The border vidette., 1931-04-18
THOMAS JEFFERSON'S i88TH
ANNIVERSARY

! htlC pcFlOU JuSt O6lOE0, UuT1QR
and Immediately after the Revo
lutionary War, there are proba.
bly, but few figures who stand
out in American history as does
Thomas Jefferson, third presi
dent of the United States, and
the most conspicuous apostle of
democracy in America, according
to the Division of >Information
and Publication of the George
Washington Bicentennial Com
mission.
April 13, 1881, will mark the
188th anniversary of his birth at
Shadwell, Albemarle County,
Virginia. By strange coinci
dence be died on July 4, 1926,
the fiftieth anniversary Of the
signing of the Declaration of 10.
dependence, on the same day as
John Adams, the second p.esi
dent of the United States, and
with one interruption from 1895
to 1909 lifelong friends.
No American of this time had
such versatility or such diversi
fed interests. Jefferson was
asked to draft the Declaration of
Independence because of his
reputation as q writer. Adams
thus tells the story: He brought
with him reputation for liter
ary science and the happy talent
for composition Writings cf
his we're handed about, remark.
able for their peculiar felicity of
expression. l. was the Sum
mary View which elected the
admiration of Edmund Burke"
Jefferson was q student of
William and Mary College at
Williamsburg. Virginia. In ad
dition to excelling ia other stud
les, he bad good knowledge of
Latin, Greek and French, to
which be soon added Italian and
Spanish. He had an artistic
temperament. loved music and
was an exceptionally good vic
linist. He was proficient in out
door sports, and an excellent
horseman. Thoroughbred horses
to him were a necessary luxury.
| Soon after leaving college, be
entered law Office, and after
| five years Of close study. was
admitted to the bar in 1867. His
| thorough preparation enabled
him to compete from the first
with leading lawyers of the
colony.
! On January /, 1872, be marri
ed Martha Wales Shelton, q
childless widow of twentv-three,
very handsome, accomplished
and very fond of music. Their
married life was exceedingly
happy, and Jefferson never mar
ried after her death. OF six
children, two daughters alone
survived infancy. Jefferson was
emotional, and very affectionate
| at home. and bis generous and
devoted relations with his child
rem and grandchildren are among
the finest features OF his char
acter.
10 1879, at almost the gloomi.
est stage Of the war in the south
ern states, Jefferson succeeded
Patrick Henry as Governor Of
Virginia, being the second to
bod that Office after the organi
zatiou of the Government. 10
his second term the state was
overrun by British troops, and
jefferson. a civilian, was blamed
for the Intellectual resistance.
Most of the criticism of his ad
ministration was grossly unjust.
His conduct being attacted, be
declined re- election 10 the gov.
ernorship, but was unanimously
returned to Albemarle as a dele
gate to the State Legislature.
From 1874 to 1889 Jefferson
was in France, first under an ap
| pointment to collaborate with
Benjamin Franklin and John
Adams in negotiating treaties of
commerce with European coun
/ tries, and then as Franklin's
successor as minister to France.
BE was exceedingly popular as
q minister. During this time he
assisted in negotiating a treaty
Of amity and commerce with
Prussia and one with Morocco,
and negotiated with France
convention defining and estab
fishing the rights and privileges
of consuls and vice-consuls."
When jefferson left France it
was with the intention of soon
returning, but President Wash
inQtOn rendered him the Secre