Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-29
August %, lsA

j
glory 10 hlm Blu, will proceed IN my next letter
call attention 10 other parts Of his public service
August %, 1s43
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Lasi TOURNAMENT At THE SPRINGS.
fauquicr JVhue Sulphur Springs,
Friday night, .4ugus, %, 1912
regret mat The senior Editor had not been here Il
witness Inc interesting paseants of Yesterday viii
his enlhnsias,s love for romance md brau,v he on
have sezeo me true spirit OF The passing scenes ant
have pa'hieo mem IN bright and living coors M,
pencil IS too feeble to convey the most n,eapre outline
OF what Iaschaed for hours the taste and Judgment
as inleeene company as could be assembled within
the ofoao ll'his oil Virginia Yesterday was the day
fixed Tor Tho Grand Tournament of the season The
previous high', public and private conveyances from
every quarter, discharged their precious loads The
county OF fauluer Gncludng the beautiful Village OIL
Warfsn'o",) poured in her numbers of lovely wonen
and s'aiwar' men. glowing sunset and starry night
PROMISED sweet mornng-but the pleasing dreams oil
Love ana Honor, were rudely cut short by furious
rain storm, nsherng in the early morn. The Heavens
were not more oercast than the manly features
the kn'gn's, pnng for the LISTS the once radian,
brows OF the mdens breathing secret prayers for the
triumph OF lher favorite champions. In lieu of the
notes OF the slr clarion calling TO arms we looked
for nothing but miserable croakngs and bitter dsap
ponlments. But the black Genius of The clouds did
not long rule The hour. The cheerful sunlight soon
dspeed te gloom, and after eager whispering md
sage consultation the ladies' the soul and life of such
scene resolved in so aood cause and at the risk NJ
colds, coaTrhs and awful "Grppe TO tread with their
delicate footsteps the velvet meadow On the banks oil
the Rappahannock, now sparkling with rain drops -
No loveler spot could have been selected for the noble
sport-lt must have been in such one, that Bocca
GO describes The dakeyed girls Of Florence 10 have
assembled, beguilng with their thousand stories the
hours una They had stolen from the fierce plngue-On
one sac, The mountain stream gded quietly along,
and on The other steep and rocky cliff oerhangs the
landscape AZ the base of this hill, rustic seats were
arranged, under the broad foliage Of stately wild pop.
ors-and here were collected in hundreds, Judges
and divnes, Senators and Congressman, sages and
scholars, soldiers and Sailors blooming girls and stately
mnrons, bounding youth and lettering age. But the
huse sounds The Herald Il. e. L., of Baltimore,
brings up dense column of gayly ACQUIRED Knights,
and skuly wheeling them into line, introduces them
in graceful and fluent language, peculiarly his own to
the amphitheatre, crowded with spectators There
were sixteen 'good and true Knights, follows: The
Knight OF the Everglades Mr. Bem's of Florida; the
Knight of Chippewa, Mr.. Rose of Spollsylvana; the
Knight OF the Red Rose, Mr.. Pendlelon of Baltimore;
the Knight of Fauquier Mr. Garter; the knight oil
Alabama, MIR. Trone of Mobile; The Knight Of Magno
liza, Mr. Smith OF Mobile; the Knight of The Black
Lance, Mr. John :. Greene of Rappahannock; the
Knight of ST. Adams, Mr. R. Payne of Fanqulsr; the
knight of Rappahannock, MIR. Robert Green; the
knight If Bei-Air, Mr. Homer of Fauquier; the
Knight of Gloucester, Mr. Jones; the Knight Of Poto.
mac, MIR. Taylor of Aiexnndria the Knight Of Prince
William, Mr.. Lane; the knight of Virginia, Mr. Pas
sape; the knight of Baltimore, Mr.. Brierly and the
Knight OF Culpeper, Mr.. Stringfeow The following
distinguished gentlemen appointed as judges of
the Lists President Dew Of Williamsburg, Judges
Bayly and Christian of the General Conr, of Virginia,
Gen Gratioi, Dr. tIorner Of Philadelphia, MIR. WIN.
T. Taylor Of Caroline, Mr. Fendall, u. 5. District At
torney of Washington, Mr. John II. Bernard of Caro-
line, and Mr. II. Dangerield of Alexandria. The
Herald proeaims the beginning OF the chvalrous con
es but, in order that your readers may form concep
ton of what Tournament s, will briefly explain il.
Many disposed to ridcule it silly sport, cal.
culaed TO arrest the attention OF mere children. But
let them imagine 10 themselves sixteen handsome we'll
built men, mounted proud and fiery s!eeds, drawn
up array. Excited by the thrilling strains of music
and The smiles of beauty they successfully urge their
mpe;uous chargers over distance Of several hundred
yards, towards cord sweeping the vast area
from this cord suspended ring, bigger than The
FAIRY Queen grde; which, with their lences couch
ed, IL is their province TO pierce and carry of IN tr
umph Each knight has three trials; he who bears oil
The ring The greatest number Of times is declared vic
tor and has the high privilege Of choosing out OF the
bright parterre of flowers the Queen who IL 10 grace
the evening Ball; the three successful knights
lect for themselves the maids Of honor to her Majesty
Let them imagine all this, and the severesi cynic
could not fail 10 enter into all the spirit and beauty
Of tho Ln'shtiy -,..ssir. ah.li nat .a.r"pt It
bore your readers with the details of the animated
strife Of arms. have not the time, you the
space spare. My object is merely 10 chronicle
the grand results but this will add, that never
were seen elegant and skiiful riders, more gal
ian, chevaliers. Their aim is not pnry prize of golG
or silver-but the noble guerdon OF woman love de
lcateIy poised their lance the balance, which IS
decide their oi, whether of happiness or despair. The
bugle calls 10 for the first trial In quick SUCCESS
sion the valorous chevaliers press their coursers
speed of the wind, and the prize is borne OF
i, gallant STYLE by only four, VIZ the knights OF The
Everglades, of Alabama, Of the Black Lance, and o
Virginia. The painting steeds are refreshed for mo
ne nj, and the second trial begins Again, the noble
might OF Alabama HOSTS his lance the gltcrng re
va I'd Of his skill and vaor; and now the knights of 20
,omac and Bel-Air, stimulated by proud emulation
exer, every nerve and for the first time triumph
ant On the third and final trial the knight of Alabama
already twice victorious, strikes off the ring but fails
To carry his lance-ihe knights of the Red Ros'
and Roppahannock are successful for the first time
and the knight OF BelAr before victorious urge
on his gallant grey, and, with firm and graceful
movement, transxes and raises aott the ring Tor Sc
cond tune According the laws of chivary adopte
from time immemoria the judges unanimously decid
that the knight of Alabama having twice carried an
once stricken of the rlng is entitled to precede nc
owe. his youthful and graceful competitor, the kngh
of Bel.Air, who had succeeded twice, but the thur
time had not touched the object aimed at. 1t having
however, been erroneousy represented 10 lhe judges
that with mind, the knights inclined TO anohe
/ ri IN
nearly equal merit, the judges, though firm in their OPP
Mon appealed to the courtesy of the king OF AlabaT
to Give 10 his competitor another effort. To this, h
maJnanimousy nceedes, and the trumpet sounds for
fourth Struggle between these two vicors single handeo
The knight of Alabama rushes forward, and the Prz
is his the interest OF the scene increases, and IN
kprht Of Bel Ar, excited by the success OF his adve'
sarv. Yields his lance with accurate aim, and ais
ooins his reward. Their fortune is again equat-th
o,ious spectators cannot conceal the intense ieeng
of interest in The doubtful contest which wakes warme
and warmer Again the bugle sounds, aud the knight
Alabama once more presses towards the mark but tn
lime his Goodness aud skill at fault and he merei
strikes of the ring AS quick as thought, the knight
ReAir makes a decisive stroke, and the prize IS gained
e is, therefore, declared the victor; but there IS death
lie silence in the ranks OF the ehilvarons co6atao
The knight OF Bel Air learning that his fellow knight
had conceded in The original decision OF the judges IN
yor Of the knight of Alabama, according 10 The establish
cd statutes Of Knighterrantry with nagnan'm'ty an
race worthy Of his high spirit and generous bearing re
sgns the honor 10 the knight OF Alabama
wSo had a, first declared victor, but who,
that his own bright escutchcon should be furnished
single doubt Of his chvalry, had, with liberal an
courteous conduct, rendered him another fair opPor
tunity OF testing his skill in arms. Would that tn
noble and liberal spirit of these two chevallers WEI
more strongly infused into the every day affairs OF ut
| nm II 1 oyc md Mans Honor would not,