The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-10-02
THE DAILY DISPATCH
IMoNnaY NoRNINo. ocToBER :, 1854

iHE JAIL D1O1 IA 0AA
MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 2. 1854
THr TouRSAMgNr.-When John Mitchell,
In his address at the University Of Virginia
la.uented that the days of chivalry were pas''
he was certainly not aware of the revivai Oh
the Tournament in the Old Dominion. Ii ne
had spent the present summer amid the COO
shades of our watering places, he would De
moved to unsay great deal that ne mas saie'
and to acknowledge, that in respect to cniv'
airy, he has done the nineteenth century some
Injustice. and that it is, on the whole, IN this
mart of the world, progressive century, and
is travelling back to the starry glories of the
dark ages with commendable speed. The
Tournament, that flower and pride of the gay
and gallant mediavaltimes, has been restored,
regenerated, and is in full bloom once more,
save that now the flower has no thorns, and
the charmed spectators can enjoy its sweet
fragrance, and ladies pluck and wear it in
their bosoms, without q shudder at the
thought that its leaves have been stained with
the blood of the brave. Behold, oh incred-
ulous Mitchell, the wondrous power of mod
ern civilization. You defied the moderns, IN
your University address, to answer this ques-
tion-What is Civilization You said that
nine out of ten of them would answer-CIv-
ilization is the railroad, it is the steamboat
it is the electric telegraph, it is gas. AS one
of the moderns, we answer that Civilization
is,-the Tournament, in which we nave
Knights, Heralds, Queens of Beauty and
Maids of Honor, without the cost of single
shivered lance or battered helmet. Instead OF
pouderous Athelstones, daredevil Ivanhoes
and thunderbolt Richards rushing at each
other at the full speed of their fiery chargers
and coming together with shock like the e1-
pIosion of powder magazine, the cavaliers
of the modern Tournament gailop' one amer
another, at a ring, and he who carries OF that
ring upon the point of his glittering spear Is
entitled to proclaim the lady OF his choice
sthe fairest maid in all the town.
We see that the Tournament has this year
spread to Western Virginia aregion hitherto
eminently plain, practical and republican,
but which, with the accession of railroads, IS
fast becoming civai=ed, refined and chival-
rous. The ancient and stirring sport OF gan
der pulling will now give way to the knightly
tilt at the ring. Here, again, we see the pro-
gress of humanity In former times the un-
happy gander, that royal and condescending
bird-which the Ettrick Shepherd once said
couldn't walk under rainbow without bow
ing his head, lest he might hit the arch,-was
ruthlessly suspended between heaven and
earth, while troop of rollicking barbarians
rode at his creased neck, and the victor bore
off his prize amidst the derisive shouts OF the
s,vage crowd. But the Tournament comes
to the rescue of the gander,-it brings conso-
lation and security to his whole unhappy
race; it is, in fact, millennium for geese.
Among the most pleasing features of the
tournament, and those in which its SUPERIOR
ty over gander-pulling, are evident at
glance, are the fanciful apparel and the mag
nifcently sounding titles of the riders. When
the President of the day addresses them as
"Sir Knights" the spectators feel quite a
cold chill of admiration running all the way
down their spine-it seems SO like the days
of chivalry. Their admiration is increased
by the romantic appellation to which each
gallant knight has helped himself, in his cru
sades amid the domains of history, and they
are struck all in heap by the glittering ap-
psrel in which some old acquaintance of the
law office or counting room, has so effectual-
ly disguised himself that his own mother
woudln Mt know her babe.
1t has often occurred to US, that if Don
Quixotte de la Mancha could rise from the
dead, and visit one of these brilliant and stir
ring scenes, he would be at once in his favor
lite element. Wefancy we behold the grim and
gallant knight approaching the lists, with vi
sor removed, and resolute and enquiring
glance. The trumpet sounds, and giving Ro-
sinante touch of the spur, he hastens for
ward, and approaching the gittering group
of cavaliers, demands to know the rules and
conditions OF the contest. 1t were "worth
ten years of peaceful life," to behold the ex.
preston of his rueful visage, when informed
that upon carrying off yonder ring, he might
proclaim Dulcinia del Toboso, Queen OF
Love and Beauty. Wehave appreciated too
highly the lofty ambition and sturdy proves
of the knight of La Mancha, if in that mo-
ment of mingled establishment and rage, he
did not run muck at all present, and trans
fix with his good lance. like unto SO many
flies impaled upon pin, the knight of the
Green Glen, the knight of the Black Stone,
the knight of the Blue Pill, the knight of the
Yard Stick, the knight of the Picked Gu
cumber, and all other green, black, blue and
yellow centau-s of the company. 1t is well
that the hero of Cervantes sleeps in dust, and
can no longer roam over the earth in search
of adventure.
We hear it rumored, that among the other
exhibitions at the great Agricultural Fair,
there is to be an Exhibition of Chivalry, a
magnificent tournament, in which the Rough
and Ready Knights of Richmond and per-
chance the S. A. Body Guard of Peters
burg, will meet in mortal combat. 1t will be
spectacle, the like of which, in splendor
and interest, has not been seen since the DAYS
of Richard of the Lion Heart. Let John