Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-10
MODERN CHlvALRY.


In the military organization Of those days this class
became the highest grade of sodiery. The final
reduction Of the Holy Land took from these ndven-
turers the only employment for their activity and
courage, and in order TO Gil up the chasm, they
sought every opportunity Of private conflict. Oc-
casons of this kind were easily found, or created
on the plea of love, insult the defence Of injured
innocence and sometimes by mere challenge In
the course Of time, this spirit of chivalry dffused
itself over the whole Of Europe, and the contests
of the tournament became the favorte sport Of no.
bility and royalty The doughty deeds of those
heroes ofhe olden time have been transmitted to us
in the imposing garb of historical romance or the
splendid drapery Of epic song. 1t is stated that
in the reign of that royal coxcomb Henry w., Of
France, more than four thousand gentleman bit the
dust in the settlement Of affairs of galau,ry. We
have felt bosoms swell while perusing de.
sc-ip,ion of one Of these knghly comba,s, and
watched with eager and intense interest the ar
mored cham,r ions as they rushed to the conflict or
their mailed and me,,led steeds.
"Thcn TEvIor how thine echoes rang,
When bugle- sound and trumpet ciang
Let loose the martial foes,
And in mid-lst with shield poised high,
And measured step and wary eye
The combatan,s did cirsc.'
There acas chivalry in those ipIes Of otter days
which we have been accustomed to adnre--some-
thing aptvaiing-soul-inspir but alas! foy !be
fame of those who won their spurs and wore the
garter in the earlier ages, the days of tits and
tournaments have not yet passed away.
Chivary has kept pace with every thing else in
the race of progress and improvement end recent
| developments demonstrate that its precious prnci-
( pies are not confined 10 the narrow limits of the
Palmetto Stale. The Huguenot Springs has late
y been the scene of deeds which would have g,ac
ed even tho court of The knightly HENRY, and
conflict such as was never enacted on 'Teviot's
wild and widowed Shore" Could the trump of
the herald have summoned from the grave, to the
lists OF the Hugucnot, hevy Of ancient knights,
how they would have opened their eyes! The
scene presented TO their bewildered vision might
well have driven them, covering and abashed, back
again to the tomb We imagine that RICHARD l.,
he OF the lion heart would scarcely have recogni-
zed in the splendid pageant before him, represen-
taiion of the humble amusements in which it was
his wont to break lance. How would he have mar,
yelled al the rash vaor of these modern heroes,
who, squirting their frightened chargers against an
airy nothing, bear of upon the victorious lance the
vanqnIshed ring. There he stands! gazing upon
the thrilling scene-his eye flashing with the FIRE
of other days, and his coat of mail bursting from
the violence of his emotions, until carried away
with enthusiasm, his sIenorian voice rises above the
! plaudits of the admiring throng--
"Forward brave champions 10 the fishtl
| Sound uumpet'-"IiUGUESor and the RING".!i
! The battle lost and won, what multitude of re-
Elections would have flashed atiwart the mind of the
old hero in his retirement Amazemen, at the oil
gantic strides which chvalry had taken since he was
unhorsed by his las, foe and only conquerur-Death
mingled with regrets that lie had not lived in an
age when man, scorning the child's play of com
bat with his fellow, hurls his javelin a nonenlit Y
and battles for thc-RINU.
One Knight alone, Of the number who figured
in antiquity, could have witnessed the dongs at
this modern tourney with admirable equanmity
and capital composure. With proud conscious
ness OF his own superiority, he would have looked
upon the exhibition with superlative contempt, and
painted for display OF his prowess Doubtless, he
would have unused upon the incidents Of his adj
veniurous career, and memory recalled the perils
OF sundry assaults upon windmills &C., it would
have required all the strength of Sancho's brawny
arm 10 have restrained the inpeiuous RosINANrE,
goaded by the rowes of his masters impa tien SOUR
We folks in the mountains ale decidedly behind
the age. Where is the boosted chivalry of Angus
Ia? dissatisfied with the attainment of the lofty
emiEence upon which the Knights of Huguenot and
Shannondae now stand, let her sons take another
and higher step, and epochise the next season
By general tilt at creased goose at some one Of
our many watering places.
i BANKRUPTCY OF ENaLAND-In speech made
at the late Peace Congress at Paris, Mr.. SAM
UEL GURNEY,a Quaker, and son of distinguished
London banker, declared that if England contin
ued TO go on as at present. she would be completely
bankruPi in few years. The London Times
considered good authority, endorses Mr.. GURNEY'.
statement aud says his opinion ought TO be decisive
Since the year 1915 England has been engaged il
no war Of consequence, yet the national debt has
gone on increasing till now the interest on amounts
10 e2S, 900, 900 per annum. To meet this enor
nous sum and de(fay She ordinary expenses Of TIT
government, every species Of property and even thu
light and air Of heaven, are taxed to an extent a.
most intoerable 10 the people. A bare equilibrium
| as the Times eXpreSSps it. has been attained M,