The Washington herald., 1912-10-27

through Neglect B,
the Heirs.
Very few people know that Monticello
Thomas Jefferson's famous home. ha,
tion II enjoyed when occupied by the grea
statesman. This has been accomplished
under great difficulties. for twice thu
mansion has been despoiled and its fur
nishings scattered far and wide
The credit for this Is due to Congress
man Jefferson NJ. Levy, Of New York, ir
whose family 1t has been for more thar
eighty years, and who il the present own
er OF the property. He certainly hal
earned the gratitude Of those who honor
the memory of Jefferson In that he hai
not tried to improve Monticello. but rath-
er has essayed to make 1t what II was
when he to whom the pilgrim comes to
pay homage was master Of the estate.
At present Monticello Is very much In
the public eye on account Of the propo-
sition that has been put before Congress
to have the government buy It and main
tain the place as a national museum ana
memorial to the author of the Declara-
tion of Independence. This proposition Is
not at all to Mr.. Levy's liking. who wishes
does not wish to have the government take
1t away from him. The history Of Month
cello clearly shows that the credit for
saving the estate and restoring 1t SO far
as circumstances permitted belongs un-
questionably to the Levy family.
When Jefferson died his relatives and
heirs decided they could not afford the
great expense of keeping open the house
as 1t then stood. Much of the furniture
and furnishings was distributed by will,
gift or purchase. Mrs. Martha Jefferson
Randolph, daughter of the statesman and
the executrix of his will. decided to con-
tinue her home at Edge Hill. the Ran
dolph estate, and was anxious TO dispose
of Monticello. The place was sold to
James T. Barclay, missonery. who held
1t but short time and then offered 1t for
sale.
Bought by Levy.
Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy. then
lieutenant in the navy. drove from
New York City to Monticello to inspect
the property and concluded deal by
which he acquired from Barclay the
Jefferson mansion and 2lS acres OF the
original estate. 1t was run down from
lack of attention and there was little Of
the original inside furnishings left. Senti-
mental reasons prompted the commodore
TO get back the things that had belonged
TO the man who built the wonderful house
and for years he sought to regain the
articles that had been scattered about the
country. Then came the war of the States
ana the commodore, continuing his allegl-
ance TO the Union. was declared an "alien
enemy by the Confederacy, the estate
was confiscated and the contents adver-
tised for sale at public auction Again
the mansion was partly stripped of Its
furnishings and many pieces Of furniture
were sold at,the eonfscation sale to fam
lies af1 1fr,rr to zfsl,h
of the articles We're returned after the
war
After the war. however, when legal ad-
justment of the estate of Commodore Levy
was had and Jefferson NJ. Levy inherited
the property, Mr.. Levy continued the
labors Of the commodore in restoring the
home as Jefferson had planned and left
It. The defeat of the Confederacy made
the sale Illegal and compelled the return
of all articles that had been taken from
Monticello. Mr.. Levy obtained the court
records of the sale and began a system
attic recovery Of the relics. He notified
all who had purchased Monticello articles
that he would insist upon his legal rights
in the matter: that in view of the cir
cumstances he would pay for these ar
ticles the amount the purchaser had paid
at the auction IL they were returned vol
UNFAIRLY, but IN case of refusal or failure
to do so he would bring legal action for
recovery and prosecute those refusing
to make restitution.
A majority Of the articles were recov-
cred in this way, but those pieces that
had been taken from the country were
beyond reach and few Of them were
traced. With this as his nucleus. however
Mr.. Levy made thorough search of fam
lily records and documents as well as get
ting Information from living friends and
relatives who had known the home when
jefferson lived. and from that list he has
since attempted to get in his many trips
abroad exact duplicates of the works of
art. furniture and ornaments originally
brought from France by Jefferson.
Not Matter of Patriotism.
Mr.. Levy said once to a visitor who
broached the subject OF the effort to force
him to give up Monticello:
Patriotism does not rightly enter into
this controversy nor does my negative
stand even imply lack Of patriotism. In
both my maternal and paternal ancestors
there have been made than the average
number Of men who fought for the preser-
walton Of the colonies. then for their inde-
pendence from British rule and from the
beginning for the honor and glory Of the
United States.
IF the preservation Of Jefrerson's home
is evidence of patriotism then I most ear
nestly. point to the fact that when the |
jefferson heirs abandoned and disintegrat- |
ed the home of the great statesman Com
modore Uriah Phillips Levy bought in the |
estate and mansion and the few unmov- |
able relics left by Thomas Jefferson and |
regained by purchase furniture and other
articles of the original household and
when the commodore was gone and 1 |
secured possession / continued the work
begun by my uncle until to-day the JEFF |
ferson home contains many of its orig |
:nal furnishings, and where others were |
lost track OF or could not be bought I |
have bought from France articles that |
are exact duplicates Of those Jefferson |
obtained abroad to satisfy his fine taste |
in art. furniture, and ornaments"
Refused Million Dollars.
On the market valUe of Monticello Mr.
Levy will not give an opinion nor will |
he quote a figure at which he would part |
with the estate; but 1t Is known in Char
that once when the head of |
the Vanderbilt family was . guest at
an offer Of s.. .00o 900 was made |
and refused and that Mr.. Vanderbilt then \
asked il any amount greater than that
would tempt the owner and Mr.. Levy
said it would not.
As to maintenance. country estates Of