He asked
many questions of these artisans, who would take the utmost pains to
satisfy his enquiries.
His political opponents believed unjustly that he did this simply for
effect. They would say,
"There, see the demagogue!"
"There's long Tom, sinking the dignity of his station to get votes and
court the mob."
ARISTOCRACY OF MIND.
Although Jefferson was an ardent democrat, in some sense he was also an
aristocrat.
He firmly believed in an aristocracy of mind, and told John Adams that
he rejoiced that nature had created such an aristocracy.
He unmistakably gave his preference to men of learning and refinement,
at least he put these above other recommendations.
Mr. Jefferson, however, was not consistent with himself, for he
frequently called General Washington "Your Excellency," during the war,
and also when he was a private citizen at Mt. Vernon.
EVIL YOUTHFUL COMPANIONS.
Just after his college days Mr. Jefferson fell into company, as so many
young men do, of a most undesirable sort.
According to his own statements it was a source of amazement even to
himself that he ever escaped to be worth anything to the world. He
realized in later years what a dangerous risk he had run.
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