New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-13
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Interesting Stories About
Founder Of Democracy.


one hundred and sixty-four years ago today
Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell Va. Since
the time Of his death Monticello, adjoining
Shadweil at tho age OF eighty-three, his birthday
has been celebrated almost every year In the iaFt
two or three decades the jefferson Day celebrations
have generally taken the form Of banquets, ar
ranged by Democratic political clubs ana many OF
Them have been the occasion for the launching Of
a boom" for some particular candidate or Of some
new policy.
II Mr.. Jefferson alive there is little doubt
that he would frown upon the whole thing.
While he was President a friend asked him:
What is the date of your BIRTH Mr.. President.
"Of what possible concern is that TO YOU? querled
the great Democrat, in reply. We wish 10 cele-
brate Il httineIy" The President then said: For
that reason I decline 10 enllghten you. Nothing
could be more distasteful 10 me than what YOU
propose, and when you address me / shall be
obliged If YOU will omit the Mr.
such was the man who left behind the inscrip-
ton 10 be placed his gravestone Here was
buried Thomas Jefferson. Author of the Declaration
Of Independence o. the Statutes Of Virginia for
Religious Freedom and Father OF the University
Of Virginia" The request was complied WITH ana
the stone which marks the last resting place OF
This great American does disclose the fact That
he was twice President of the United States; that
he was President and Secretary of State; that
he was Governor OF Virginia, or that he had been
honored In many other ways by the people OF his
state and of the new nation which he helped TO
found.
No mention is made of the fact that the man
buried there was he who broke the power Of the
Barbary pirates TO whom European nations had
paid tribute for years that il was he who extended
the dominion Of the United States across tho great
Mississippi by the Louisiana Purchase; that it was
he who claimed the rich Oregon country for the
Stars and Stripes by sending his private secretary
Meriwether Lewis with Captain William clark TO
explore the great unknown Northwest; that II was
he who opened up the states OF Ohio. Indiana. Hi
Eois ana others or the Northwest territory ny IN
dCcng the quarrellng states to cede the territory
TO the general government. Nor does that simple
stone legend record the fact that under # lies
buried the man who drafted charter for the first
against the odious sedition laws enacted by CON
b N wave 81 hem }Io roG "a id i
have cut Off the rights OF free speech and q free
press in the United States.
Six feet two inches tail. with sandy red hair light
hazel eyes. angular face and thin. awkward
body. Thomas Jefferson was not n progressing
man IN appearance In his habits Ire was method
incarnate No public of America has left
much in writing of the history OF the times and of
the history Of his own thoughts. Jefferson seemed
to have been writing all the time. He kept every
letter scrap Of writing that came into his pos
session and he preserved a copy every letter he
wrote For many yeaFs-especialiy while on his
mission to France-ke kept copies OF HE letters
by means of impressions wet tissue paper the
ordinary copy press method. Unfortunately. mos:
be made out Jefferson realized the inadeauacy OF
that method, therefore betook himself To the
most iTksome and iaborioUs method possible 81
keeping copies Of the Letters he wrote.
he employed What he called Photograph" but
%hat Is now called "a pnntagraph and Is used for
%fOLSlng OF enlaTging drawings. This cumbersome
1i az eIiIet HdS made or silver, and a series
OF connecting paraIelograms working on pivots
table One pen vas iIied Win inK ana ana
placed IN one holder. Then jefferson took the other
the first pen making exactly the same marks as
is ren1embered t,sf Iba rc,, illa NAM NAM Nhen y
10 be trimmed frequently. and that both pens had
- be Kept mixed. and that the weight OF the in
strufient had 10 be moved with every stroke of
Ihe pei am that Mr. Jefferson had stf right
%S1 "a, endure IN personal discomfort for tho sake
or the method which forced him to keep copies or
When he entered President Washlngton's Cabinet
Hamilton. Secretary OF the Treasury all through
maintained his writing habit lie kept notes Of
what went on al tie Cabinet etngs making
sfterward copying them in a book lie kept up
slS I' , uaui 1ust before he retired from his
these scraps and notes he published under the
being meaningless word OF HIS own invention
he Pu,nClon OF inc notes giving as they did
OF federal administration caused some bitter con-
Fighting for personal freedom was the serious
business Of his life writing letters and notes his
chie1 occupation, playing the fiddle and higher
mathematics were his recreations ana amusenents
and building houses his reckless dissipation Tn
late years there has been an attenpt to tear down
the reputation Of Mr.. jefferson as n fiddler One
late bographer says he was the worst fiddler I'm
Virginia Writers of his time credit him with
being one OF the best. Whatever the truth nay be
about his Kidding ability. it is OF record that when
sIl the bloods in Virginia worshipping at the
Shrine OF the pretty widow Martha Shelton. Mr..
Jefferson went with his violin and Martha played
on the harpsichOrd. The beaus, who had come
for miles 10 pay court stopped in the hall and lis
tened. That's Tom Jeffersons fiddle" said one
Then we had as well leave" said another And
they left OF course. the pretty Widow Shelton
became Mrs. jefferson. md until her death the
relations between the husband and wife were ideal
At her death M Jefferson was almost killed bv
grief. and the shadow that fell on him then was
never lifted.
Mathematics lie loved. He liked to reveI I'm the
higher branches of that exact and abstruse science
but. like Napoleon, who had the same tastes he
seldom could foot M a column Of simple accounts
without making a mistake He kept an elaborate
system Of books. but bankrupt He built
houses prodigaly and entertained so many visit
ors AZ Monticello that he literally eaten out
Of house and home. When he first entered the
practice Of law he made great deal OF money
but upon entering politics he declared HIS purpose
never TO engage. while I'm public Office i'm any
: al vnrnu1 for