Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-10-05

s4ee JAS. 81 I3sovy. Herald.

3IdtcJihn Eredne DIR r. lnomas. hRigM
If Bedington, G. w. McClcary; Knight q
Tuscarora. "A. ~ Hibbafd; Knight Of The
| Lick.sJ. W. Curtis: Don QaiDotee, Ehud
Turner; tieefray de St Faad.I Benz. +
SNYDER; Hinge he y Geda. j. j. Henshaw
Knight of tie Keystone, 7. ". Stewart ;
Kaigh ofthe V0ilrg, J " rabb; IUanhoe.
Levi Small knight Of Tomahairk. Stephen
Snodgrass; Knight Of CsSar Grore. Deea'
tor Hedges Knight If tie Forest, j. X
Cunningham knight of Rerheley. +
Janncy; Richdrd Occur de Leon, James A
Mason; Wall1ce. Dr. NJ S Thomas: Kaighs
Of Bankers Hin. George Piizer, Knight Of
the Yard Stick, John Nicely; Whhtonia
George W-sHal; Hurry HIT Spur. Newton
Miller XII ghsof DarsesDiile, K Burkhart
/ Y,5oay Nothing. ~. 'luruera ie8
At about 10 oelech 10 the morning, the
Knights having mounted their s,eeds. aud
put themselves 10 battle array ia front of the
large assemblagc. the President thus address
ed them:
GALLANT KNIaHrs AND GENTLEMEN 1t
!. would betray vanity IN me to attempt to con-
ceal the just pride feel in standing here to
1 day by the fattering invitation Of . number
Of nv fellow citizens to address you in the
presence of this brilliant array Of gallantry
and beauty The scene before me is full of
1 grandeur and interest and well calculated to
arouse and eliit the notIcst faculties of the
mind. aud touch the finest sensbilites of the
heart Could challenge to my aid the CO.
piousncss Of a Cicero, or WELD the logic of a
| Lysias or Burke, or command the burning
periods Of a Chatham, Mirabeau or Hen
ry, could fnd scope for all these excellen
cies in the theme aud the occasion For who
is capable of grasping, analvzing and unfold
Ing in their varied aspects and bearings, the
origin, progress, Influence and decay of that
most curious human institution, chival-y.
which for Centuries engrossed the zeal and
attention of tho civilized world, but is now
confined within TIE narrow compass of bisto-
ric narrative and romance. And what do
behold visit ly end emiaently displayed as an
incident Of the occasion ? The arm of the
nations power and defence noble band Of
tho active, vigorous, and cbivalric young
knights Of the County, whose hearts would
never quail at an antagonist. aud whose hands
are ever ready to strike in the cause of honor,
Of innocence, and freedom And for what
object are you convenedY To illustrate TO
this large assembly the fruits Of activity. val
or and discipline. and ditfuse the healthful
spirit Of manly courtesy. You are not called
hither BY the order or edict of royal or baro-
nial authority. as were often summoned the
immortal knights in the primcpal days of
chivalry. No You are here by the nobler
accident Of individual choice aud purpose.
The days Of chivalry as portrayed in ro
nance and old time minstrelsy. have passed
away but the impulses Of the human heart
that originated and stamped it With its es
seutial characteristics are the same 10 every
age and in every nation These impulses
produced models of chivalry 10 ancient times
as we'll as in more modern periods: they pre-
scented the world with Hercules. a Theseus,
an Achilles, Hector, aud Leonidas. as
well as Bohemond, Tancred Baldwin,
Frederick Barbarosa. Richard Occur de
Leon, a iluy Dias and the countless host
whose names were enrolled 10 the orders of
St. Michael aud st George The spirit of
liberty, of religion and of honor perhaps all
contributed to its origin, but the spirit Of
honor chiefly nourished the institution into
vigor; aud while this powerful principle con.
tinues to iafuenee and direct the minds of
men, the spirit Of genuine chvary will pre-
serve its vitality and some of its grand char
acteristics. even though curbed and CONTROL.
cd by the antagonistic forms and fashions
laws and institutions of more refined and
artificial condition of society. 1t is the mo-
wing spring of patriotic and heroic deeds
The spirit OF honor awakened it to life, and
that alone continued the pusation of the
heart Of chvalry. Honor that scorned OPP
preston, frowned with blasting indignation
upon injustice and wrong aud that rushed
through fire Hood, tempest, ruin aud death,
to succor TIE helpless ymdicate the innocent
and ehastise The nsolent 1t is true that in
the earlier and ruder periods OF the institution,
under the pretencc Of this noble principle, ex
cesses were practised and gross wrongs per
petrated; bat when II obtained more rcgnl
lar formation after the grand drama of tho
crusades. and the dissolution OF the feudal
system, and monarchs aud mobiles became its
fostering patrons. learning from experience
the essential Importance Of those gallant
knights aud cavaliers whose brawny arms
overturned and scattered the serried columns
Of their hercest foes and especially after the
establishment Of tournaments with tho several
orders Of knightbood, in the middle Of the
18th century, more refined and delicate
sense was inculeated. These stirring coca
sions drew together the wealth, the talents,
the valor and beauty of kingdoms, dukedoms
and principalities The intercourse tended
to refine, hamanize and elevate society and
the MODEST sentiments OF honor and pride
were cherished and the interchange of the
most delicate courtesy was praetised by the
! champions who entered the lists for the pri
yes of the day. Among the numerous stim
ulants that aroused and challenged to daring
feats and exploits the bcldest knights, were
the coveted smiles and appreciation of the
other sex, To be possessed Of the admira.
tion of her whom fancy depicted as the bright
est object in universal creation. aud whose
image was enshrned 10 his Utmost heart, the
sturdy knight with lofty crested helmet, and
body wrapped in mail. silver spurs and richly
harded steed, would stem the current Of the
iereest battle, or engage the stoutest foe in