Stranica 494 [494]
OCR
THE PIEDMONT (‘SECTION gressive spirit. After attending colleges in Virginia, he completed his education at Harvard University. His library at Banister Lodge, to which he was constantly adding whatever was good amongst new publications, numbered more than three thousand volumes. Mr. Clark gave his children every educational advantage, sending the boys first to the Virginia Military Institute, thence to the University of Virginia, and after that to Paris for a two years’ finishing course. His wine cellar, stocked with spirits of many rare vintages, was quite famous throughout the country. All of its contents that had not been removed and securely hidden, fell into the hands of the Federal troops who raided this section in 1865. As a climax to the revelries following their visits to this cellar, the soldiers repaired to the front of the house, and demanded the presence of the young daughters of the family. Mr. Clark, then a white-haired old man, stood in the front doorway, with outspread arms and flashing eyes, as he exclaimed, “You will enter only over my dead body!” What the outcome would have been, we can only surmise, as response to his challenge was averted by the quick wit of Matilda, one of the loyal negro maids, and herself a “likely gal.”’ Stepping forward, she addressed the foremost soldiers in these words: ‘Young mahsters, y’all hug me, an’ let de young ladies alone!” This they proceeded to do in perfect good humor, but were interrupted by the appearance of one of their officers, who berated them soundly and ordered them oft. The garden at Banister Lodge was designed by Mrs. Clark from her own ideas. It was divided into nine sections, each of which was about one hundred feet square. Only one of these— that of the flower garden—is diagramed here. The other eight were devoted to vegetables and small fruits, but bordered by hedges of white and purple lilac. The entire garden, except at the front, was hedged in by rows of fruit trees. L303 |
