The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-06

Irrom the Charleston Is. CD Courier N.xaI

T0urnament nj FIneviue, South CaroISnRs-
From the Charleston Is. CD Courier, NAVAL
This novel and attractive exhibition. OF which
many of our readers had doubtless heard consider
able "note of preparation" came off at the Pisc-
Vile Is. O. Race Course on Wednesday, the 23s
ult., under the direction Of w; IL. Porcher, Esq,
herald; and Edwin Dubose, Esq, master OF horse
The day was one of brilliant sunshine and delight
full temperature; and ut 10 o'clock A. M q large.
concourse Of ladies and gentlemen assembled to,
dies occupied spacious stand, erected for the
casion by the master of ceremonies, and, without
fattering, may it be said that they formed rare
assembage Of fair faces, bright eyes, and blooming
cheeks, well calculated to prompt the knightly boz
som to deeds Of high emprse Conspicuously, on
the main stand, appeared large banner, with the
inspiring admoniton, : Gallant hmghts, achleye.
Bright eyes are upon you!" And another banner bore
the inscription, sSouth Carolina, like the mother
of the Graceful when asked for her jewels, points to-
her sons. '-CALnoUN. The main and other stands
further decorated with banners bearing the
notices Of the knights who were to engage in the
contest Of skill and daring. Among the notices
were the following, Bodness and Sineerity",.-
"Fortitude and Preparation Love and Patri.
otism"-" Love and Serve Neither ashness
nor Fear In this Sign (the cross) viii hope
God gives Increase Prudence and Constau-
cy"-" He Conquers who knows how to Suffer
''Virtue fourishes under Presume Our Lives,
let them be well SPENT Love of Ladies'
$ Honor to the Generous" Glory to the Brave
companion of Virtue Virtue is inyncible'-
and Foreyer-s' Man dies, but Glory liyss'-'' Vir-
tue mus be our guide"
At haEpast ten o'clock, A. M, the sound OF tho
trumpet announced the approach Of the Knights,
twenty-sy in number, chiefly from the parishes of
st. John, Berkeley, st. Stephen and St. James, with
an infusion Of Charleston chivalry. They were al
mounted on fine steeds, elegantly caparisoned; and
the dresses of the Knights and the saddle cloths Of
the horses in n style of richness, magnifcence
and beauty rarely If ever surpassed and as tasteful
and appropriate in design as they were admirable
in execution. Each Knight bore lance, from
which his colors were pendent, and his saddle cloth
disclosed his device and motto. The following
the designations of the several members OF the
chivalric corps II. The Knight Of Eutaw. 2 The
Knight OF the Sultan. 3. The Knight of st. Ste
phen's 4. The Knight Of Berkley 5 The Knight
Of Etwan. G. The Knight Of the Valley. Z. The
9. The Knight Of St. Johns. 10. The Knight Of
the Palmetto State. Ill. The Knight of Santee.
~ The Knight lenpar. IL. The Black Knight,
IA. The Knight of st. James. 10. The Knight o.
knqh of Midway. Is The kni yht of the Grove.
-. The knight of the South. 20 The Hungarian
knight. q; The Knight Of Walworth. y. The
p. The Hugucnot Knight. 25. The Knight Of
Ophr. 20 The Hibernian Exile.
At the word Of command, the whole troop formed
in line before the galaxy of beauty, and executed.
the graceful salute, causing bright eyes to sparkle
new roses. brief, but spirited and appropriate
address from the master of ceremonies, calling on
emulous knights to 60 deeds Of daring worthy Of
such brilliant presence, despatched them to tho
duties Of the day. The tournament then COM
menced, the contest being, with horses at full.
speed. to bear Oft a suspended ring the greatest
number of times out of six, on the point Of the
lance This chivalrous and manly exercise was
admirably performed, eyncing skill and grace
in horsemanship, and dexterityin the use %
the lance, which excited the deepest interest in
the spectators, and called forth their repeated
rlaudi,s. The emulation was well sustained and
close. At the end of the noble sport, there
had been no less than seven competitors for the
first prize who had borne off the ring equal
number of times. The judges, however, after con-
sultaton, awarded the laurel to the Knight OF
South Carolina, the largest number of hits or
touches, together with good Workmanship in adj
dition to bearing of the ring, having turned thu
scale in his favor. The victor was one of tho
youthful chivalry Of St. Johns, but in HE dis
eliminating selection Of the Belle of st. Johns as
the Queen of Love and Beauty'-a choice APP
proved by all, as equally due to loneliness and
worth-hc manifested discretion beyond his years.
The second prize, blue scarf, embroidered With
the Palmetto as device, was awarded to tho
Animo, Posec9antia, FalRta,s'-and his very
appropriate dress, coat Of mail, fabricated by
himself. having aided in producing the decision In
his favor: This gallant knight selected lovely
and brghteyed belle Of Charleston as his fair lady
and frst Maid of Honor to the Queen. The otha
knights, who bore off the ring equal number OF
times with the victor and the might of Walwosth,
were the knight Of the Myrtle, the knight Tenn
plsr, the Black knight, the Knight of the Chase.
and the Hibernian Exile. The third prize, pair
e silver spurs, was awarded 10 the Knight of the
Grove, for the best riding, without reference tc
success with the ring, and he chose another of the
lovely bellies Of Charleston his fair lady and
second Maid Of Honor to the Queen.
After the awarding Of tho prizes, followed, in
due course, the interesting ceremony of erownina
the Queen OF Love and Beauty. The youthful
victor, escorted by the knights u Walworth and.
the Grove, assembled the stand, and encirclcd tho
head of the lovely object Of his choice with Gro
OF white roses and she, in her turn, invested HE
brow with the laurel wreath Of victory and thence
forth, IN lieu OF his cap, he wearing his
blushing honors thick upon hun" The Maids Of
Honor bestowed on their respective Knights the
prizes they had won. The Queen of Love ani
Beauty was then loudly called for, and making hoe
appearance with her Maids OF Honor, she received
with IN )desy and grace, tho homage and cheers OF
the assembled knights and adnrins crowd
The whole company then returned 10 Pinevill.
where they partook Of an elegant and generous
collation., Hospitality aud literally provided by tie
Master Of Ceremonies-the Queen of Love anil
Beauty, with her Maids Of Honor, presiding at the
iestivty, under arches Of evergreen and flowers La
tho evening, a brilliant ball, numcrously attended
Cnany OF tho ladies wearing fancy drosscs) closed
the festivities of the occasion.
The whole pageant was eminently brilliant AMI
suecessful-6nd whether We consider the tasteful
and elegant costumes Of the knights, the rich ca.
parson and equipment Of the horses the equestrian
skill and daring Of the riders, or tho bcaming
presence Of female loveness il has never been sur
lassed, fever cqualled, in country.