Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-21
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
COLCHESTER ON THE oCCoQUAN.


COLCHESTER ON THE OCCoQUAN.
No. q.
We are prone to grope with patience
ard perseverance, through the darkness
which shrouds the vistas of remote an
tiquity, and are content ii here and
there in our toilsome research, some
glimmering ray reveals TO our delight
ed vision the mystic unfoldngs of
new historic fact relating to the begin
uings of Kingdoms and empires long
vanished from the earth. We never
weary of the stories of the dynasties Of
Assyria, Persia, Egypt, Greece and
r jme, and their crumbled cities. We
delight to trace the streams Of the old
world, and become in our infatuation
familiar with every torrent and every
brook. We visit IN fancy the borders
Of the Eurotae, and linger by the side
of the golden Hermus. The annals of
the early empires with their long series
OF conquests and wars OF ambition and
revenge allure US more than the stories
II our courageous colonists who come
DOT with the sword nor spear, not for
co. quest nor punder bat 10 subdue TIE
wilderness ranges, extend the domain
ii civilization and the useful arts, and
70 proclaim the glad tidings of great
Y unto all people.
We have not cared sufficiently to pre-
serve the scattered fragments Of their
important and interesting history. In
our forgetfulness aud indifference many
a precious document has been irretriev-
ably lost-many valuable tradition
mas been unheeded and suffered TO pass
without record. Why should not their
trials, their labors, their life histories
and experiences claim our deep aad
abiding interest and our pious aud un
renitting care to gather up and
place beyond the possibility OF destruc-
tion everything of moment pertaining
to them. They have LETT Us no ivy
crowned towers, no mouldering castles,
nor moated gates to tell Of princely
power and lordly sway, no heraldic re-
nown, no stories of empty pomp and
pageant, but heritages OF far greater
value they have given US, which as
their descendants 1t is our duty to
cherish, preserve and carefully per-
peluate. For these considerations we
I'VE them kindly mention and should
do them honor by the reverential re-
spect OF grateful remembrance. They
were OF the earth earthly we know and
like all the generations which prect ded
them they were born to evil, and if
they had their foibles perhaps we may
not greatly err in passing them
even with forgatfuIness. If all tie /
customs and usages do not exactly
square with our standards of ethics
We must remember that the world
moves on with its generations of pro-
ertss and changes. They were the
brave and adventurous pioneers in the
wilderness. They were the outposts of
civilization on the remote shores of the
new world. They made it possible i r
us AID those who shall come after lis in
he coming time to epjOy certain il
4lienable rights among which are "lit-
erty and the pursuit of happiness. >
They uplurned the lands and produced
the harvests. They founded the homes
and neighborhoods. They set the
hearthstones and altars. They brought
the germs Of progress and reforms and
were the makers and builders OF our
empire. In our gratitude for what
they did let us not forget them. If in
the past we have not been as industrious
cleaners as we might have been of the
fields of their exploits and experiences,
even now, at this advanced period,
it is not too late to ex-
plore the contents OF old boxes
and trunks in loft and garret and
bring to light their bundles offaded let
ters, their ledgers and their ancient
books, wills and title deeds, no; too late
to interview the living witnesses whose
memories reach far back on the pathway
of forgotten events; not too late for rev.
erent hearts and kindly hands to erect
over the dust of William Fairfax, of
Belvoir, the paternal counselor, and
the true and trusted friend and adviser
of our Washington fitting memorial
to his public services and nobility of
character not too late TO rescue from
fast consuming decay the once stately
mansion of Wood Lawn, erected by the
loving muniicence Of George Washing
ton for his adopted daughter and niece,
Nellie Custis Lewis, who passed within
lis spacious walls thirty years of her no.
bic and exemplary life; not too late to DO
merited Justice and honor to the mem
orv and eminent services OF dis
tinguished Virginia hero. of whom it
may be said, that for patriotism, SOL
dierly skill and deeds of valor, mag
nanimity of character, and integrity OF
purpose he was second TO no other ofh-
Ger who drew sword in the long CON
tinental struggle, and of whom we shall
have occasion to make particular men
tion further on in our sketch; not too
late to care for all other burial places
and homes and heroes around which
and whom cluster so many associations
of the "dear dead past" of our old Vir-
ginia commonwealth. 1t certaiply is
not too late for us 70 organizs historical
! societies where none have existed be-
. nnnufNr If ,Hr