through 1t all he keeps
before us the donestic-minded Jefferson.
the loving son and husband and father
and friend. giving US q portrait full OF
human interest, yet in no way casting
any reflections upon the memory of our
great dead.
The memory OF the living Jefferson
hospitable neighbor that he was. even
to his ruins not so remote 10 Virgin
ians as it is to people of foreign States
and nations, and therefore much that the
author has written is not new to US, ex-
cept in the attractive manner in which
he has presented it. TO the outsider it
must appear as a revelation. but even
here the book is full OF surprises. and IS
continually Interesting from cover 10
cover. That the book is satisfactory TO
us is gratifying. There have been so
many vulgarizations OF the Lippincotts
True Portrait order of biography in
ouch stuff as THE True Mark Hanna"
The True David Harum,' The True
Tom-Tit" that 1t takes an effort to get
back to the idea OF dignified biography
under that description. The Lppincott
idea was to ;nvigorate this branch of lit
erature by departing absolute from the
old-ume panegyrical style of biography,
and publish instead a man-to-man de-
scription Of the subject and his career.
Success has awarded the praisewcr-Sy
effort.
Paul Leicester Ford's True George
Washington" was the first of the series,
and the innovation has outlasted the
abuse which first greeted it and is now
accepted as standard form OF biography.
40, J1-a,, inr' and
Penn followed it. and now THE True
Thomas jefferson is enjoying the PIE
en1inence of freshness. If the student
wishes TO feel an acquaintance with The
living, breathing. warm and Speaking
personality of Thomas LETTERS IN, in lela-
ton to his family, his growing youth.
his estate, his friends, his love affairs,
his wife and children. his home life, his
tastes, habits. peculiarities and attach
ments his religious profession. political
creed, his achievements, and in the I'M
happy evening of his life, as familiarly,
let us say, as we know that of Robert
Z. Lee or Jefferson Davis, let him read
this book
The scope of the work embraces chap
ters on Jefferson's family, Jefferson as
a lawyer. as a farmer. as the author OF
the Declaration. as an otficeholder, as an
',expansionist' on "Jeffersonan simplic-
ity;" on his frien6s and his enemies; on
Jefferson as the founder Of the University
of Virginia and as a politician, and con-
cIudes with a discussion OF his religious
views and Of his service to cience. The
illustrations are a commendable addition
to the book, ranging from reproductions
of the Gilbert Stuart portraits to fac
emile of pages from Jefferson's account
books.