Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-09
LOOKING FROr1 .ETFERsoN5 BED2o0I. (
MToHls PRIVATE DYATMoNTI CELLO

the presidency of his fatherin-law. Mr.
Jefferson The fine old house at Edge
hill, which recently burned down. is
few miles from Monticello, and in her
childhood Mrs Randall was the constant
companion of her grandfather Col. Kan
dolph, who built the mansion; riding
walking or driving with him about the
plantation. and ever eager for stories
about Jefferson. listening to those with
interest relative to his life rs maker
of American history, but perhaps liking
hest those appealing more to her girlish
fancy and giving range to her youthful
Stories were told of his college days
at old William and Mary College at
Williamsburg. where he soWed few
wild oats, met his first fancied love.
Rebecca Burwell. and danced and flirted
with her in the Apollo room at the Ra-
leigh Tavern, the fashionable hosiery
of colonial days in Virginia; the fresh
pretty girl who took his romantic fancy,
and whom he declared to his friend,
Dabney Carr. that he could not live
without.
However, even then Jefferson must
have had visions of his future greatness
and work for humanity. for he had
planned his studies three years ahead.
and his travels in Europe and the east.
and asked the fascinating Belinda, as
he called her. il she would wait for him
until he returned. But there were other
suitors who were more ready, so Miss
Burwell welded another; and later JET
ferson found due consolation and a love
which lasted until death in the beauti-
full widow, Martha Shelton.
Mrs. Randall enjoyed hearing about
the letter he wrote to John Page. his
schoolmate and intimate friend, whom
he defeated in the race for the gov
ernorship of Virginia, to succeed Pat
rick Henry. In this letter JEFFERSON
sends saucy message to a belle of the
day: Tell Alice Corbin.' he wrote.
that I verify believe the rats knew l
was to win pair of garters from her
or they never would have been SO cruei
as to carry mine away.
The influence of the college life and
society of williamsburg upon Thomas
Jefferson %as of the best. He went
there at a time when he was most sus-
ceptible to the influences OF learning.
as we'll as to the companionship OF men
and women of the world. for the versa
tile young jefferson was fond of both.
And notwithstanding he was said to
have spent fifteen hours day in study.
there seemed yet time for the delight
full dinners and evening parties at the
governors house. where he was prime
fayorite, and where he fiddied many an
evening away with Gov. Fauquier in
duet or with the other gentlemen who
composed the band of musical ANA
tours who practiced concerts once a
week.
jefferson and Patrick Henry also
played violin duets together, ana there
was another of this trio of music low
ers John Randolph. attorney general
of Virginia under Lord Dunmore, who
remained loyal to George III and FOL
lowed Dunmore in his flight to Eng
land-there to die in poverty Kan
doIph owned Cremona, which Jerer-
son had long coveted and which he In
duced Randolph to enter into an agree
ment with him for: this agreement was
duly and legally drawn up and attested
by George Wythe. Patrick Henry and
five others: il was proved before the
clerk of the court and spread upon the
minutes.
BY the terms of this curious agree
ment Jefferson was to have the violin
for $500 II he outlived Randolph. As a
consideration Randolph was to have
books Of Jefferson's valued at $4,000 in