Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-02
CHAPTER X.
Mr.. Thomas Jefferson.

back to his desk in the little office
room, and throughout the long and
heated day, following a night spent
wholly without sleep. he remained en-
gagged in his usual labOrs, which were
the heavier in his secretary's absence.
He was an old man now, but giant
in frame. a giant in mind, giant in
industry as we'll He sat at his desk
absorbed, sleepless, with that steady
application which made possible the
enormous total of his life's work He
was writing in fine. delicate hand
legible to this day-certain Of those
thousands of letters and papers which
have been given to us as the record
of his career.
In what labor was the president of
the United States engaged on this par
ticularly eventful day? 1t seems he
found more to do with household mat
tiers than with affairs of state. He
was making careful accounts of his
French cook. his Irish coachman, his
black servants still remaining at his
country house in Virginia.
All his life Thomas Jefferson kept
itemized in absolute faithfulness Z list
Of all his personal expenses, even to
the gratuities he expended in travelling
and entertainment.
AS TO the code of official etiquette
which we have seem to exist in Wash
ington. the president himself was re-
sponsible for it, for we have, written
out in his own delicate hand. the fol-
lowing explicit instructions:
The families of foreign minister's arriv-
ing at the seat of government. receive the
first visit from those Of the national min
listers. as from all other residents. Mem
bers Of the legislature and of the Judicial
ry independent of their offices, have a
right as strangers to receive the first WIS.,
1t. No title being admitted here. those of
foreigners give no precedence. Difference
of grade among the diplomatic members
gives no precedence.
At public ceremonies the government in
vites the presence Of foreign ministers
and their families A convenient seat or
station will be provided for them. with
any other strangers invited. and the fami-
lies of the national ministers each taking
cedence.
To maintain the principle Of equality. or
OF pellmell. and prevent the growth Of
precedence out Of courtesy, the members
Of the executive will practice at their own
houses and recommend an adherence to
the ancient usages Of the country Of gen.
tlemen in mass giving precedence to the
ladies In mass in passing from one apart
ment where they are assembled into an
other
And so on through reams and reams
Of a strange mans life records.
Why should we care to note his Gu
rious concern over details? The an
swer to that question is this: Obvious
ly Thomas Jetferson's estimate of
man must also in all likelihood have
been curiously exact. He did not make
public to the world his judgment Of
Colonel Aaron Burr. at that time vice
president Of the United States But
in his diary. written in frankness by
HIMSELF for himself. he put down the
following:
have never seen Colonel Burr till he
became a member Of the senate. His con-
duct very soon inspired mo with distrust.
habitually cautioned Mr.. Madison
against trusting him too much. saw that
under General w. and Mr.. Adams, where
a great military appointment or diplo-
matte one was to be made. he came post
to Philadelphia to show himself. and In
fact he was always In the market II they
wanted him. He was indeed told by Day.
ton in 1900 that he might be secretary at
war, but this bid was too late. His cleo
ton as vice president was then foreseen.
With these impressions OF Colonel Burr
there never has been any intimacy be-
tween US and but little association.
A certain plan of this same Colonel
Burr now went forward in such fash
ion as involved the loyalty Of Meri-
wether Lewis. the man to whom. OF all
others Of bis acquaintance. Thomas
Jefferson gave first place In trust and
confidence and friendship-the young
man who but now was making his un-
ostentatious departure on the great ad-
venture that they two had planned.
His garb III cared for, his hair un.
kempt. his face trifle haggard, work.
ing on into the day whose dawn he had
ScCu uI1Scs luC Iuli, SuuuI Oiu Alou SCI |
aside first one minor matter, then an.
other. leaving Them all exactly finish.
ed. At last he wrote down for later
forwarding the last item of his own
regarding the new country !
into which he had sent his young
friend:
have received word from Paris that |
Mr. Broughton. one Of the companions of
Captain Vancouver. went UP the Columbia
river 100 miles in December, 1872 He stop
ped at a point he named Vancouver. Here
the river Columbia Is still quarter Of
mile wide. From this point Mount Hood
is seen about twenty leagues distant,
which is probably dependency Of the
Stony mountains. Accept my affectionate
salutations.
This was the last word Meriwether
Lewis received from his chief. As the
latter finished 1t he sat looking out of
the window toward that west which
meant so much to him.
He did not at first note the Interrupt
ton of his reverie. Long ago he had
made public his announcement that
the time Of Thomas Jefferson belong.
ed to the. public and that he might be