The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-20
(By Miss Flora Wilson, Daughter

= ~ - oto SoA ~
the Secretary Of Ag%riculture.)
How useless for suffra gists to be
gin debating the authorship of o
declaration Of independence! Has i
not been argued pro II con by the
greatest historians? Has not each
authentic paper anr every document
been minutely scanned for races OF
new evidence regarding the author O.
the wonderful declaration? viii
Thomas Paine. or the hve men en-
gagged in its framing compiled the
great paper? Is it necessary for the
modern suffragist to go back as fal
as Jeffersonian days to delve into
budgets and bundles of old letters
files and fancies to revive the Oft
discussed question:
say no. It has been decid.
ed that Jefferson alone worded the
document. otherwise his name would
American government long ago. There
is no special reason why the govern
ment should own the home of this
former president any more thar
those of twenty-odd other presidents
President Jackson commanded
Commodore Levy to buy it; Presiden,
Jackson knew it would be we'll pre-.
been signally honored by the mu-
nicipality of New York when he was
presented with 4 gold box and the
freedom of he city in recognition OF
his patriotic naval service. 1t also
stands to the credit of Commodore
Levy that he abolished hogging In
the American navy; that he obeyed
the command Of President Jackson
and travelled by coach and Positions
cello.
1t was this man, too, who offered
his sword to Lincoln. Can Mrs. Lit
man. who thus distinguished himself,
is a rank outsider when the fam
lily has been in possession of Monti-
cello for eighty years? The great
American congress has not begun to
seize peoples homes; it has never
forgotten that free and equal
clause: and Jefferson's own words,
no class of mankind is born booted
and spurred to ride over the rest
applies to each congress.
Mrs. Iittlcton at Monticello.
Mrs. Littleton admits never having
visited Monticello until three years
ago. Although she had heard all her
life about the home Of the former
president, and had lived in New York
twenty years. 1t was not until Mr.. Lit.
Teton addressed the university on
n S Gay that the lady stopped
at Charlottesville. Thus it seems the
Founders day address and not tn.
grave or home of Thomas Jefferson
attracted the attention of Mrs. Lit.
Teton.
How queer, that one fired with sucl
patriotism had not visited Monticello
at least twenty years ago. journey
ing seventy years ago from New Yorl
to Monticello required some planning
twenty years ago the trip was nothins
at all.
When Mrs. Littleton did go to JET.
ferson's home, it was at the invita-
ton of Jefferson NJ. Levy. Durinf
several hours that she must have beer
there. Mrs. Littleton can remember
nothing of the wonderful art treas.
ures Of Monticello. mentioning onl,
big oil portraits of the Levys anc
ship models" While I spent lesI
than a. half hour on the entire estate
I found In that same hall the Dicl
portrait Of Jefferson. a Sir Joshua
Reynolds portrait of an ancestor o,
Mr.. Levy, canvases by Van Dyke, An.
thony. Sichel, Reubens. Romney
Gainsborough. etc. Besides these ole
masters. there were busts Of Franklin
and Jefferson by Powers: also an.
other ust of Jefferson by Carracca
visited Monticello years ago as 8
mere tourists. with no acquaintance
letters Of introduction, or specia
] mission. Permission was at once civ