Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-06-28
LIBERAL GIFT
OF LORD FAIRFAX.
He Bestowed $4,000 Acres of
Land on King Carter.
From Richmond Times.

and valleys of the little county Of
Clarke and nowhere does it seem to
sweeten life more than in this choice
spot of our valley. The world knows
not the free masonry of Clarke:to them
1t Is but idle talk. One must needs
eat of their bread and sleep beneath
their roofs to really love this people.
Clarke is little corner in this valley
OF Virginia. beautiful for situation
and distinct as tc the ancestry of its
settlers. These came of the English
race, of the cavalier stamp. and
brought with them their pleasure
loving natures, their highbred Gus
toms and their English church. All
of these they planted in region
which was first given over to the
Dutch and few of the Scotch Irish.
But this la ter sturdy race belongs
rather to the upper valley than to
the lower.
The cause of settlement so foreign
to the surroundings NAV be traced o
the muniticent Lord Fairfax, who be
slowed AS gift, or "a mere song, 5000
acres of land upon his friend. Col.
Robert Carter, of Lancaster county.
known as King Carter. As beauti-
full as Rappahannock and the lower
James are these early settlers found
that this region had many draw backs
such as malaria and mosquitoes; so
these English gentlemen made for
themselves summer homes beyond
the Blue Ridge and upon the swift
wild waters of the Shenandoah. His
tory is in itself so dry that we hail
with great relief any breath of 70
nance TO be obtained, and dwell upon
it, seeking to entwine it with every
garland we weave.
So it is, that we search out and
bring from far over the seas this NOR
sci of knowledge concerning the poor
English lady who saw fit TO reject the
noble Lord Thomas Fairfax. If ro-
nance is another name for suffering,
aud if by suffering the world is pro-
fitted, perhaps we can trace in the
pangs of the English Lord a great
good to this colony in general and a
blessing to his community in partic-
ular. Wounded pride may become
the incentive to nobler things and the
whims of woman may turn the
great scale of life for veal or woe.
Certain it is that Fairfax sought
to hide his wounded spirit in the viii
derness of his landed possessions, for
by Inheritance from his grandfather.
Lord Cnlpeper, many thousands of
acres of Virginia's richest lands were
his. If we trace his journey across
the sea and his lonely life afterward,
we think with wonder of his scholar
ly mind, his royal associations aud
his heroic nature able to face any foe
but woman's frown. 1t seems to
me this man was sent directly, by
"the Divinity who shapes our ends, !"
to be a model in many things for the
moulding of Washington's life into a
more perfect and useful manhood.
Hero worship is strong in boy and
maid and some of us never quite ont
grow this idealism.
Washington's sixteen years were
just enough to make him seize this
polished gentleman as pattern of
what he longed to be. Daily inter
couse at Mt Vernon had made them
friends and forever. The first act of
trust on Lord Fairfax's part, was
sending his boy friend to map out
and survey his vast domain. This
successful trip paved the way to 9th
er things. and Greenway Court was
soon after bnilt near the Opequon
river and about seven miles from the
point afterwards known as Winches
ter.
Near Berryville, which was former
ly known as Battletown, is small
house which is said to have been
Washington's headquarters while sur
veying in this locality.
Greenway Court was long, low,
wooden structure, with long porch
and bell on top. to summon the
neighbors in case of an attack from
the Indians. But no record is made
of any but the kindest feelings to-
ward this good Lord Fairfax, by