The Washington herald., 1908-07-05

D "
| 2S, 1871.
Monticello Is in plain view Of Char
/ lOttesviue and the Mecca Of all visitors
/ TO the city. The route 20 Monticello is
I picturesque down into the valley Of the
! Rivanna River. thence up the mountain
| side following a series OF ravines 70 the
/ head of one, winding around Il, crossing
/ 20 another and so by a gentle grade 10
/ the summit At intervals there are out
/ looks across a wide basin 10 the bulwark
| Of the Blue Ridge closing the horizon
I line for forty miles or more.
/ BY and by comes a wall OF masonry,
thence an arched gateway and porter's
I lodge. the entrance 20 Monticello Ad-
mittancc is free TO visitors There Is "a
t half mile Of private road winding up and
up. then a level plateau Of green sward
and In the middle Of il the mansion Mon
| ucello is now owned by jefferson Levy.
l OF New York, and It's grounds are kept in
the best manner
The house fronts north. and is IN ap-
/ pearauce one story hlgh-in reality three.
1 In front is a lofty portico. supported by
I four granite pillars. In its ceiling is the
I first OF the ingenious labor-saving con-
/ trivancles with which the house abounds-
I the face ~ compass. its pointer con-
Meeting with a weather vane on the roof,
I 80 that all the inventor had TO do 10
I learn the direction OF the wind was to step
I TO the door and look up.
/ over the wide entrance IS a large clock
with two faces-giving the time both with
\ in the hall and outside. The weights that
move the clock are six twelve-pound cam
non balls. on q rope descending TO the
/ floor on either side the hall A great
crank like that Of a windlass is used 20
wind UP the clock. To reach the latter a
! ladder was necessary. and Jefferson de-
vised one especially for Il. What appear
cd 10 be a round pole standing In cor
ner by the clock weights was pulled apart
and perfect ladder was disclosed by the
man who showed the beauties OF the
house.
: Noble Apartment.
The entrance hall Is a noble apartment
not disfgured by stairways. The dining
room opens from the right OF the hall
semi-octagonal apartment. with lofty
vaulted ceiling and windows. and doors
opening on the porch II Is a popularity
Of the house that nearly every room opens
on porch or balcony by door or long
French window. Above It's round table
hangs the Jefferson chandelier and the
mantel over the wide fireplace is embel-
Ushed with wedgewood figures Dumb
walters are ingenicusly hidden in the
sides OF The fireplace communicating with
the buffers pantry below
In the rear Of the hall is the grand
salon. On either side are mirrors "the
only Jefersoniana left IN the house when
Mr. Levy bought IT," said our guide. The
mementos Of him mere now Mr.. Levy has
himself collected"
On the second floor are bedrooms still
known as the Washington room" the
Adams ROOM" the Lafayette room.
from the celebrities who once occupied
them. On the third floor. in the large
billiard room, is the one-seated gig de-
signed by Jefferson. in which he generally
rode when abroad on business. In the
basement are cells In which Mr. Jeffer-
son imprisoned his refractory slaves.
The little family cemetery. where the
sage lies buried. is In the forest. beside
the drive, about half way down TO the
porter's lodge 1t Is surrounded by an
iron fence. and from the gate one NAV
read the inscription on the modest nnopa-
ment Of the statesman:
Here was buried
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
Author Of the
Defamation of Independence
Of the
Statutes Of Virginia
for
Religious Freedom
and Father Of the
University Of Virginia
Born April 2 l7i3 O. S:
Died July Z. is8.