Show thomas jefferson was man of varying talents when thomas jefferson retired from public service in 1809 as he left the presidency he turned to the broad acres of monticello to spend the 17 years that were 1 to round out his life writes II arlowe R hoyt in the cleveland plain dealer his second presidential term had not been a happy one his attempt to enforce the embargo net act had been disastrous john marshalls marchalls Mar definition of treason in the trial of adron aaron burr thwarted the presidents attempt to convict his former associates bluenoses Blue noses assailed him as an atheist because of his friendship for thomas paine jefferson was a man of many talents he possessed a smattering of french italian spanish latin and greek but was master only of english he was a fiddler and composed little tunes ile he invented a duefold writing machine and a cane that could be converted into a chair he had a finger in platting t the he city of washington and dabbled in iii architecture to the extent of being credited with what is known as colonial with these manifold interests he was a politician of the cleverest kind and worked to gain hi his s ends as befitted a master of his craft the simple democracy which he assumed was more or less of a political pose his fathers death left him in possession of 1900 virginia acres this through his own efforts he increased to td 5 wh which j ch again was doubled through the death of his father in law ten thousand acres then comprised the estate with the fine residence that in course of time was to become a national shrine Reit retirement rement in monticello proved an expensive luxury jefferson was beset with visitors who went to see and remained to be entertained often for several weeks he enjoyed the good things of life was a genial host despite his lack 0 of f humor and right royal were his gatherings when it is remembered that the southern callers took their own servants to lessen the responsibilities of the host and to increase their own comfort it can be seen what a drain was put upon monticello |