Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-13
Some Things You Want to Know
Jefferson's Birthday.

Thomas jefferson was born at shad-
well, Va, on April IS, l7t. Tomorrow will
be celebrated as the l65th anniversary OF
that event. Ia the state of Alabama the
day Is a legal holiday, but elsewhere it Is
printed in red only on the calendars Of
those who call themselves democrats. In
many cities these viii gather about ban
quet boards 70 extol the virtues of tho
founder and patron saint OF their party, the
while indulglng in rosy dreams OF victory
in the coming elections
The practice Of celebrating the birth
days OF eminent men was inaugurated early
in the history OF the republic, being copied
from the English custom OF making the
kings birthday the principal patriotic fcs-
tlval Of the political year. Mr.. Jefferson
himself particularly disapprOved OF this
practice, as it was offensive to his OK
tremely democratic notions smacking OF
the hated monarchy. While he was presi-
dent, a political friend asked him MT,
President, what is the date Of your birth ?
We wish to celebrate IL flttingy." The
author Of the Declaration OF independence
replied: For that reason l decline to en-
tighten you, nothing could be more dis
tasteful to me than what you propose, and.
when you address me. l shall be Obliged
II you will omit the mister" Nobody
In America is afraid Of monarchy just
now, and no one is enough Of a democrat
TO object TO the aristocratc title OF mis-
ter" therefore Jefferson's wishes are dis
regarded and his birthday is celebrated
regularly as 1t has been ever since tho
great man died, at the age Of 50, on July
4, 1896
only six Americans are remembered
habltually and annually by the celebra-
tion Of a special day in their honor Wash
lngtons birthday is legal holiday in all
OF the states and territories and is cele-
brated in every part Of the world wherever
there are two or three Americans gathered
together. Lincolns birthday is a legal
holiday in twenty-five states. 1t comes
more nearly than any other to approaching
the national character OF the Washington
birthday celebration, and 1t is observed
even in those states where 1t is not vet
legally set aside as holiday. For many
years this day was claimed exclusively by
the republican party but in late years IL
has lost its purely political character and
has become more national in scope One
of the seeding confederate states, Florida.
has made it a legal holiday and it is cele-
brated in the schools in nearly all Of the
southern states.
Andrew Jackson has a day sacred to his
memory, although 1t is the anniversary OF
the battle of New Orleans and not his
birthday. January S is known as Jackson
day, is a legal holiday in Louisiana, is the
occasion of great social festivities in
Tennessee and is q rallying day for the
democratic party in the remainder of the
union,
The birthday of jefferson Davis is a
legal holiday in eight states, as is that of
Robert e. Lee in seven states. OF course
the celebration of these days is confined
wholly to the south. jefferson Davis day
is celebrated as Confederate Memorial day
and has the same significance at the south
that Decoration day has at the north
Jefferson's birthday, then, is one of the
two red letter days of the democratic
party, Jackson day banquets and Jeffer-
son day banquets are regular features Of
the democratic year, On these occasions
the party leaders call attention to the
principles of the fathers and urge harmony
in the next election. 1t has been Said,
with some degree of truth, that the demo-
cratic party always is united on jefferson
day and jackson day and on no other
days.
Although the celebration of his birthday
has been appropriated by political party,
Thomas jefferson belongs to all Ameri-
cans. Among all the leaders of the revo-
luton, jefferson was the most revolution
airy, for he advocated not alone the over
throw of British dominion, but also the
reform Of British institutions. His tastes
were catholic and his industry was stu
pendous. He left behind him a mass of
manuscript. which reveals in the most
minute detail every act Of his public life
He made a careful note of every action
he kept copies of every letter he wrote
and took notes on the conversations of all
his associates. The physical labor in
volved in his letter writing Of itself was
enough to appall an ordinary man. He
found that letters copied on wet tissue
paper were liable to fade So he invented
what he called a 'polygraph" now known
as the pantagraph, which craftsmen use
to copy drawings to scale. This huge cop
per frame was fitted with two quill pens
one OF which he held in his stiff right
hand, writing painfully. The other made
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