Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-09-07
Up the Pike-A Glimpse at Old Fairfax
and Loudoun

]
Correspondence of the ALEXANDRIA GAzErTE]
Within the past few weeks, grey horse
drawing jump seat carriage took the pike
eastward from Alexandria, not withoutsome
com mpurctions on the part of his owner at
the long drive undertaken, to the utter dis
r-gard of the cheap and quick railroau
| transportation Mt hand. The objective point
was the meeting of the Potomac Baptist
Association at "Mt. Hope" church, five miles
| from Farmwell.
The Little RiVer Pike is the great thor
oughfare for Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
Its elevations afford lovely views, while the
diversity Equality and conformation In the
! land along the way and the alterations OF
be autiful new cottages and rural convent
ences with homes of more antiquated char
acter, comboe to make the journey pleasing.
| The pike cuts through and separates, in
mapy cases, the farmers dwelling from his
barps, stables, &c.
| The FIRST day the grey borse, "Flippo,"
by pame, turns in and gets square noon
meal at the truly hospitable home OF George
K. Pickett, q mile east of Anpandsle. Then
| taking on another passenger, MIR. Pickett
| himself, we pass Annandale, then on till We
/ find ourselves traversin9 the classic pre-
cincts of Fairfax G. n. A pleasant disap
| pojntment greets the writer. Two score
wears and more be has lived and most of it
| iu old Alexandria. and yet he never before
had looked upon Fairfax G. r., 1t is u pleas
| ing little village. The cottages of Mr.. Farr
and of MIR. Richardson are especially neat
aud attractive.
Folks stop US along the road at intervale.
] The sensation OF the day is the eubernatorial
convention and many are the words OF
cheer and counsel exchanged with passing
friends Mr. George K Pickett, who is the
democratic candidate for the legislature,
knows everybody and everybody's home
We pas Chantilly the great estate, with its
etone gate posts standing lonely and dreary
as evidences of former grandeur. My COM
psnion's eye gistens with appreciation OF
the scene as we take in the lovely undula.
| tions of the large fields and fine farming
land in general in this vicinity, but our spir
~ 90 down little ss We 90 past other
| fields poor enough to make Digger Indian
give up scratching for living.
1t is quite dark when we stop. We have
crossed over into Loudoun and are chiefly
exercised about lodging and supper. We
pet both from the brothers Martin who are
"a hospitabie and kind In their treatment of
ma as we could desire. Flip" gets glori-
ously square meal and begins to appreciate
| the trip. Next morning we are OF by times.
We fall in with other vehicles till, as we ap-
proach Mount Hope Church, great caravan
ils no road Dust is plentiful and We feel
by the time we reach the church that we
ar all nothing but the dust OF the earth.
The vicinity Of the meeting place is jammed
with vehicles from the huge wagon down to
the slight dos cart us inches wide in the
seat) In which John Sewers takes the young
ladies around.
The pleasant greetings with old friends
will be lotg remembered. Some of the
ministers have taken to themselves
the goodly crown of whitening hair.
"groven in which open air preaching is
! held is 90 far from the church. There are
sermons of high order. Rev. l. M. Mer
Ger, of Alexandria. touches high water
mark in grand sermon-constituting the
| sIntroductory" at the ''stand" Rev DR..
Ovens of Portsmouth. Va, Rev. Geo. W.
| Quick, Of Springfield, Mass, and Rev. Cur
tis Laws. of Loudoun county. Va, preach
ecceptsbly to large crowds. An important
part of the Association" consists In going
| home with your entertainers. 1t was the
good fortune of the undersigned to spend q
delightful evening at the lovely residence of
Robert Mccormick, esq between Aldie and
Middeburg. 1t ia worth going many miles
to ex, erence their hospitality. Their am
ple mansion has taken in some summer
boarders from Washington, who form a
group of most Interesting and agreeable
folks. The lovely Mrs. Dunlop shines as
one of the most charming mem6ers of the
group.
But the association" ends Brethren
IL ~ H.
tearfully that the hymo goes up with many
quavers and breaks. Then we make for
our vehicles. The grey horse takes on an
other passenger for the home trip
Rev. Mr.. Mercer, We lose sight
reluctantly of kindly faces, notably that
of Mr. Hutcheson living a short distance
from the church. How comfortable the en-.
tertainments these cattle princes give q
guestl We enjoyed specimen of his hos.
pitality Thursday night
But here we 90! We steer through the
Jam of carriages. and the last glimpse of the
Association" scenes shows John Sewers
transcendaptly happy with young lady 10
his narrow dog-cart and dozen miles of
travel before them
Late Friday night we paused at Fairfax
@. H and got supper. There was all the
news aud we took in the latest from the
convection. The old town was ell aaog. 1t
had two seusations-the meeting of the
Good Templsrs and all the enthusiastic
hilarity of the returning delegates from
Richmond l wordeT how the Two matters
mixed
Then near midnight We are again at the
home OF George Pickett, and that gentle
man pla.s host again. Mr.. Pickett is "a gen
I tleman OF a high or Ter, regular reader of
! tho GAZETTE. has collegiate education and
the biggest heart in Fairfax
TRAVELLER
"The Anchorage, Sept 6. 1889.