The Montgomery tribune., 1910-04-08


dotted with baronial holdings. -
is situated in the broken and pictur- 5 I@S
esque Piedmont region and is reached ! IS&&j
from the quaint little city of Char ! CxssSM@wa
Iottesve via winding road that has
sharp incline. En- route to the emf
nence on which the mansion stands
the visitor passes the tomb in the
woods where repose the remains of E
the famous master of Monticello LNOCl
The nucleus of Thomas Jefferson's
Virginia estate he inherited from his
father, the tract comprising some 1000 acres
AT that time "the best highlands of Albemarle'
were rated as worth not more than 50 per acre,
but the earning capacity of the property is indi-
Gated by the fact that from the outset it netted
Jefferson not less than 50 900 year. The found
er of the Democratic party gradually increased
his holdings and in the year 1774 possessed
more than 5000 acres. Then several fine farms
came to him as his wfe's dover and thus the
period of the Revolution found him one of the
richest landed proprietors in the south.
Jefferson chose as the site of his home the
crest of hill which he designated Monticello,
the Italian for Little Mountain Assuredly no
more beautiful inspiring location could be
Imagined and veteran travellers all agree that the
magnificent panorama which lies spread out be-
fore the gaze Of the observer on this height is
unsurpassed anywhere In the world. The little
mountain on the apex Of which jefferson placed
his residence is $50 feet high and in the form
of cone 1t slopes eastward one and one-half
miles to the Rivanna river.
Jeffersons birthplace is in sight of the por.
tico at Monticello. Seemingly almost directly
below is the University of Virginia, which was
founded by Jefferson. President Monroe lived
eight miles down the valley and the home of
President Madison was but few miles north
incidentally 1t may be mentioned in passing that
these three expresidents of the United States
assembled at Monticello to welcome Lafayette on
the occasion of his visit to the United States.
From the cupola of his mansion Jefferson could
gaze upon IL OF the richest counties of Virginia.
and in one direction the view extends to the
Blue Ridge mountains, nearly so miles away.
The top Of the hill which Jefferson had desg-
mated Monticello he had leveled off for build
ing site, 600 by 200 feet in size On this he
erected his spacious mansion which, with its
wings or coonnades. is in the form Of gigantic
ietter E. The center of the letter is the man.
sion proper, while extending from It in positions
somewhat corresponding to the arms of the e
are wings, the fiat roofs of which form prone
lnades. The arrangement of the house in so far
sas these wings or colonnades concerned is
very similar to that of the restored White House
at Washington. in the designing of which Jeffer-
son had a hand.
The mansion at Monticello is of the Doric or
der of Grecian architecture, with heavy cornices
and massive balustrades. The interior is in the
Ionic style and 1t must be admitted that there
ds little about this magnificent home suggestive
of Jeffersonan simplicity The front hall re-
cedes six feet within the wall of the building
and portico projects about rs feet with stone
pillars and steps.
In the interior the hall or main room of the
house extends to the full height of the building
and Ia typical Of the spaciousness of the house
There is a gallery under the ceiling where the
ladies of the household could observe all that
went on at the receptions which Jefferson fire.
quently gave and where the band was stationed
when he gave ball. Opening from this hall are
the salon or drawing room, the library. where JEFF
ferson housed the major portion of his famous
collection OF $4,000 books. the dining room and