The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-07
iContinued. )

At that time there were not six va cant places remaining at the long table. No one seemed to know how many had been invited to the banquet or how many were expected. No one in the company seemed to know any one else. It was indeed a pellmell affair.
 For once the American democracy was triumphant. But the leader of that democracy, the head of the new ad- ministrahon, the host at this official banquet, the president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, stood quiet ly, serenely, looking out over the long table, entirely qnconcerned with what he saw If there was trouble 1t was for others, not for him.
 Those at the table began to seat themselves, following the hosts exam pie. It was at this moment that the young captain of affairs turned once more toward the great doors with the intention of closing them. Old Henry was having his own battles with the remaining audience in the anteroom as he now brought forward two belat- ed guests. Old Henry. be sure, knew them both, and-as look at the sud- den change of his features might have told-so did Mir. Jeffersons aid.
 They advanced with dignity, these two-one gentleman. not tall. but elegant, exqu.sitely clad in full dress costume, man whom you would have turned to examine a second time had you met him anywhere. Upon his arm was young woman. also beautifully costumed, smiling, graceful, entirely at her ease. Many present knew the two Aaron Burr, vice president of the United States; his daughter, Theodosia Burr Aston.
 MT. Burr passed within the great doors, turned and bowed deeply to his host, distant as he was across the crowded room. His daughter courte- sled also Their entry was dramatic. Then they stood, a somewhat stately picture, waiting for an instant while seemingly deciding their future course.
 It was at this moment that Meri- wether Lewis approached them, beck oning. He led them toward the few seats that still remained unoccupied, placed them near to the official visitors. whose ruff1ed feathers stifl remained unsmoothed, and then stood by them for an instant, intending to take his departure.
 There was one remaining chair. It was at the side of Theodosia Aston. She herself looked up at him eagerly and patted it with her hand. He seat ed himself at her side.
 Thus at last was filled the pellmell table of MT. Thomas Jefferson. To his day no man knows whether all present had been invited or whether all invited had opportunity to be pres ent
 There were those-his enemies, men of the opposing political party, for the most part-who spoke i'll of Mir. Jeffer- son and charged that he showed hy- pocrisy in his pretense of democratic simplicity in official life Yet others. even among his friends, criticised him severely for the affair of this after
 bon-July 4, in the year 1903. They said that his manners were inconsist- ent with the dignity of the highest off, cial of this republic.
 If any of this comment injured or of- tended MT. Jefferson be never gave a sign He was born a gentleman as much as any and was as fully ac- quainted with good social usage as any
 A1 f spent in the best surroundings of his own country and at the most polished courts of the old world. To accuse him of ignorance or boorishness would have been absurd.
 The fact was that his own resource ful brain had formed q definite plan. He wished to convey a certain rebuke. and with deadly accuracy he did con- vey that rebuke. It was at no endur- ing cost to his own fame