The Washington herald., 1914-10-06
NAMES S5OO,OOO
FOR MONTICELLO
Representative Levy Agrees
to Sell Thomas Jeferson's
Home to U. S,
ANSWERS BRYAN'S PLEA
Makes Condition that 1t Be Utilized
as Summer Residence for
Presidents. However.
ANSWERS BRYAN'S PLEA

Secretary Of State Bryan has succeeded
where many others have failed and has
obtained from Representative Levy an
expression Of the latter's readiness to re-
Iinquish to the United States government
Monticello, once the home of Thomas
! Jefferson.
Representative Levy is willing to part
with Monticello for the sum of S5OO,OO0 on
condition that the United States govern
ment make 1t the Virginia summer home
Of Presidents Of the United States. To
| sell at this price, Mr.. Levy says, will
make him more than half the donor Of
Jefierson's home 10 the American people,
as, he states. he has expended more than
81. .0oo0oo upon the former Jefferson estate,
and has been offered that sum II he
would sell II.
Mr.. Levy has resisted stubbornly for
more than two years efforts Of Mrs. Mar
tin W. LIttleton and others to induce him
to relinquish Monticello, so that 1t might
be made q public shrine Of democracy.
His letter to Mr.. Bryan. and the latter's
reply were given out by the Secretary OF
State yesterday and are as follows:
Mr. Levy's Letter to Secretary Bryan.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary: I confess to
you that your letter urging me to sell
Monticello to the government has very
much unsettled a determination not to
part with it which I thought was un-
alterable.
Your suggestion that its acquisition
at this time would commemorate the
great Democratic administration Of Pres
ident Wilson. which is being conducted
on Jeffersonian principles, and would not
be more opportune because the President
is by birth a Virginian.' constrains me |
to renew nv consideration OF the whole |
matter.
when couple with this the great public |
interest which has been manifested, / |
am convinced that must put aside my |
feelings and yield to the national demand |
and make what to me is the supreme |
sacrifice Of lifelong association
You. my dear sir, since you first |
broached this subject, several years ago,
have been fully aware that Monticello |
was to me all and more than il could
ever be to the most patriotic American
citizen and lover Of the name OF Thomas
Jefferson. for you have known that its
every nook and Granny. hill. spring and
tree belonged. through years Of tender
est recollection to the inner circle Of my
life.
Restored to Original Area.
when I came into possession OF the
no acres, all that was left Of Monticello,
determined to reunite the severed parts
Is owned by Thomas Jefferson, and so
have, by purchase from time TO time.
now restored II to the original area Of
over 200 acres
Upon It have poured out from the
cup Of my greatest devotion IN, no un-
Stinted manner, and as the expenditure
was my own, I spared no reasonable
Sum to adorn it, the amount ct which
s so large that hesitate to mention Il.
81 have always abhorred the thought
II Monticello becoming a mere museum. !
have maintained It as a. home-the /
lome of Thomas Jefferson-and IL I am I
o part with II should like that thought '
o be retained. Make II the home-the ]
Virginia home-of the Presidents OF the
United States. and maintain it for their I
occasional occupancy and 1 would be '
And so, Mr.. Secretary, I bow to your ,
wishes and those OF the American peo-
lie. For this property. for which 1 was G
'hered, and upon which l have ex- r
ended, E,ooo.0oo. designate a price Of /
10000. which will make me more than I
alf donor of Monticello and thus con- +
ummate the peoples wiR'' 4
Secretary Bryan's Reply.
The secretary's reply was as follows: a
My Dear Mr. Levy: am Just in receipt 4
Z your favor Of this date and hasten to S
I'll you how gratihed am that you have 8
expressed yourself as willing TO make the n
ersonal sacrifice called for in the sale
( Monticello to the government.
Il can understand the attachment which
ou feel for the place with which your
lmily name has so long been associated.
nd in which you. yourself, have taken A
} deep an interest. but 1 am sure that y
ny pangs that parting with it may
luse you, will be healed by the salts
action it will give you TO know that !
uring all the years to come Monticello
i'll remain in the possession OF the gov Of
more and more priced as the
anne and fame Of the great statesman z
Icreases among men.
ALLOW me to express my personal ap- ID
recitation Of your willingness to have =
lie purchase made at this time. when
le President, the Senate, and the House Of
Ill rejoice in the opportunity to be con-
ected with the transfer. I hope that NJ
ongress will take early and favorable =,
,tion on the matter" n