Evening star., 1917-01-14
'SO[ONS TO VISIT
JEFFERSON'S HOME
Members of the House and
Senate Soon to Inspect
Famous Monticello.
PURCHASE BY U. S. ASKED

congressional pilgrimage to Month
cello. the home of Thomas Jefferson. at
Charlottesville, Va, is to be conducted
this week by officers of the National
Society of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution. This pilgrimage is to
be made to impress upon Congress
the desirability of purchasing this
famous estate by the government as
letters from President Wilson, Secre-
tary Lansing and many other promi-
nent government officials.
The House committee on public build
ings and grounds has decided to visit
Monticello this week on day that
viii be convenient for all the members
number of senators on the cor
responding committee in the Senate
will Join the party. Mrs. William Cum
D. A. R., and other officers of the so
ciety also will make the pilgrimage.
Representatives of the ID. A. r. re
Gently presented arguments in favor OF
cello at hearings before both the House
and Senate committees.
Mrs. Greenawalt's Statement.
In an announcement of the intended
visit by the congressional delegation
this week, Mrs. Frank Foster Greena-
committee of the National Society,
D. A. R., says. in part:
The owner. former Representative
Jefferson Levy of New York, has re-
Gently been prevailed upon to part with
Monticello by selling it to the govern
ment of the United States with the
understanding that it be preserved as
memorial to the illustrious Jefferson.
Many priceless relics of Jefferson's e
time, some of these of his own manu-
facture, are included in the purchase
price.
Monticello is quite unlike any other
place in America. 1t is really superior
in beauty to Mount Vernon. The view
from Monticello. including the distant
buildings of the University of Virginia,
is beyond description. The location Is
unsurpassed. AS is well known, Month
cello is built on the top of mountain
lottesville. Va. Jefferson leveled the
mountain for the purpose of building
there his home. 1t is perfectly charm
ing in every way, artistic, beautiful
and imposing. The estate comprises
over seven hundred acres.
1.-THE house is Of classic design and
could hardly be reproduced today at
any cost. The dome surmounting the
house is modelled after the ancient
Temple of Vesta. The house was built
by expert workmen brought over for
that purpose from France. The hard
ware is of brass brought over from
Holland. The building is 100 feet in
front and 100 feet in depth. and three
passages are extensive and of heavy
construction. Jefferson was architect
of this wonderful home. The bricks
for the house were manufactured on
the place during the process of con-
struction.
Many Valuable Relics.
There are many valuable relics
which are included in the sale. There
is the old clock that Jefferson made.
This clock is placed directly above the
entrance. and one has to climb up on
a ladder to set and wind it. This lad
der was of Jefferson's construction and
is still there. 1t is a curious ladder
that slips into position and becomes
upright. The huge winder for this
clock, which is also of Jefferson's s
handiwork, is still intact and in use at
Monticello. There is still in the man
sion, and has been since Jefferson s
day, the Carracci bust of Jefferson.
which was copied from life and has
stood there ever since tne artist CnIs-
eled il. There also are busts of Wash
ington, Franklin and Hamilton. The
Louis XIV mirrors now in the house
were brought by Mr.. Jefferson from
France. There is also the very can
delabra used by Jefferson. The valua-
hle original designs for the pillars in
the Capitol at Washington also are at
Monticello.
1.-The Daughters of the American
Revolution are urging the purchase of
Monticello through action of the United
States government from purely pa
triotic motives. Although their original
bill in Congress asked that the govern
ment give their organization the
custody of this shrine. they have re-
Gently asked that the bill be amended
and this request eliminated, in as much
as they do not wish their work to
appear to have a possible selfish motive
underlying it,"