The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-13
MR. LEVY EXPLAINS WHY MONTICELLO IS DEAR ID HIS FAMILY Answers Statement Regard ing Treatment of Visi-
 tors on the Estate GRAVE KEPT UP BY
 RANDOLPH FAMILY But MT. Levy and Mrs. Littleton Both Agree That It Is in
 Shameful State of
 Neglect
By c. E. STEWART

-Ak9PSNA1ifJ forts of Mrs. Martin W. Littleton, wife of Representative Littleton of New York, to have the federal government acquire Monticello the home of Thomas Jefferson, before the Senate committee a few days ago, developed the fact that the grave of the father of democracy has not been well kept.
 Mrs I4ittleton's efforts were largely re- sponsible for the committees adoption of the resolution recently introduced by Senator Maritime of New Jersey, calling chase of the property.
 Mrs. Littleton criticised the treatment accorded visitors who make pilgrimage to Monticello, declaring that the only per sons who have legal access to the grave of Jefferson are the Randolphs and Rep resentative Levy, who now owns the property.
 Through their courtesy" said Mrs Littleton, "the visitors are permitted to inspect the grave, but a large bell is tolled as they enter the estate, and their visit is limited to 20 minutes.
 Referring to the grave sine remarked:
 IL IS Tn a state or Sna1nelul neglect.
 In discussing Mrs. Littleton's action and statements, Representative Jefferson M. Levy said
 Mrs. Littleton is a woman, and conse- quently I cannot take issue with her. l am not offended, but only hurt at the criticism. I admire her, though, since she is animated in her efforts to have the government take over the property, from an appreciation of it's former owner It will be useless tet pass resolutions, since I do not intend and will under no consideration part with the estate.
 Annually I have spent large sums of money in endeavorng to maintain Monti- cello as it was in Jeffersons days. To- day I can say there is no other place in the country that Is so beautiful, and I am not boasting when I declare that the White House is not better cared for or in any better state of preservation than is Monticello.
 Tt is true, and I regret that must ad- init 1t, that the grave is not properly kept up. For sentimental reasons I have in the past left the care of sthe grave largely to the Randolph family, descend, ants of MT. Jefferson. They have not cared for it as they should, and all the while I have been called upon to con- tribute to it's preservation. My only reas- on for not doing more was that the family claimed the right to keep up the grave and did not care to intrude.
 Nevertheless, have always maintained a guard at the grave to keep visiting relic seekers from committing acts of vandalism. This accounts for the bell Mrs. Littleton referred to which was used as a warning to the guards that visitors were on the grounds, so they might be 1T fn orIx IL. property.
 Mrs. Littleton has been mistaken in several instances in references which she has made to Monticello. the condition of the Jefferson estate at the time of Mr. Jefferson's death and the manner In which the property was acquired by myself
 Monticello originally consisted of $40 acres. It was secured by Peter Jeffer- son, the father of Thomas Jefferson, who bartered a bowl of York; punch with his father-in-law, Mir. Randolph. for the tract Mrs. Littleton has said that MT. Jefferson was a man of moderate means. He inher- tied as matter of fact about 3o,UO acres of land and obtained through his wife about 11,000 acres more. At the time of his death 1t was not necessary to sell Monticello. which he had so beautifully improved, but his heirs preferred to re- tain certain of the Randolph properties
 consequently, Monticello was sold by Martha Jefferson Randolph to a mission ary by the name of Barclay, who as he declared purchased the property that he might destroy every vistige of what Jer- ferson had there erected. He was a re- igious fanatic who hated Jefferson.
 My uncle, Commodore Lew then Lieut.. Levy, heard of Mir. Barclays threat and, on learning that the new purchaser would part with the property for a profit. determined to purchase 1t. He stopped off here in Washington and called on Pres dent Jackson to acquaint him with the object of his mission When he told the President what he intended doing, the latter remarked: I command you to do so. My uncle, saluting, replied: As I af- ways obey my superior officer I shall so do.
 Tn this purchase however, my uncle only. obtained about 21S acres of the orig. nal Jefferson estate. the rest having been sold and this Is the property that in- herited. I have since purchased all of the original tract and much more, There is now in the estate about 10c0 acres'
 When commenting upon the beauties os the great mansion. Mir. Levy said that several years ago when 1t was determined to make alterations and repairs upon the