Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-19
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
OLD BELVOIR CONTINUED
No II

The curious wayfarer of our time who
urns aside from the travelled highway
of land or river, aud strays by the site
of the once stately mansion OF Belyoir
will fnd only fallen walls, blackened
hearth stones anG mounds of briar.
grown rubbish and gnarled trees to
mark the historic spot where through
many years went on the long since for
gotten routine of domestic and social
incidents of colonial life.
OF all these events and incidents
which would be frsught with so much
interest TO the present generation only
the most fragmentary accounts have
come down 10 Us through either writ
ten record or oral tradition. Only here
aud there vague memory, some IA
uniliar names, sOme brief letters and
some wandering report of grace and
ignty and loveliness and gallant ex-
- il. Their failings and imperfeclions
-.v-u, are lost sight of and no longer
dwel in living Story. Let them so re-
'usin, bright images gided by the sun
.ight of the shadowy past, aud clad in
~ heir halo Of romance with nothing
raden by the distance but their frail-
ii S.
We know that in connection with
Mount Vernon !his home of the Fair
raxes was Que of the chief social centres
u tae upper Tidewater region of the
"Od Dominion" with always
.uen doors and generous hos
it,.li;y for the coming guest.
We know that within its walls our
Washington was an oft times presence
through all the years of its existence.
From Mount Vernon it was but a few
minutes sail, or pull with the oars;
aud we'll he knew how to handle both.
Here it was that he first met the charm
lug Miss Cary, sister of Mrs. George
Wm. Fairfax, and became conscious for
the first time in his STRIPPING years of
the coDquering destinations OF female
charms, only to be denied afterdays
the coveted privilege of being suitor
and claimant for the heart and hand of
he young lady by the stern and un-
yielding father who failed at the time
TO perceive in the young aspirant
prospect of that wealthy and iDhuen-
tial alliauce which he had been fondly
contemplating for his daughter. my
heiress," said the naughty old cavalier,
"has been used to riding in her chariot,
attended by servants" The love lorn
youth pressed no more his claim after
such an unexpected reverse, and never
saw the object of his affection but once
atterward. That YVES when he nodded
to her pallid and fainting visage as she
Stood in the window of the old capital
ol Williamsburg when riding through
its streets on his triumphal march,
with waving banners and music play
ir ., from the surrender of CORVALLIS
at Yorktown. We know also that
Thomas, Lord Fairfax, the great pro-
rri O., the scholar and graduate of
Oxford and the FREUD OF Addison-the
wnilom devotee OF fashion and faiety
in old Loudoun town, and the Tilted
and inconsolable lover was for years &
dweller under the same hospital roof.
We know too that in those halls were
p1avely talked over and considered by
many great minds of the time various
measures for the veal of the infant
colony preparatory to their proposal
and final enactment in the House of
Burgesses at the vice regal capital OF
Williamsburg. We know that many
a feast was spread in the baDqueting
hall of that home for huutsmen return.
ing with trophies from the chase of the
fox and the deer. But this is we'll
nigh all of the story which has come
down to US thror yh the long lapse OF
wears of life in the House of Belvoir.
The rest of it for the most part is silent
and beyond recall with the dust of the
actors then and there. Some stray
fragments of it may still be preserved
in musty letters and other forgotten
papers in old lofts and garrets, some
time, may hap, to be rescued and un-
folded for the curious reader by patient
faithful chroniclers yet to come. But
in our fonduess for all such reminls-
cences of the olden times we may go
back in imagination through the dim
and sladowy vi7tas OF the past and CIV
ing loose rein to fancy let it summon
up and reincarnate for US the many
other guests of high degree who came
and went over those thresholds as
social or other occasions invited.
WIS.
Concluded next week