Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-09-20
The Beauties Of Clarke.

,,.r;tes an interesting fetter 10 the
winchester Star, from which we
ouo,e as follows:
We attended an entertainment
=. Rerryville given by the w. {.
r +. and also their meeting at
po,ce the next day, where fine
.,;on;c dinner was served 10y the
LJ;cs of the Union. Here we met
ONO old friends and made some
new ones.
Our hospitable hostess. Mrs. +.
II Thompson. drove Us TO Old
Chanel and many other places of
interest in Clarke county.
We had long wanted to see this
historic Old Chapel, and now we
rspt 10 see il again. IL is fitting
Mace To dream dreams and see
visions. We cannot give the his
tory of this venerable church, but
can only write of how il impressed
ps Within these hoary. ivy-drap-
ed walls the finest intellects of Nir-
cinia have poured forth floods of
eloouence. and here gathered the
brave men and beautiful women of
the olden time, and around it are
living poets. writers. statesmen and
many others who were famous in
them day and generation
How gaunt the Old Chapd is
with It's box-like pulpit. with a
sounding-board canopy, its tiny
galleries. reached by steep steps
from the outside OF the building.
In this gallery Is stored the old
bier with It's four handles which
has conveyed so many silent forms
from the church to their last home
in the churchyard.
4 holy place it seemed to US
concentrated by the devotion and
sorrows of those who no longer
need to pray or mourn. This spot
will yet be a mecca for the lovers
Of Genius. In future years others
will kncel as we kneltat the mound
that covers the dashing cavalier
who rode with Stuart, and who,
when his sword was no longer
needed, turned it into pen that
gave to the world some OF its best
iction. and stamped the name of
John ESten Cooke among the Nir-
ginians who have brought honor TO
their State. Had he lived in the
North and woven mp its romance
in his magic loom, his genius would
have been held as n peoples in
heritance and his grave be kept as
a shrine, but it is now as in the
days of old, that 4 prophets honor
Is not given in his own home.
On the stone above this Christian
gentlemen, this man of genius, this
dashing cavalier, is verse from
TennySon-
And though beyond the realms of time
and space,
The Hood may bear me far;
yet shall meet my Pilot face to face
When have crossed the bar"
Near him lies his poet brother.
Philip Pendleton Cooke, who died
IN 1852 at the early age of 80 years.
Had he lived to the age of Long
fellow what glorious things he
might have written. BY his grave
We repeated from memory his
oeautIfulpoem of "FlorenceVane,
pronounced by English critics to
be poetical gem
Thou vast lovlier than the roses
In their prime,
lhy voice eXcelled the closes
OF sweetest rhyme;
hu' Thy heart was river
Without main,
Would have loved thee never.
Florence Nane."
HIS widow must have been young
at the time of his death, and was
only laid beside him a few years
ago On the stone above her is
engraved the words: Widowed
lot nifty years. - She was faithful
/" her early love even unto death.
Near these graves was a venera-
Ue looking negro digging grave.
lie was very tall, with a bowed
'acK' Snow-white wool and deep
wrinkles in his face. He looked
Us II he were a twin to the old
church. We asked him if he were
no, TOO old for such hard work,
Auu he leaned on his spade and
s1'u' | is shoreIy purity old. II
was a chunk of boy when de
''rS Tell; | members it we'll train
u meteors in 1889, but / is boun'
y" u'g dis grave. Dey didn' want
NE TO- but dis grave is for me ole
:. and nobody else shall tech