Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-04-12

his Virginia plantation he ~practiced rotation OF
crops long before this basic principle of scientific
agriculture was thought of by a people who
were to build a nation deeply rooted In the
products of the soil. AS a patron of the Inn
provement of live stock In this country and the
Introduction of new fruits and vegetables he was
In constant communication with men interested
In these subjects, both In America and Europe
Rotation of crops and other forms of scientific
agriculture. however, are not the only things
for which the agriculture of today is Indebted to
Thomas Jefferson. When the farmer blows up
an old meadow. turning the sod over upon itself,
he can thank Thomas Jefferson, the inventor.
For 1t was this man who invented the plow mold
board which makes modern grassland ploWlng
possible. When the motorist folds down the top
of his car to get the full benefit of the cool
breeze. he can thank Jefferson for the Invention
which makes 1t possible to do so. When the desk
worker Tits back In his comfortable swivel chair
or swings around easily instead OF getting up
and turning the chair, he should remember CRATE
fully the name of Thomas Jefferson, for 1t was
this Virglnian who invented the only improve
ment In seating devices since the time OF the
early Egyptians. In fact, all inventors should
look upon Jefferson as their patron saint. For
when q man devises something new and estab-
1 lHIttS iii GOuil D6 tShA w - "FNN'@
would initiate 1t and profit thereby, he Is In
debted to jefferson for laying down the principle
upon which the United States patent office is
founded.
No less interesting than Jefferson the scientist,
and the inventor, is Jefferson the patron OF fne
arts. He was keenly interested In literature and
was himself a writer Of note. He was q musician
and an accomplished violinist. II Is recorded
that xubau hfc aar1v homo the bnUgp Of hiq fH-
Their mt Shadwell, was burned in ITO, although
he lost all of his books and papers, he ~rejoiced
In the fact that his violin was saved by a negro
servant. AS an artist he expressed himself best
In architecture. and monuments to his architec-
tural taste are to be found today In the beau
tiful buildings of Georgian style on the campus
Of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville
but more particularly on his estate nearby, the
famous Monticello.
Such was the man whose birthday We cele-
brate on April 10. When Jefferson was approach
Ing the end Of his long and varied career, he
composed the epitaph which he wished to have
Inscribed upon his tomb. 1t read: Here was
buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declare
ton Of American Independence, OF the Statute
Of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the Fa-
Their Of the University Of Virginia." II Jefferson
we're to be for nothing more than
those three things, his fame would be secure.
But history has written these other achieve
ments under his name. He was a member OF the
Continental congress, 1775-76 and a signer of the
Declaration. In 1776 he was a member of the
legislature of Virginia and a leader In impor-
tant legal reforms. In 1870 he was governor of
Virginia; In 1888 a member OF congress; from
1884 to 1889 he was United States minister to
France; he was the first secretary OF state, serv-
Ing In Washington's cabinet 1904; he was Vice
President 1797-1801 and he was the third presi-
dent Of the United States, 1801-1809. During
his Presidency he made the famous Louisiana
purchase from France, which carried the Amer.
lean flag In one giant leap from the Mississippi
to the summit of the Rockies and paved the way
for the extension of this country from SEES to
sea