The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-02
A DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH.
..a.I "a Z, InfIn,r frn.,

Extract Of a letter from
WARREsroN SPRINGS, August 30.
| cannot venture TO say what were our numbers
on Wednesday, Ohe day of the tournament and the
| fancy ball.) | see they boast elsewhere of ATS
an unequalled multitude. My own conjecture of
from 800 to 1000 present on the night of the 9th
was responded to by the estimate of Lieut.. M,
who said he accustomed to the estimate of
numbers on board of our large ships of war, and he
thought there could not be less than 800! Imagine
| such an assembly Of elegantly dressed persons
the slope of beautifully shaded hill, overlooking
vale of velvet green as level the water surface
that bounds its southern side, almost completely
shut out from the rest or the world by the dense
| shade Of the trees on every turn--ihe whole pre-
| senting an oval surface of GOO yards in length and
| $50 in width--a cord stretched across this valley
with suspended target--the ladies' judges occupy
ing the chosen seats the northern termination
| Of the cord, and their ermined counsellors at the
other On the remote left stationed the gallant
Bayards with their fiery steeds of "curving necks
and Bonded heads" with long lances, pointed with
gtering steel, all eager for the contest. Imagine
the marshal Of the day, young, ardent, manly, and
elegant gising orders from his noble charger TO IL
knights III fancy costume, TO arrange themselves in
front of the assembled beauty, that each might
name the fair one who would be crowned the
Queen of Love and Beauty, if fortune, his own
right arm, and unerring eye, should bear off the
palm.
Imagine the trumpet sounds and the animated
contest begins--as the first knight, al full speed,
perces, with the gittering point Of his lance the
small ring of p inches diameter, and bears it aloh
the clapping of hands and waving of handkerchiefs
proclaim the reward. Again--again-aDd for five
successive trials, each of the practised knights
pointed the unerring lance, to the astonishment of
the beholders. Then fortune turned and others
failed, but consoed themselves in the hope that the
two following rounds might reverse the final result.
Imagine, at the close Of the first round when each
knight painting for renewal of the conflict, the
sound of tin horn is heard from the wood at the
upper end of the field. Its blasts are renewed again
and agan---al eyes turned--universal silence
| prevails-no one knows suspects what it means.
The herald approaches the ladies Judges, and offers
to go and who it is that thus rudey comes to in
terrupt the feats of chvalry then in progress The
presiding Judges bids him go. At this moment is
nfar off ore figure, the edge Of the wood,
mounted on mule, with white cone, about three
feet high, on bis head, awaiting the herald's APP
proach. The establishment and suspense Of the as
semby are succeeded by burst of laughter at the
grotesque appearance The herald soon returns,
and announces to the ladies' judges that he has the
honor to inform them that the lar-amed and renown-
| ed prince Of knights, Don Quixote de la Mancha,
10 the distinguished stranger, accompanied by his
faithful squire Sancho Panza, who having heard Of
knighy contests this field of fame, asks perins-
sion TO shirer lance in the conflict. The Judges
gaunt figure Of the famed knight Ceased from head
to heel in armor, of painted pasteboard j with visor
on and Mambrino's helmet Ia tin PAM on his head,
| mounted on Rosinante in admirable condition,
companied by his faithful squire, Sancho with his
Fallstaff proportions, the mule, with his sack of
bread and wine,) advances with dignihed grace,
amidst the most uproarious shouts and peals OF
laughter and merriment you ever heard. Sancho
follows the silent and dgnifed Don, and says, with
a scornfu air, "The Don says there NO knights
here" GAS soon as the Don rereshes himself, he
will enter the lists"
In the presence of the crowd--under the pleasant
shnde--they dismount, and from Sancho's wallet
take their bread and wine. Imagine all this most
admirably enacted, and you may conceive, in some
slight degree the interesting and ludcrous scenes
that were presented at the tournament. Another
hand must give you better idea ofit--it unique
and complete,
But shall tire you, fear, before get through
halfmy story. At night, imagine The spacious BALI
room (S5 by 80 fee) crowded almost to suhTocaon;
the portco (lSS by 81 feet Illuminated and throng-
cd with vsiters in the costumes Of every nation and
time. The approach of the Queen is announced,
led by her proud Champion son Of Maryland
who had entered the list against all Virginia, and
won the trophy. The ceremony of presentation
follows; then come the pilgrims from distant lands
TO do her honorminstrels of exquisite song sing to
her praises, decked in the costume of their own
country, Mrs. Caude unburdens herself of her in
toerable afflictions--Mr. Caudle maintains that
equanmity of temper which has made him so ia
nous in domestic hfe--the Chinese mandarin in
magnificent national robe, looks with silent and dig
nlhed contempt upon these "outsde barbarans,
with their big feet" Sancho, having dsmounted
from his long-eared steed, cnlightens the company
with prore1bia discourse, after rich in which
he was knighted with severe whack frosi his own
wooden broadsword. Other graceful foreigners
dance the Polka and the waltz; and scenes without
number followed in rapid succession, any one of a
of which would have been sufficient TO give in
terest and character to the whole. But here again
must stop, or shall be deemed poecher upon nm
appropriated field.
Imagine again the evening Of the 29th, when, in
stead of the fancy ball, we have ell-arranged
masquerade. Blue and black, red and green glazed
cambria, fashioned in every shape and form of DOM
inc, with all the figures that pasteboard could as
sumo, vary the DISCUSSES that completely conceal
the real aciors and while the curiosity and interest
Of all were kept up to the very last the sources Of