Evening star., 1938-07-03

pass away the news would be flashed
to the far corners Of the world, and
wirephotos would soon follow. But
things have greatly changed since
1895, for IN Warrington ut that time
the people were not informed Of the
death Of Mr.. Jefferson until they read
the account Of his demise in the Ma
tional Intelligencer three days later,
or on July Z. 1895. And this Is what
the press announced:
Thomas Jefferson Is no morel His
weary sun has made golden set,
leaving . bright tract Of undying
fame to mark his path to q glorious
immortality.
The illustrious author Of the Dec
laration Of Independence breathed his
last at Monticello on the 4th Of this
month. at 10 minutes before o'clock
On the 50th anniversary Of the birth
Of this Nation. with which his name
and fame are forever and indissolubly
united, At the moment when all
tongues throughout the land were
engaged In repeating the language of
his greatest work, his soul, satisfied
with the retrospection of half q CEN
tury Of past events. winged its flight
to the realms Of immortality! Singu-
lar but felicitious coincidence!
I'VE shall not coolly undertake to
indite the memories Of such . man.
His history may be read In . Ma
tion's eyes-his eulogy beams on the
surface Of everything that is admira-
BILE and peculiar In the principles Of
our Government"
Public Offices were closed from
pm. Friday, July 7. to . AN. Monday,
July 10.
those VirginiAns who happened to
be standing in the lobby of the House
Of Burgesses 1T Williamsburg and
heard Patrick Henry in his great
speech. The debate" We are told he
afterward declared. was most bloody
and the passionate oratory Of Henry
produced upon him an effect which
he never forgot. The words Of the
speaker he said. writing at the ma
ture age Of II, were such as I have
never heard from any other man. He
appeared to speak as Homer wrote
The burning accents did not enter in
different ears. The seed was sovn in
good soil, and the unknown youth
who listened at the door Of the lob
by was to become the co-worker Of
the great orator in the stormy hours
which were rapidly approaching
President Jefferson was . great pa
triot and one who will always be re-
membered for the part he played in
achieving American independence. but
like so many outstanding and cele-
brated men, he had at least one weak
ness and that was his inability to reg
ulate and conserve his own finances
At the time Of the burning of the
Capitol by the British ON August II,
1914, the enemy used virtually all of
the 5000 volumes then on hand to
kindle the fire.
Upon this occasion. We are told.
"the leading officers entered the House
Of Representatives. when Admiral
Cockburn Of the Royal Navy (who
was cooperating with Gen. Ross j,
seating himself in the Speakers chair,
called the assemblage to order.
Gentlemen shouted he. the ques-
ton is. shall this harbor of Yankee
democracy be burned? All in favor
Of burning it will say aye!' There
was a general Affirmative response.
And when he added. Those opposed
will say nay silence reigned for a
moment. Light up!' cried the bold
Briton. and the order was soon re-
peated in all parts Of the building,
while soldiers and sailors We'd with
each other In collecting combustible
materials for their incendiary fires.
The books on the shelves of the
Library Of Congress were used as
kindling for the north wing, and the
much-admired. full-length portraits
Of Louis XVI and his Queen, Marie
Antoinette. which had been presented
by that unfortunate monarch to Con-
eress. were torn from their frames
and trampled under foot
NATURALLY, the Government was
soon In the market for q library
for its members Of Congress. and Mr..
Jefferson, being in need of money,
rendered his library Of 6.7o0 volumes,
containing many rare works gathered
in Europe. Congress purchased it for
$23. $50. which. it was said. would
provide much-needed funds for the
overgenerous former President, who
was much in debt. largely due to his
liberalities and by his theoretical agri-
cultural operations carried on at Nom
ticello and through unsuccessful busi-
ness experiments.
jefferson died ut Monticello at 10
minutes before l o'clock on July 4.
and John Adams on the same date
at "the descending SUM-" He had
been Ill for some months. and of his
last day on earth 1t has been said:
His already benumbed faculties
reused BY the trumpet's clang and
cannon's roar Of the day Of jubilee,
he inquired Of those around his bed
the cause of these signs Of rejoicing
and was informed that 1t Was in
honor of the Fourth Of July. He
answered (and these words were his
last): 1t is . great and glorious
day"
The news Of Mr.. Adams death did
not appear in the Warrington press
until July 10.
The hast survivor Of the siSnsrs Of
the Declaration Of Independence wa
Charles Carroll Of Carrollton, who,
more than half . century later, took
part In one Of the most important
events In the history Of this coun-
txy-ths laying Of The hrst stone Of