Thomas Jefferson, a Character Sketch by Edward S. (Edward Sylvester) Ellis
page 83 of 162 (51%)
page 83 of 162 (51%)
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There were no pavements, sidewalks nor railroads then in Washington.
There were not even wagon roads. There was no getting about, therefore, for either men or women without horses. COST OF SERVANTS, ETC. Jefferson estimated the cost of his ten servants per week, $28.70, or $2.87 per head. Jefferson managed to pay off many of his small debts with his first year's salary as President. It seems never to have occurred to him to lay by anything out of his receipts. He thought that at the end of the second year he had about $300 in hand. It is interesting to know in these temperance days that the wine bill of Jefferson was $1,356.00 per year. Mr. Jefferson, judging by his diary, was an inveterate buyer of books and pamphlets. He also apparently never missed an opportunity of seeing a show of any kind. There are items for seeing a lion, a small seal, an elephant, an elk, Caleb Phillips a dwarf, a painting, etc., with the prices charged. It cost him 11 1/2 d for seeing the lion, and 25 cents the dwarf. |
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