The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-09-21
i, -4TEsT'MAtL NE W..
TOURNAMENT.


psar DispaseAs hasten to lay before your read
ers a brief account Of the "Tournamcnt' whic
came of here to-day.
osins to the lowering clouds of yesterday an
to-day, there were not a. many persons present .
had hoped to see, butthe company was snilicient
large for comfort and composed OF lust that mate
rial TO add inssrest TO promiscuous crowd.
About 10 O'clock the SUI shene out with market
hriancy, and from that time until evening the
was a. lovely ~ heart could wfsh-indeed 1t coult
not have been more propitious.
81 At half past IL o'clock, the "Cornet Band" played
u a lively air. when the Managers assembled and Sc
lec,ed the following gentlemen as officers TOR the
q occasion:
s. Prt.ia,ns-Dr Junius L. Archer OF Bellona-
Oratoy-C c. McRae, Esq of Manchester.
3 chief Marshni-Dr. A. sydney McRse of Ches
q assistant Marsha,s-Dr. sydenham Wake o.
8 Msnchcs,er, and Mr.. John F. Lay of Powhatan.
Yerald -Thos. Walden, Jr., Esq, of Manchester
8 Jndges-Messrs. VIM. B. Stanard Of Goochland
Frank Royster of Tennessee, VIM. B. Woodbridge
d of Richmond, DIR. Thos. P. McKensie OF Powhatan
q Capt Abner W. Trabue of Chesterfield, Geo c.
4 Rives OF Amelia. and VIM. A. Graves OF Chester
field.
8 The Orator, Mr.. McRae, who had been unexpect
4 edly called ON to address the knights, was given
thirty minutes prepare himself for the task when
the buee sounded TO horse, and nine "Knights
beautifully dressed and mounted splendid char
o.rs were formed into Lac In front of the hotel
fy the Herald" who read to them the rules BY
which they were to be governed ia their stit' for
the houors tina, awaited the four who should prove
most successful in "speating" the ring. During the
readiog a number of ladies, mostly from Rich.
rnond, Powaatan aud Chesterfield, gathered in the
second story of the porch, in the midst of whom
President Archer soon appeared, cscorting the Ora
tor of the day. C. c. McRae, Esq, and introduced
him to the Knights
Mr.. McRec, wi bout sny of that unnecessary apo.
logy so often made by public speakers, for having
been unexpectedly called upon delivered the
following handsome address, which met with the
wsrrnest appreciation from the fair who had gath
cred around him. to catch every word he uttered ::
Sir Knights: My mission is formal You must
look to the cheering smiles of the fair whose
presence graces the occasion for all that s substan
tial fact for all tina. Is really stimulating to deeds
OF gallant bearing.
You are here Sir knights, the exponents of mo-
dern chivalry You come to repel the sanguinary
chivalry of Gothic barbarism-you come to repe
the Iudicrous chivairy OF Quixotic caprice-you
are Lere to yindcste the true chvalry of the age in
which you live mean that chirnlry that equa lly
eschews all thst 10 ludicrous and all that s barba
rous-the chivalry that the heart charlottesville
chiyslry that administers instead of the poisonous
drug of political quackery, the genuine anodyne
that natures pathology prescribes for the social
wants OF rnan-that entwines itself about the aztec
tons that lives In the excellence of the feelings
that woman displays in the benevolence of a
smile. | do not hope to excite, by any thing may
say to you such a chivalry ia your heart 1t has
matured there with the growth of your nature
The circumstances that surround you will surely
give Ii an irrepressible expression. --
Sir Knights In this age there can be no higher
evidence of the nobleness OF mans aims til an the
approving countenance of woman Be sure of that
In all things in which the affections play, IT you
have fair smile to approve, know that you are
safe. The times have given woman her place and
her influence and 1t Ia the proudest achievement of
modern civilization. Divest the morals of the
age of that Influence and at once we see a lapse
from the high toned chivalry your deeds to day IL
lustrate, to the unqualified chvalry of Gothic cruel
~ and infatuation. Yes, sir Knights, remove from
you all temptations to vice; surround you with all
else that quckens to virtue and to valorous deeds;
but take from you woman and her charms, and you
at once become savage, uncivilized beings
Sir Knights, my functions might well have pa ssed
uuperformed. | need not repeat that you require
no Indictment to the performance of your grateful
task. Fortunate the Knight whose most gallant
bearing achieves tia prize of the day-contented
and unenvious be the chivaric feelings of the I'm.
successful. And let all feel that for the momentary
sacrifice of high political principle in yielding our
selves to the dominion OF the air ono who shall
rule the day. that the influence hat cerces the sur
render of republican independence to such regal
sway is necessary and irresistible. And recollect
there Is received political axiom whose precapts
are az afnst your contemplated deeds for though
of ell parties we say principles not men," no one
yet ever had the temerity to say, principles, not
romeB' .-.--.. ........ ........ =. - ~
At the conclusion of the address, the orator was
loudly applauded by his numerous listeners, who
appeared euraptured with what had Just fallen from
Ths "knights" having received their charge, and
heard the address of the orator. retired in body to
the valley in rear of the hotel and prepared for the
''tlt" NV -
The Judges and Marshals havn taken their posi-
tions, the Knight of the Crescent" was called for
when Mr.. George w. Munford, jr, of Richmond,
mounted on fiery and unruly steed, appeared at
the starting point, and at the tap of the drum
dashed along the track in beautiful Style until near
ing the ring" when his horse shyed and his well
poised lance missed lite aim
knight of Flat Rock. u was next summoned to
trial of skill, when Mr.. Thomas Z Depp of Powhs-
tan, mounted on spirited blood bay, took his posi-
ton, and at the tap OF the drum, made beautiful
start his horse going at lightning speed and as stead
as CLOCK, until nearing the judges stand, when he
too shyed badly and caused his rider to miss his
aim. s4t
'Knight of Manchester was next on the list, Mr.
VIM II. Brander pereonating that character. He
too rode well, but only succeeded 10 touching the
ring al he passed by It.
at the tap OF the drum sped along the course like
An arrow from bow His beautiful horsemenship
was on every ones tongue aud as he passed under
the line, bearing off the ring on the point OF his
spear. shout after shout rent the air. and the "Cor
net Band" struck up lively air. This character
was personated by Mr.. William T. Moseley of Pow
hatan.
knight Of Presque Isle" next appeared on the
track, Mr.. Ed M. Watkins, of Chesterfield, repre-
senting that character He, too rode we'll but did
not succeed In taking the ring ss
''Don john was now called, and as Mr. Thomas
Hatcher of Chesterfield, who is an admirable horse
man, was known to personate that character, every
one expected to see him take the "ring," and they
were not disappointed At the tap of the drum he
had his charger at full speed and on reaching the
line his well poised lance bore off the "ring, while
the band discoursed sweet music to cheer him on
Knight of Falling Creek"-Mr. John Gregory of
Chesterheldwas next on the list and at the call of
the Marshals appeared, mounted on Jet black
hors.. At the word he put his charger In full
fpsed, and with unerring aim bore of the ring amid
dea'ening shouts and music from the band.
knight OF the Sable Garb," - MIR. M. Selden Jr,
OF Powhatan-dressed In complete disguise, perso.
mated this character and rode moderately fair but
only succeeded Ia touching the ring.
knight of Hannah's Spdng"-Mr. John c. Gre
CORY OF Chesterfield appeare5, and rode
well, but only touched the ring.
SECOND TILT. s7 Is
Knight of the Crescent" afer change of hor.
Knight Of Flat Rock |" touched the ring
knight Of Manchester" bore of the ring on his
spear. Music BY the band
knight OF Malvern" only touched.
knight OF Presque falen touched. His horse ran
badly, and continued to shy -
"Don John" took the ring In beautiful style Music
BY the baud. =. -
Knight Of Falling Greek" took ths ring the So
coud time. Music
"Kaisht of the Sable Ga-bo only touched.
@Kaisht Of Hannsh's Spring" missed.
s.f=a sg43f IS ~ THIRD TILT.