The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31

lottcSvfllo stands mountain rising
900 foot above the level OF tho SUR
rounding country.
Ono hundred and forty years ago
Mr.. Jefferson cut or tho top Of this
mountain SO as to mako an area of
sevcral acres. ind very near tho centre
OF tnis area he placed his home. He
had just married rich widow, who
brought him 10000 acres and 1876 slaves,
which enabled him to take his place
among tho rich planters. although q
yeoman by birth.
At tho foot OF tho mountain
stretched away his plantation Tho
ascent to Monticello Is long and rather
tedious, mostly through timber grow
ing on the mountainside. n largo
iron gate hung in brick pillars, with q
brick lodge beside 1t, forms the on
trance to tho estate.
quarter of milo from tho cato
stands the mansion elevated above tho
driveway. some twenty 1.-Two feet, tho
lawn slipping to It, Tho mansion is q
farge square pavilion. having two
rorticoes fronting cast and west. Mr..
Jefferson was tho first American, who
consulted the fine arts to know how he
should shelter himself from the
weather. The east portico is of gon-
erous sizo, with Six stone pillars SUD-
porting tho roof In tho Italian style OF
or the homo conforms with Mr.. Jofrer-
sons wcll-known classic taste, and no
man OF his day, certainly no American
surpassed him as a thorough classical
scholar. Tho floor of the portico is
gray stone blocks; and on many of
them are cut the names OF visitors to
this interesting spot. In tho centre Of
the ceiling of the portico Ia q marinor's
compass; long rod runs down from
the roof to tho needle, and on top of
the rod, above the roof, Is q weather
Fane, which, veering with tho wind.
moves tho needle In the compass, and
thus Indicates to any one standing
within the portlco the direction from
winch IL blowe. Ovcr the front door,
Weights. which after ell these years
keeps good time.
This house is built OF brick. and CON
tains some twenty-five rooms above
the basement, most of them small All
the timber used In tho construction
was cut and sawed in tho mountain.
and the woodwork OF the house is
sound to-day, after the passage of
1io years.
One Of the largest apartments Is Al
ballroom at the top OF the house.
rooted over with wood and glass
cupola Mr.. Jeferson's, as well as his
wifc's. bedroom Is small. Tho bed
stead was built into an aicove between
his own and wifc's rooms. Tho alcovc
was hung on either side with curtains,
SO that an entrance to the bed could
lie made from either room. Tho
Kitchen, store-rooms and servants
quarters are some distance from the
main house end connected with II by
long inclosed passageway, entering
the basement, so that no preparation
of meals or smell of cooking could
reach the fastidious noses of the aouse.
Tho word Monticello Is italian, and
means little mountain" Tho Rlynnna
River from the east front, and in fact
from any part OF this elevated lawn,
would cnrapturc an artists eye. Beau
tiful scenery Ia characteristic OF Vir-
GINA. Wherever you Eo-to what
ever point OF the compass you turn
your cyes-nature in her most pleasing
forms smiles upon you. Mountain,
nil, valley and stream seemed TO have
been placed in their proper relations
10 each other, SO as TO mako a picture,
sometimes beautiful. sometimes grand
and imposing. Mr.. Jefferson, no doubt
from what we know OF his fine taste.
cultivated by travel and reading
selected the spot upon which he built
his home with View to enjoying the
beautiful and impressive scenes,
which nature has bestowed upon tho
country around Monticello. To the
south are seen the picturesque valley
and banks of the Rlvanna, with On cx.
tens.ve, peaceful looking horizon View,
lying like a sleeping beauty In tina
east; while long rolling hills, oc-
casional.y rising into mountain ranges,
until at last they are lost in the
gracefully sweeping profile of the
Blue Ridge. stretch westward and
present landscapes whose exquisite and
varied beauty must always charm tho
beho.dcr.
At the time OF Jefferson's death
Monticello was sold TO pay his debts
1t passed through several hands I'M
til it was bought by Commodore Levy,
an officer in the United states Navy
During the Civil War the Confederate
government coniiscated tho property,
and sold It under the hammer When
tho war was over, tho son OF Commo-
dore Levy. brought suit In the Federal /
Court and recovered the title and pos
session. and he Is the owner to-day.
Not far from the entrance 10 Monti-
cello Is the burial ground OF jefferson
and his family. The lot Is some eighty /
feet square. incioscd with n heavy iron !
fence eight feet high. This fence as
well as the monument over JeRrson's
grave, was paid for by the government ]
There are some twenty graves. rcla- |
tivcs and friends. in the cemetery. TO |
the right of Mr.. Jefferson's grave is d |
small stone inscribed as follows;
JANE RANDOLPH,
Wife of Peter Jefferson.
!tothcr of Thor1as jefferson.
Rorn in London, 1870
Died AT Monticello. 1875.
The monument placed over Jefferson = !
grave By Congress is comparatively |
new. The first one reared to his mem !
DRY had been badly defaced by yandaIs.
and now stands upon the canipus of
IN" University Of Missouri. The |
present monument is Of light gray |
granite. and in style. size and the in /. !
scTipt,on upon IL very nearly in ac.