Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-20

And he made his wish come true loi
when the estate crowned by the MIL
known as Monticello, 1.-The little noun
tain" came to him by Inheritance. JEFF
ferson brought into being mansion that
was a century ahead of its time in con-
veniences and ingenious contrlvances an"
from the designs of which great ARCH
tects of today fashion the country homes
of wealthy Americans Monticello is IN
deed a permanent and magnificent monu-
rnent to the creative genius of the great
statesman.
No other pilgrimage can offer the same
thrill of patriotism as does Visit TO inns
historic spot that has been restored oH
its present owner. Representative Jener
son NJ Levy of New York. in whose lam
lily il has been for more than elsht9
years 1t is now in nearly the same con-
dition as 1t was in Jeffersons DAY.
Monticello lies about two miles south
and five miles west of the busy little
town of Charlottesville and it is upgrade
every inch of the way.
From close to the town boundary hun
dreds of acres on both sides of the roau
have been bought by Mr.. Levy. Ito pre-
vent" as he put it. 1.-The building of any
shacks on the approach to Monticello
For three miles this road. which was
surveyed and laid by jefferson. rises
steeply toward Monticello until sharp
turn brings the visitor to the wrought
iron entrance gates that hang between
massive brick pillars at the gatekeeper
lodge.
When the visitor has passed into the
inclosed grounds the gatekeeper follows
up the road few yards. where. TO the
right. hangs big brass bell that Jener-
son placed there to announce the arriVai
of guests Neither by day or night mas
any one ever passed through those gates
whose presence has not been announced
to those in the big house above by the
ringing of this bell, a quaint custom tnat
has survived century and hal1
Inside the grounds the road is Kept IN
perfect condition. A massive stone wall
protects the visitor from the precipitous
slope. where the road has been cut into
the face of the mountain and honeysuckle
and clematis soften its. harsh lines
4
turn of road brings into view the old
burial grounds of the Jefferson family,
where lie the mortal remains of Thomas
Jefferson, his wife, mother. sisters and
other members of the Jefferson and Ran
doIph families. In loving tribute, too,
the remains of many of the artisans JEFF
ferson brought from Europe to help build
his mansion are inferred in this plot.
A high iron fence incloses the burial
place of the Jeffersons and entrance Is
had through two massive gates. each
the motto "Ab co libertas quo spiritus.
A granite monolith marks the resting
place of Thomas Jefferson and upon it is
this inscription:
Thomas Jefferson.
Here was buried Thomas jefferson.
author of the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence, of the statute of Virginia for re-
hgious freedom and father of the Uni
versity of Virginia. Born April ., 1743
TO- 81; died July 4. 1896 10. So"
A faded wreath. one of the many that
are being constantly placed there. leans
against the base of the monument, hiding
the last lines of the inscription.
Surrounding this monument are buried
the JenersOns and Randolphs in graves
that are marked by low, fiat stones from
which the elements have almost COM
pletely obliterated the Inscriptions Upon
the pillars of the iron gateway countless
visitors have scratched their names or
Initials, and as far inside the Enclosure
as the arm can reach the burial plot has
been denuded OF weed, stone or blade of
grass TO serve the craving of curio
seekers.
"A And tins burial plot is the only part of
the estate that shows the devastating
hand OF time. All about IL the grounds
are trim and we'll kept
leaving the grave to the majestic soli-
rude OF the forest which surrounds IT, the
visitor follows the winding road still nm
ward through magnificent park of oaks
naples and pines until an ABRUPT turn in
the path brings him to the main entrance
on lower terrace, Is a quaint Old man,
sard-roofed house of colonial design that
10 the home OF the superintendent who
nas peeh win NE Levy more than twen-
y-three years This house was built by
JEFFERSON before the mansion was com
pieted and II was the loomhouse where
the cotton linen and wooden cloths for
the JEFFERSON household We're woven and
spun. u
Turning TO the left. the first view Of
Monticello shows the presidents WALL ;,
causeway Of imposing simplicity T.,
which several sets Of marble stems br..L
the slight incline to the plateau ahoy.
On one Of these are placed two massive
marble hons that guard the immediate
approach to the house. To the left of
This walk Is seen a long, low building thu
roof OF which just tops the lawn of the
mansion. This was the servants oua--
tiers In the time Of Jefferson, from which
there Is an underground passage into tn.
cellar Of the building
Up through the PRESIDENTS walk"
glimpse OF the mansion is had but 10
fore beginning the tour of the house anL
grounds the visitor Is Informed that every
Dit OF timber used in the construct,on =,
the house was laboriously hauled up the
mountain to be sawed and hewad 81
finished to Mt its place in the plans T,ha
bricks were made ON the grounds. IN.
nails were wrought In a forge buijt hv
Jefferson, the remains of which are still
there, and there were brought from
abroad skilled artisans who directed tba
building operations and trained the slaves
and native workmen in all the trades
Passing up the Presidents walk
Ranked BIZ neatly trimmed hay trees. the
visitor is brought to the main grounds.
the plateau that took ten years to level
On the mountain top.