The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-24
Would Not Take Issue With Woman
SUCH WAS STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE LEVY WHEN
MRS. MARTIN w. LITTLETON HURT HIS FEELINGS
REGARDING THE JEFFERSON HOME.

The efforts of Mrs. Martin w. Little.
ton. wife Of Representative Littleton
or New York. to have the federal gov
eminent acquire Monticello. the home
OF Thomas Jefferson. which were
largely responsible for the adoption
py the senate library committee Of the
resolution recently introduced by SEN
ator MARITIME of New Jersey. calling for
look after the purchase of the proper
~. CIV promise of precipitating an
unpleasant imbroglio within congress
sional circles.
Mrs. Littleton appeared before the
senate committee several days and 1t
was after listening to her description
Oh the condition of the home and
OF independence that the committee
look action. In the course of her re-
marks Mrs. Littleton cast aspersions
upon the manner of upkeep Of the
beautiful estate by its present owner.
representative Jefferson NJ. Levy Of
New York, which led Mr.. Levy last
night to declare that under no consid-
Woula ne part with h property
which has been within his family for
the past 20 years.
shameful, Says Mrs. L%ittleton.
Mrs. Littleton criticised the treat
ment accorded the visitors who make
pllgrimages to Monticello, declaring
that the only persons who lave legal
access to the grave in which Jefferson
hes are the Randolphs and Mr.. Levy.
Through their courtesy, she
cd the visitors are permitted to in
spect the grave, u a large bell, she
added. is tolled as they enter the es-
tate. and their visit is limited to twen-
~ nut Referring to the grave.
she r%emarked: at is in a state of
shameful neglect"
AS Mrs. Littleton was in the midst
OF her remarks Judge r. T. w. Duke
OF charlottesville. Va. a great grand
son OF the guardian and trustee of
jefferson. appeared at the hearing and
took issue with her, but she persisted
In her assertions. Senator Martin of
irglnla, also defended the conditions
which now maintain at Monticello.
IN discussing Mrs. Littleton's action
and statements, Representative Levy
said:
Mrs. 'l-ittleton is a woman. and
consequently l cannot take issue with
her: | am not offended. but only hurt
at the criticisms. admire her.
tnough. since she is animated in her
efforts to have the government take
over the property from an a%pprecia-
ton of its former owner. 1t will be
useless to pass resolutions. since I do
rot intend and will under no consid-
GRAFTON part With the estate.
spends Much for Tpkecp.
Annually l have spent large sums
OF money n e~ndeavoring to maintain
Monticello as 1t was in Jefferson's
days. Today 1 can say that there is
no other place in this ountr that is
so beautiful. and I am not boasting
when declare that the white house
is not better cared for or in a better
state of preservation thai is Monticel-
10.
ut is true. and I regret that I must
say so. that the grave is not properly
Kept up. For sentimental reasons
lave. in the past. left the care Of the
srave largely to the Randolph family.
descendants of Mr., Jefferson. They
nave not cared for il as they should
and all the while I have been called
upon TO contribute 70 its preservation.
NV only reason for not doing more
was that this family claimed the right
20 Keep up the grave. and I did not
care to intrude.
Nevertheless. l have ALWAYS main
tanned a guard at the grave to keen
the visiting relic seekers from COM
hitting acts of vandalism. Mrs. Lit
Teton referred to the ringing of a bell
as the visitors enter the premises. This
hell was there when Mr.. jefferson liv-
ed at Monticello. ! have maintained
1t 1t is rung to warn the guards so
tfat they may properly protect the
property.
Another action at which.Mrs. Lit.
t!eton is disp!eased is the fact that Wis
ltors are only allowed to remain upon
the grounds for 20 minutes. We have.
TO set a time limit. because frequently
here are several hundred visitors dur
ing a single day, The guards. in order
to perform their duties properly. mus;
keep the grounds cleared to a certain
extent. and the limit for a visit was
fixed at 20 minutes. This must he
maintained.
History of Estate.
Mrs. Littleton has been mistaken in
several instances in references which
she has made to Monticello. the condi-
ton of the jefferson estate at the time
OF Mr.. JeEerson's death. and the man
ner in which l acquired the property.
"Monticello originally consisted of
Gao acres. 1t was secured Ivy Peter
JIG EMERSON, the father of Thomas Jeffer-
son. who bartered a bow of York.
punch with his father-in-law. Mr..
Randolph. for the tract. Mrs. Little
ton has said that Mr.. Jefferson was a
cd about 10000 acres of land and OBJ
tanned through his wife about 1000
acres mora. AT the time of his death
1t was not necessary to sell Monticello.
which he had so beautifully improved.
but his heirs preferred to maintain
certain of the Randolph properties.
"Conse luen'ly. Monticello was sold
by Martha Jefferson Randolph to a
missionary by the name of Barclay. |
who. as he declared, purchased the
property that he might destroy every
vestige of what Jefferson had there
erected. He was a religious fanatic
who hated Mr.. Jefferson.
My uncle. Commodore Levy. then
Lieut.. Levy, heard Of Mr.. Barclays
threat and on learning that the new
purchaser would part with the proper
ty for a profit. determined to purchase |
it. He stopped off here in Washing
ton and called upon President jackson
to acquaint him with the object of his
mission.
Commanded Its Purchase.
When he told Mr.. Jackson what he
intended doing. the latter remarked:
~ command you to do So"
my uncle, saluting. replied:
las l always obey my superior off,