The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-07-03

- MOuIIcellO may now De dQueu
h HI for the reason that a move
- ment Is well under way to
restore his home at Char
lottesville, Va, and make ii national
patriotic shrine.
The memory of Jefferson deserves
well of his country. 1t was he who
made the draft of the Declaration of
Independence; he was the third Presi-
dent of the United States and his other
services were many and distinguished.
Jefferson was born April 13, 1743,
ar Shadwell, Va. He died at Monticello
July 4, 1S26-on the flftieth anniver-
sary Of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. So Independence day next year
will be the sesquicentenniaf of the
Declaration and the centennial of JEFF
Persons death.
Jefferson was graduated from VIII
liam and Mary college in 1862 and was
admitted to the bar in 1867. He was
member of the Continental congress,
17T5-6, and signed the Declaration. In
1915 he was a member of the legisla-
ture Of Virginia and leader in impor-
tant legal reforms. He filled these
other positions: Governor Of Virginia.
1779; member of congress, 1888; min
lister to France, 17S4-9; secretary of
state, 1904; vice president, 1797-1S01
President, 1S01-0. He founded In 1919
the University Of Virginia at Char
1ottesville.
Monticello is to be restored, SO far
as possible, to the condition in which
1t was left by Jefferson. This task
has been undertaken Jointly by the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation
and the American Institute of Archi-
tects through Its committee on the
preservation Of historic monuments
and scenic beauties. Prof. Fiske
kimball, chairman Of the architects
committee. hopes not only to restore
the lawns and gardens to Thomas JEFF
ferson's period, but also to return to
the historic mansion much of the fur
niture. The Foundation was estab-
lished on the one hundred and
eightieth anniversary of Jefferson's
birth, April Is, 1923. The following
December the Foundation, by making
a payment of 100000, took legal title
to the beautiful colonial mansion, the
estate consisting of $40 acres of land
and priceless Jeffersonian relics.
When retiring from the Presidency,
Jefferson expected to be the Hermit
of Monticello" but this was not to be-.
A continuous stream Of visitors came
to the place. 1t was said at the time
that everyone In the United States
of any enterprise sooner or later found
his way to this extraordinary her.
mitage." He himself wrote at one
time that IAN OK lasted only day or
So" Sometimes he had to prepare fifty
beds for night. His visitors ate him
out Of house and home.
Then, on top of the gradual dwin-
ding of his resources, the prerevolu-
tionary debt of his wife's estate be-
came due in England and nearly half
Of his fortune was swept away at one
blow. An Endorsement for friend
cost him $4,000. Finally he had to
sell his library and sold ii to congress
for s23.95O.
In order to avert the blow that was
pending, Jefferson petitioned the legis-
lature for permission to dispose of his
property at fair valuation by lottery.
He said: by this means l. can save
the Monticello house and a farm adj
joining. to end my days In and bury
my bones. If not, / must sell house,
and all here, and carry my family to
Bedford, where have not even log
hut TO put my head into" There was
some opposition in the legislature, but
the bill passed.