The New York herald., 1851-09-08
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank ~

How gloomy appear, in the chastened moonlight, those
lines Of noble trees that mark the windnGs OF the She
nandoah Like sturdy sentines there they have stood
through generations beyond the Revolution. No doubt
them standing guard where they now stand
when Columbus made his hrst experimental voyage
westward to the East Indies What history that old
black oak for example could tell if he only gifted
with speech and the rudiments of a English
education solemn the bold outlines of this dreamy
Landscape under the The hills the lines Of trees
around the river the august mountains what dark bold
and dreay shadows they cast the whole picture,
Shannondale, beautiful by day becomes at night sub
lime. But we have come down to be merry, with the
appointed merriments of the morrow, and sympho-
ny the minor key We have however to deal with
the gaeties of the closing of the gay and gded
moths and butterflies of fashion and peasure and not
with the melancholy lucubratons of methodist preach
lost in the woods.
To morrow, then, are to have the tournament and
the evening of the next day appointed for the fancy
ball very fascinating company Of ladies, aggregative
ly and individually, hand; but of the knights
who contend for the awards of the OF the
sncan the tSst he Songb II p
mint of money to our hostelre will turn out fail
are few years ago when the spectacle was rst intro
a camp meeting. Thousands of people, from afar and
near were attracted to see this mimicry Of the
" Steel clad knights and courtly danes
OF the brave days of old"
For there is still smattorng veneraton fer the dash
ing cavaliers of Charles the First and his ustrous pre-
decessors' who contributed materially to the gal
lantry in love and in and to the hospitality and
courtly refnements which characterized the ancient
chivary Of the Old Dominion She is still proud
ever of her Farfaxes her Culpepers and her Prince
Williams she is of her Jehn Smith, that Napoleon Of
all the Smiths and Of Pocahontas that only princess of
smith as knight is to be remembered for the three
Turks that he had the honor of dec ating upon
time upon a wager OF battle But, as regards this
fOrrn MT ap n
cavaliers Meantime, we have lively hop going in
the ball room, in which there some specimens OF
Nirgnan damses fully to the standard OF her better
days. when she eminent among the States as
her among the children OF the white SET
$50 weT quaf a cup kindness yet.
For auld lang syne"
TUESDAY, September q 1851.
@Fair Margaret from the turret head,
Heard, far below, the courser's tread,
While loud the harness rung
As to their seats, with clamor dread,
The ready horsen en- sprung
Splendid September morning The clouds, light and
aery scudding the Blue Ridge before the rising
sun. Some signs Of heavy storm before night, aud
very decided symptoms of Of the hottest Of the dog
days In large field at the foot Of the hill two poles
twenty high and twenty Ave apart have been plant
ed cord stretched from the top of the
pee to the other ring is suspended by hook it is
iron ring covered with blue ribbon, and hangs in the
centre of the space between the two poles nearly
level with the eye of a medium sized horseman on a
moderate sized horse dashing the turf at full speed
OF the knights already practising at the diff
lifting the ring of the hook upon the point Of
aance while securing bstween the poles as fast as their
horses can run.
atpast II o'clock Large accessons of vsters since
breakfast Horsemen and carriages have bsen coming
in as fast the ferrymsn coula bring them the
river The ladies' to the number of several hundreds,
are DISPOSED in clusters under the hads trees along the
M fhp he he mel
The bugle Is sounded by lusty darie on the hill top
and the knights their seeds advance in Of the
he officers and the contestants for the day -
President of the dsy-Hon, Henry Bedinger, demo-
trict elegant speaker, and somewhat distinguished
for the splendid vision Of the golden eagle which he saw
lowering the cliffs AZ Harpers Ferry, during the
debate in Congress on the Oregon question.
King at-srms-H n Gallaher, Esq
Nar.hsis.Captain Francis Thomas, Of Maryland
hero of the Mexican war, and w II Norris, Esq.
Judses-Csp'sin Hierme L. Opie G. W. sappington,
T asraidso aid Bennett nett Norris Andrew Il. Kennedy, and
the New York IIsTad.
Knights-Prnce Of Wales William Briscoe; Highland
Chief. VIM p. Bowen Knight of scampton. David Hum
phreys; Knight Of Beddngton, Thos. D. Moore Count
Bertrand. John 7. Thompson Iscander, the Albanian
Knight VIM T. Lewis Knight pi SuSs, >: Jannneyi y
Berkeley, q. Comegys
The knights being drawn up in line in front Of the
ladies' and being duly armed and secoutred for the
cssion and only waiting for the word
Mr. Bednger President Of the day from the midst Of
cavaliers Sir knights you have assembled here to-
day in henor Of that departed chvsry whose iusrious
feats Of rcnown mmortaized in history In poetry
and in romance. You here to revive that ancient
shvay and its heroic deeds that sacred institution Of
the middle ages, under which valor was encouraged
yAsnry appreciated and beauty protected and adored
(Applaure I, as your chief, am called upon to ad
ress few words In reference 70 your duties on th
MON entous and interesting occasion Remember, oil
knights that the eye Of beauty IL upon youthat many
paptatiDg heart beats high with antcpations Of your
schievementsthat upon every one Of you some bright
particular star has fixed her attention and her hopes
Ride then, gentlemen, with that skill and heroisn
which will make this day distinguished in the annals
rhivary-de this day II the honor OF our noble In
stitutons depend upon you-rde calamity for the sake
Of her whom task y impossible duty sborious
and no dangers are appalling Acquit yourselves k,
true and gallant knights and make good your claim tc
he smiles Of beauty ard Of love.
The ladies waved their kerchiefs, the knights bowed
and wheeled of. and the music struck up
In the days when went gipseying,
long time ago.
The officers of the day having Arranged the knights In
the order Of succession called out the Prince Of Wales
Who at the words march charge speed dashed
OF at full speed with his lance in rest at starting bu
which he quickly balanced In his hand and struck fol
the ring ssed It, So Of each knight In sessor
for the three rounds. When knight carried on th'
ring upon his spear, the music struck up lively air
and the ladies waved their hsndkerchie in token
applause The following the results Of the genera
First Round. s cond Third
Prince Of wsles Miss Ring. :
lila hlsnd Chief. ef.................M Miss. Hit Hit
Knight Of ofScsmpton. ........... Eing Ring llt
Knight of Beddipgton. ..........M Miss Hit niag
fsssnarr the Absnian knight hit lit. Ring
Knight Of ofCuoa................. Hit. MISS. Miss.
Knight Of the Red E.ard. Tit. Hit. Hit
Knight Of lierkelsy ..........:...M Mss Miss: MIS-
Deddington Count Bertrand. the Albanian knight, an
the Prince Of Wales for the three maids OF honor tn