The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-10

OF several of his friends, as we'll az
for one OF the Virginia State prisons.
He was also one of the judges who
passed upon the architectural plans
for the Capitol OF the United States.
His mathematical formula for mold
board for plow took gold prize in
France. He invented a copying press
and revolving chair. both still used In
our offices. folding chair camp
chair that could be transformed into
a walking stick. a twowheeled sulky.
a hemp break pedometer and poly
graph for duplicating letters
REVISED Dible aud Played Fiddle.
He devised a plan for spelling re-
form. partly completed dictionary OF
familiar words in all languages and re-
arranged the New Testament for trans
lation into the various Indian Ian
guages as the basis of the true reli.
gion. So versatile was his pen that an
encyclopedia, alphabetically arranged,
has been complied of his writings,
which include about every subject that
has plagued the mind of man, from
the care of infants to the origin of me-
teors and from women's dress to the
temperature of the moon
These writings show that he had a
knowledge of art, anatomy, botany
civil engineering. physics ana mechah-
les. 1t is said that he taught himself
italian and Spanish in addition TO
three foreign tongues he had mastered
at school And all of these activities
were subordinate to those of his call
ings as lawyer, farmer and statesman.
lie was a successful lawyer for sew
on wears. or until elected to Congress,
when he gave up practice. He was one
of the commission which revised the
laws Of Virginia. His plantation COW
cred more than LOO acres, but ne was
a theoretical and not practical
farmer-had so many men and SO many
animals to each equal plot OF srouha'
He was continually introducing ne"
seeds and machinery from ABROAD,
He employed Italian gardeners ana
taught his negroes to burn bricks ana
forge nails.
He had no sense of humor. was al
ways serious, and the gravity with
which he regarded strange contrl-
vances which he was forever tnventinS
or importing gave him the local repu-
tation OF an eccentric. From boyhood
be was a great gossip. as his voluml-
nous correspondence shows. Even
| while President he wrote to his chill
dren and grandchildren OF the most
! trivial things dear TO the youth1ui
! heart. fIe loved children and flowers
| and used to help his grandchlloreh
plant rare exotics which he had sent 10
| him. He always had the curiosity OF
child and was always cool In temper.
Inc had absolute self-assurance, ana
his helief IN the infallibility of his
| theories amounted to egotism. lie was
a rlutton for work and spent no hour
of the day in idleness. All of his pusl-
,ness transactions were according 10
written contract. lie kept an account
of every cent spent and the yield OF
every acre OF land
! EIe was q musician also, IN ooyhoou
he learned the violin and after ms mar
rage further improved his taleht VIII
! this instrument under an Nallen thu,
sic master. For awhile ne pructiuen
three hours day, and ne ol'ei p'as =, ~
duets with Patrick Henry. When ne
travelled he carried a small 1lddle IN
his luggage. A British officer before
whom he once performed declared lohs
afterward that jefferson was the moss
4 skilled amateur violinist he mad ever
heard. In Europe he cultivated an &C.
ouaintance with the great music! ,, >
| of his time. or music he wrote; Ihls
is the favorite passion of my soul, ana
fortune has cast my lot in country
where 1T is in a state of deplorable
barbarism."
Despised Tobacco and strong Drink.
lie did not use tobacco In any form
nor was he ever known to swear. AL
though gambling was then pastime
in the drawing rooms OF prominent
families. Jefferson never risked more
than few shillings at cards, hack
CANNON or lotto He wrote against
gambling and would not allow card
lin the possession Of his negroes. He