El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-11

r T ever a man had a weird honey
moon it was Thomas Jefferson. Out
of the great front door Of The
Forest" the home Of his bride, he
stepped with Martha Shelton on his
arm on New Years day Of 1872. There
had been such a wedding as Charles
city county had not had in years. The
gentry Of the lowlands had gathered
Tor many miles around and there had
been singing and dancing, feasting anO
Tymaking, tOasung and rejoicing
all through the day.
The rice with which jefferson and his
bride were showered as they raced
from the door to their coach made lit
Tic impression on them, for snow was
falling.
Down the broad avenue from The
ForesL went the coach and then turneo
TO the road that led to the west Night
was near and the horses made SLOW
progress The driver had to pick his
way and every hour his task became
more dlIIcuIt Tor the snow became
heavier and heavier and the horses
sank deeper into the drifts as they Ia
bored along.
1t is 100 miles from "The Forest" in
the lowlands, to Monticello, in the hill
country, as the crow flies BY the
winding roads and the mountain paths
that coach followed, the distance is
much longer. Not in q generation had
Virginia known such a snow storm as
the one that started on JeffersOn's
wedding day.
An ExtraOrdinary Home Coming.
Occasionally, as they came to a great
estate, Jefferson and his wife were
urged to stop, but they were loath 10
had assembled at Monticello to welcome
them, so jefferson would take only a
fresh pair or horses and push on.
The further they proceeded the worse
were the roads. fTre0uentIv they we're
stalled by the drifts, and the bride
groom and the driver had to dig their
way out. When the snow was so deep
that the horses could not make head
way with the loaded coach, jefferson
carried his bride to some sheltered
spot and then aided in bringing the
coach up Day and night they jour
neyed on. The hardest part Of the trip
was the last eight miles from Blen-
helm to Monticello. To make better
time. they followed a mountain trail
When they reached Monticello it was
late at night The gay company had
departed the day before. The house was
dark. All the slaves were in their
quarters, asleep. having no idea that
they would see their master and mis-
tress for days they had allowed the
Into the cold. dark, dreary mansion
Jefferson led his bride. After lighting
the candles, Jefferson built q great fire.
Then he and Mrs. Jefferson brewed COT
fee and made a raid on the pantry for
the coffee and refreshed by what they
ate, jefferson took up his beloved vio-
I'm anu WINE ne pltNeus ms WiLes " no
had one Of the sweetest voices of any
woman in Virginia sang some OF the
sweet songs Of long ago. So IL was
that Thomas jefferson and Martha
Shelton celebrated their arrival home.
Wife Six Years Younger
Jefferson was %; his wife % He
was feet 2, thin and powerful, and al
ready had made 4 name for himself a.
a fine lawyer and man of wonderful
versatility His wife was a trifle above
medium height. beautiful in face,
charming Of figure, Queenly in carriage
and highly educated
Rarely were husband and VIE more
suited. Both loved to read; both were
industrious and methOdlcaL she was
2 fine hOuSekeeper, generous, nOspita-
bic and the soul Of good nature. yet she
never wasted anything She kept ac-
ship and her books are models Of house
hold bookkeeping He was patient
studiOus and just There hardly was n
subject in all the realmm of knowledge
he had not an acquaintance with As
an architect he might have made .
name for himmself as one Of the great
est Of his age; as an astronomer. he
held high rank; as a lawyer, there were
few who were SUPERIOR to him. as q
farmer he was the foremost in America,
and as a mechanic there practically
was nothing from shoeing horse,
flour mill that he could not do as well
az a master craftsman.
Queer COu-tEhfn Of Belinda BurWel.
Yet with all his gifts he was one OF
the silliest CT lovers.
Great men are not immune from folly
hut a good angel must have guarded
Jefferson in the years when he was
on the matrimonial bargain counter.
Martha Shelton was not his first