The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
BY ERNEST WALLS BUCK,

BY EkNESI WALLS BUCK,
A SWEET, most tranquil land,
Il curiously untouched by time
is George Washington's coun-
~ of'Fa!rfaX in Virginia. Electricity
end gasolene have failed to drive from
1t the stately charm OF the days OF
Fa!rfaxes, FitzhuShs, Masons and
Washngtons. Go abroad in that re-
e,On Of bland. undulating acres in a
hushed, thrilled morning Of the throb-
bing early Potomac spring and you
will be bewitched, for you will be
looking to see Squire Washington
himself riding down red brown road
under the pillows Of young green that
cloud all the views.
Everywhere the trees frame some
scene that is as much of his time as
ours. Slumberous under Virginia's
sun stretch wide pastures that for
more than two centuries have fed
sleek herds and noble horses. High
lcrticoed mansions before which his
each often drew up. stand there, al
most unchanged. secluded in .parklike
domains in modern uay when mod
eru men dwell close in a crowded land.
Aged churches, aged court houses
stand fast there, holding TO their past
in a United States that has otherwise
little time or patience for clinging to
old traditions. Roads pass trees that
were lusty when Gen. Washington
rode under them on his way to the
great victory at Yorktown. Every
where remains the stamp of the
very noblest, purest, bravest, best of
Gods men," and of the gallant mon
and women who were OF his company.
Oldest County in Ameriea.
II is not merely imagination that
perceives this stamp Of past history
Ia lovely Fairfax county. The stamp
IS real 1t has been imprinted by
steady time. for this region between
'Ne red Potomac and the red Kappa
iannock is the oldest man made coun-
Try in America. IT is to-day more than
three centuries ago that Capt John
Smith set out from James Town. the
first settlement in America, TO cruise
Up the Chesapeake Bay and ascend
tho Potomac to Great Falls, where
he landed and set the white mans
foot for the first time on the soil that
now is Fairfax county.
Two hundred and seventy years ago
the isolated settlements that had
sprung up along all the river were or
canized into Northumberland county.
Il was a wide and opulent land. this
northumberland county. and all owned
10 whom there had been given by
Charles II. all the territory between
tho Potomac and the Rappahannock.
from Chesapeake Bay to the Poto-
macs headwaters in the far Ale
ghanies.
The great domain, estimated as
b?S?,0o0 acres, still was owned by his
descendant in George Washington
day-Thomas, sixth Lord Fairfax.
Baron OF Cameron, grandson Of Lord
'ulpeper. He maintained q lordly
house, Greenway Court. where WASH
iNgton was a favorite guest. 1t was
ms Lord Fairfax who gave him his
hrst important work by engaging him
10 survey part OF the vast estate, and
Was this Lord Fairfax who-.vedt 10
Gee his protege capture Lord Corn
wallis and the army under him.
When the doughty old royalist heard
mat news, he called to his black servi-
Tor according to tradition: Come
Joe Garry me to my bed. I'm sure
mat It's high time for me TO die"
a ballad written at the time says:
men W rose Joe, all al the word.
Ana took his masters arm.
ana 20 his bed he softly led "
The 'ord Of Greenway farm.
Ihe's he called on RrItain's name,
And of he Nept fun sore;
Ha'n sighed: Thy will. o Lord, be done =
And word spake never more.
All those great holdings were known
hen as THE Northern Neck" and III
suffers enjoyed only ''comparativ,
,a4ety from Indian depredations.. A,
x rs az 1875 the House OF Burgesses o.
'"slnla province still authorized pay
sht OF 10 pounds sterling for every
"uish enemy above ~ years stskeI
p'"oner' killed or destroyed"
Rich ana Hospitabie Lans.
nut the VEsinian settlers had NJ
eh indians to night as those fierce
t,hyelding warriors who fought New
hsiands settlers under the Leadership
" 'he great King Philip. Neither ha,
e virsinisns to combat such fierce
uhShlning winters as those OF Massa
nuseils, or such a reluctant soil Tn
fy'0mae and the Rappahsnnocl