The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-06
GENERAL NOTES.

L
that I would give a brief account of my
trip east, I will now comply with the
promise.
On Wednesday, April 10, I left Chicago
via the Big Four, going direct to Gin
cinnati. l went over the Chesapeake and
Ohio to Washing ION City. The weather
was very cold for April. 1t showed on
us nearly all the way from Chicago to
Washington. On Thursday, the 18th, we
travelled most of the day in Virginia. The
mountains were covered with snow. 1t
was a pretty sight to see the trees green
and the ground covered with snow. The
weather through March had been I'M
usually warm and all vegetation had
started vigorous growth. Owing to this
condition the cold weather of April has
caused much damage to fruit and all ten
der vegetation. All along the trip
noticed that all farm work was we'll adj
vanced; this was owing to the fine wealth
er in March. In some sections there had
been too much rain and the soil was
water soaked. The winter wheat in IL
linois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland and Penn
sylvania is very promising.
Monticello.
The Chesapeake and Ohio is a scenic
route. especially through Virginia, where
it passes many historic places. none of
which is more interesting than Monticello
the home of Jefferson and the University
of Virginia, which he founded. These are
!. located at Charlottesville. Monticello, the
old mansion where Jefferson lived is stu
ated ON high point a few miles out of
. the city and in full view of the railroad
1t is beautiful location and is being kept
up in good condition. AS we pass we
notice the old road in front of the house
a driveway from this leads through the
grounds up to the house. 1t was here at
the front gate that Jefferson kept his
butler to turn all wayworn travellers in
where they were sheltered, fed and en-
tertained at his expense.
Jeffersonial Simplicity.
We have heard much said about Jeffer-
sonian simplicity, but not of Jeffersonian
hospitality. 1t is said that the hospitality
of Jefferson came near bankrupting him.
1t is said that no traveller was ever de-
MED shelter or food who journeyed his
way and that no charge was ever made
or compensation of any kind ever received
for such service or accommodations
When We come to consider that in those
days there were no railroads and that
the mode of travel was by horseback and
stage lines, we can understand how it was
that so many people passed by this hos
| pitable home. Jefferson was the founder
| of the true, genuine southern hospitality
| and his memory will be cherished by the
| people of this great country down through
| all the ages Of time.
| Monticello looks like a quiet unpreten-
| tious home when compared with other
| homes of later date and with their mod
! ern improvements, vet 1t possesses a his
! toric value above all others and in inter-
est is second only to Mt. Vernon, the
home of the father of our country, George
| Washington.
| But we pass on, feeling that it was
! good to get view of this historic house
! Soon we reach Washington, a city unsur-
| passed for beauty and attractions. Here
| we find so much of interest that one
needs months of leisure time. with mind
set free from all cares of life, In order
to fully enjoy what Is here to be seen.
! First of all, here are beautiful, well-kept
! parks. These are always interesting. as
we'll as affording places of rest and
study. Here in the parks are to be seen
| many monuments of great men-the
| Washington monument in the center the
grandest of them all. Then here we see
the great Buildings where ztlle heads OF
| the various departments of our govern
| ment are located-the capitol on the hill
being the most prominent of them all
| Then, standing a little way from the cap
ftol building, Is the great congressional