The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-04-08

! The nucleus of Thomas Jefferson's
Virginia estate he inherited from his
father the tract comprising some 1900 acres.
AT that time 1.-The best highlands of Albemare"
were rated as worth not more than 81 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 $4,000 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 wife's dover and thus the
period Of the Revolution found him one of the
richest landed ,proprieors 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 or 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 a cone 1t slopes eastward one and one-half
miles to the Riyanna 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 eX-presidents 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 II 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 desig.
ofndM Nnffo liz r. al
ing site, 600 by 200 feet In size On this he
erected his spacious mansion, which, with its
wings or colonnades is in the form of gigantic
letter E. The center of the letter is the man.
sion proper, while extending from 1t in positions
somewhat corresponding to the arms Of the e
are wings, the fiat roofs of which form prone
nades. The arrangement of the house In so far
as these wings or colonnades are concerned is
very similar to that Of the restored White House
at Washington, in the designing of which Jefer
son had 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 it must be admitted that there
is little about this magnificent home suggestive
of Jefersonian simplicity The front hall re-
cedes six feet within the wall of the building
and portco projects about rs feet with stone
pillars and steps
In the interior the baH or main room Of the
house extends to the full height of the building
and is 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