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Show (Jefferson afld jy- a.. -,. . V -. . ; V- ! 1 . 1 n 11 -.i. . ri Fireplace in NAonticello Patriotic Pilgrims at Monhcello -pi ' r , - ..y t" I-i' K R ... rs.-vH. i. ; ? , i v ; , , , -r . , . II - -U .sir? 1, C v- ,v ' i - ,( V I( I , ' . ' . A '" ; Memorial ""N - N Jv "" Services at Jefferson's Tomb . v v ."' " ' his Virginia inntation lie practiced rotatlw of s -t mM"'"i ; ' . .'v ,r' crops Umc before tins basic principle of scientific T s" i.'VSii'. . : ' - nsricnlliiro was tlidiiL-lit of by a people wtio Statue of Thomas Jefferson TTw .V- J-ti'-. wore to hullit a nation deeply rooted In the 4 , ... K.r . .- ; . .. - ,vi - v-r. ' proiliu-ls of the soil. As a patron of the lm- By ELMO SCOTT WATSON v. - v ' .. 1 ......... , -4 , j f - -. . s-. prorement of live stock In this country and the f EAK f 5Iouut Vernon and u ls f ' - i i - ' v : : f. Introduction of new fruits and vegetables he was tfr3? probable that every American will - 1 -J In constant communication with men interested l""! immediately associate that name V - a '. ,c ' ;,f In these subjects, both In America and Europe. JLVj with the name of George Wash- J K t it on of cr s and otl . r f. rm of scientific TV "Eton Peak of Monticello and ' J " anniulttire heM r are n .t the onlv thlnsa 1 it Is likely that fewer Amencans , ..... - .v t A fr wllicll , he apiculture of today is indebted to will Immediately associate that f - T,,onlas Jo!Terson. When the farmer plows up ,m with the name of Thomas Jerfer- s- , 'i X , , , . , , , i,.i, Vff . . , ... . , , x l; ,l an old meadow, turning the sod over upon itself, 1 ' son. And vet of the two homes of i.' '.:': . , . , ,. . ,. t ,.. . . .. . s - t .1 he can thank Thomas Jefferson, the Inventor, the two great irsinians, Monticello has, if any- : .. .!.;, ? ra ... , . , , , . .j ... 6 . . " . ' ... . .. . - : .i - - . ; v'v ; ;j For it was this man who Invented the plow mold-thing, mold-thing, more inherent Interest than has Mount ; , V i . " .. . ... ;J i . . ., . . , v , A i-: . . .. , Sf : .- ' . " . .v :-..), . 1 board which makes modern gras-land plowing Vernon for the American who visits a national ' A ... ., . . , ,, . , ... . , .. . . . i-? . . .'. r?ti ' , possible. hen the motorist folds down the top shrine to recreate in his mind the past rv s ( -: s ' . . . . . ,. . ... , .... . . ,- , v. I . I:. .?;; - .-'. .. of his car to get the full benefit of the cool Although Mount ernon Is rich in associations . . . s - , . ., . .... ... .. , . . , ,. ., i " .if - C breeze, he can thank Jefferson for the ln.-er.t! with the ' Father of His Country ' and its dig- - , , . , ,, . ,. . . , ,. . ... .. t . ' . ' ; - if which makes It possible to do so. When the desk city fosters the feeling of awe which the men- f - - . , . i i . , ... . , . , , , , , .. ... . ,,. v.i- t - - ','. A J ". worker tilts back In his comfortable swivel chair tion of the name of Washington inspires, these fev , ' . . . J . . , ., . , , . . , . i sf' 3 - or swings around easily instead of getting up very facts tend to prevent the visitor from get- S v ' -i I .3 3 , . , , , ... ..f ... .V . t . T . I 7 I - and turning the chair, he should remember grate-ting grate-ting the feel of the place from being acutely t.-.A -. i . . ,, , . ' - , . . ., , . ., . ' ,,,. - AV'.? ?..? . f 1 ful v the name of Thomas Jeflerson, for it was conscious of the Impression that Here LI ED -Vw . :-i , , " , , . , , ... .. . ., ,,, ,. . S.-J jf-o, . ' 'rt this irgmian who Invented the only lmprove- Ceorge Washington, the MAN." ery different 14 k :- i a , .' . ...... ... . H f ;. - - v,a tnent In seating dev ces since the time of the indeed Is the sense of 'common experience - '?-,. j - , ,. . . ,. .. . . . ii n-u . "'! '' ' f i' . ,v. -,i.7 ear v Egyptians. In fact, all Inventors should which one gains at Monticello. The reason is, I t '-i jJ , . , . . . . j . . j ... , . . y tt . ... Vi . j :,.iv,7 look upon Jefferson as their patron saint. For no doubt, due to the fact that Jefferson built W- -- .... , , . ... Statue of Thomas Jefferson By ELMO SCOTT WATSON p"-T rl .'EAK of Mount Vernon and it is probable that every American will T"&K'( immediately associate that name ji r with the name of George W'ash-A W'ash-A ington. Speak of Monticello and ( it is likely that fewer Americans will immediately associate that g. with the name of Thomas Jeffer- son. And yet of the two homes of the two great Virginians. Monticello has, if anything, any-thing, more inherent Interest than has Mount Vernon for the American who visits a national shrine to recreate in his mind the past Although Mount Vernon Is rich in associations with the "Father of His Country" and its dignity dig-nity fosters the feeling of awe which the mention men-tion of the name of Washington inspires, these very facts tend to prevent the visitor from getting get-ting the "feel" of the place from being acutely conscious of the Impression that "Here LIVED George Washington, the MAX." Very different indeed ls the sense of "common experience" which one gains at Monticello. The reason is, no doubt, due to the fact that Jefferson built Monticello, that he put so much of his personality person-ality Into it and the sense of that personality persists there these hundred and more years which have elapsed since he lived there. Monticello was Jefferson's residence from 1770 until his death in 1S26. Built under his personal direction after his Ideas the house took more than 30 years for completion. He selected the site, supervised the clearing away of the hilltop, hill-top, drew the plans and designs for the house, chose the stone and timber, directed the preparation prepa-ration of the former and the dressing of the latter, looked after the manufacture of the nails by his own servants, devised Ingenious contrivances contriv-ances for comfort and convenience, designed the Interior decorations and personally selected the furnishings and ornaments and laid out the grounds about the house. The result of his work was pointed to in the early days as one of the few examples of beautiful beau-tiful architecture of which America could boast. Foreigners, traveling In this country during the Revolution and afterwards, often commented upon the beauty of the mansion. The marquis of Chatellux wrote after a visit to Monticello: "Jefferson "Jef-ferson Is the first American who has consulted the fine arts, to know how he would shelter himself from the weather." The due de la Roche-foucauld-I.Iancourt who visited Jefferson In 1797, said : "Monticello, according to Its first plans, was Infinitely superior to all other houses In America in point of taste and convenience." Monticello Is two-faced. That is, there Is no front or back as far as appearances go. The theoretical back has the same type of portico, pillars and steps as the entrance. Whether In Jest or for other reasons, the statesman-architect made his home give the Impression that it Is a one-story affair instead of the three It really is. He did tills by masking two stories with long windows and setting an example for the setback set-back Idea In modern office buildings by similarly similar-ly concealing his top floor with Its odd dome copied from the temple of Vesta. Jefferson's home is replete with mechanism expressive ex-pressive of Ids mechanical genius. The sides of the wooden mantel In the dining hall conceal two dumbwaiters to hoist licpior from the cellar. A forerunner of the device which opens trolley car doors and performed the same service for dining room doors in houses of a past genera tion ls found In concealed apparatus which sim- Thomas Jefferson portrait by Rembrandt Peale ultaneously opens douiiie glass doors to an Inclosed In-closed side porch. In fact, the government some time ago refused a patent on a similar arrange ment because of this Idea of Jefferson's. Over the main entrance Is a donblefaced clock, observable from without and within, with the winding weights so arranged on the Inside to denote the days of the week. To reach the face of the clock Jefferson developed perhaps his most Interesting Invention his so-called "fox-and-geese" ladder. This, still shown to visitors, Is a hinged affair that folds up Into what looks to be a long and narrow piece of mahogany. To avoid having to go outside to observe the wind, the inventor rigged up on the ceiling of his front portico a vane easily viewed from a hall window. And speaking of windows reminds ns that Jefferson possibly gave the Idea for the metal window frames so popular today. The basement windows at Monticello are so equipped. "Perhaps no other public man this country has ever had, not even the many-sided Roosevelt, Roose-velt, nor the much gifted Franklin, was so actively active-ly and so practically interested in so many and much varied matters," writes a recent historian. "He did not merely play, dilettante-wise, with these things, but went Into each of them, whether wheth-er it was some matter of science, agriculture, art, literature, history, or what not, with active Interest and, usually, achieved something worthwhile worth-while with It." Philosopher, scientist, artist and writer were roles he played to his own greatest satisfaction, according to another historian. "I was always fond of philosophy even in Its drier form," he wrote while still a youth. At other times his letters let-ters declare: "Nature Intended me for the tranquil tran-quil pursuits of science by rendering them my supreme delight;" science "ls my passion," polities pol-ities "Is my duty"; and he said nothing lured him from such studies but his "revolutionary duties." - In fact, the list of his Interests and activities is an amazing one nnd recent historical researches re-searches have brought to light a great number of interesting facts about Jefferson that are little ';nown to the average American. As a farmer '!Yei'son as far In advance of his time. On his Virginia plantation he practiced rotatlo of crops long before this basic principle of scientific nrrriptlltnr.. .Vic tliiill.-llf iif liV fl OPOt.lo tl O were to build a nation deeply rooted In the products of the soil. As a patron of the Improvement Im-provement of live stock In this country nnd the Introduction of new fruits nnd vegetables he was in constant communication with men Interested in these subjects, both In America nnd 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 plows up an old meadow, turning the sod over upon Itself, he can thank Thomas Jefferson, the Inventor. For It was this man who Invented the plow mold-board mold-board which makes modern gnrss-land plowing possible. When the motorist folds down the top of his car to get the full benefit of the cool breeze, he can thank JefTerson for the ln.'er.t!i which makes It possible to do so. When the desk worker tilts back In his comfortable swivel chair or swings around easily instead of getting up and turning the chair, he should remember gratefully grate-fully the name of Thomas JefTerson, for it was this Virginian who Invented the only Improvement Improve-ment In seating devices since the time of the early Egyptians. In fact, all Inventors should look upon Jefferson ns their patron saint. For when a man devises something new and establishes estab-lishes In court his right to It against those who would Imitate It and profit thereby, he ls Indebted In-debted to JefTerson for laying down the principle upon which the United States patent office ls founded. No less Interesting than JefTerson the scientist, nnd the inventor, Is JefTerson the patron of fine arts. He was keenly interested in literature and was himself a writer of note. He was a musician and an accomplished violinist. It Is recorded that when his early home, the house of his fa ther at Shadwell, was burned In 1770, 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 architectural architec-tural taste are to be found today in the beautiful 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 celebrate cele-brate on April 13. When JefTerson was approaching approach-ing the end of his long nnd varied career, he composed the epitaph which he wished to have inscribed upon his tomb. Tt read: "Here was buried Thomas JefTerson, author of the Declaration Declara-tion of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the Father Fa-ther of the University of Virginia." If JefTerson were to be remembered for nothing more than those three things, his fame would be secure. But history has written these other achievements 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 lender In Important Impor-tant legal reforms. In 1770 he was governor of Virginia; in 17S3 a member of congress; from 17S4 to 17S9 he was United States minister to France; he was the first secretary of state, serving serv-ing In Washington's cabinet 1700-0-1; he was Vice President 171)7-1 S01 and he was the third President Presi-dent of the United States, 1S0MS00. During his Presidency he made the famous Louisiana purchase from France, which enrried the American Amer-ican 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 sea sea. ( by Western Kewsp&per Union.) |