Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-08
Gaieties in Clarke County, Va.

WILDWOOD, CLARKE COUNTY, Va, Sept
=, 1851 had the pleasure of attending
yesterday, one of those popular festivities
known as tournaments" 1t bore no re
semblance to the stormy jousts of the eide
day, whereof the Poet Laureate, Mr.. Tenny
son, sings in lines of sonorous music:
"The SCATTERING trumpet shrillsth high.
The hard brand shiyers on the steel
The splinter'd spear shafts crack and fly,
The horse and rider reel:-
They reel, they roll in changing lists
! And when the tide of combat stands
| Perfume and flowers, fall in showers
! That lightly rain from ladies' hands"
Ours was more peaceful tourney, though
the same prize was presented before the eyes
of the gallant KING hts-the appreciation and
smiles of ladyes fair, and the "honor and
glory" Of victory. The place and time were
well adapted to the cheerful festival, and the
exploits of the chevaliers. Wildwood is a
pleasant little hamlet, nesting upon the
banks Of one Of those small streams which
! glide in sun and shadow, under nodding
flags, or ever shining pebbles, to the Shenan-
doah-and the surrounding landscape ID va.
ried and beautiful with its mingled hills
| and valleys, field and forest, the whole hem
med in by blue mountains, which seem to
| clasp it in friendly embrace. | have the
good or bad fortune not to be poet; other,
wise should compose an extremely fine de,
scrption of the localities hcreabout This
! nl - -, 4 4
that the tourney was held just without the
precincts of the village, upon green mea-
dow, which afforded the knights a "fsir
field for the exhibition of their prowess-
The worthy chevaliers of whom shall in a
moment give you list, were clad, if not in
all the colors Of the rainbow, at least in CO.'S
tunes which presented, under the bright
! September sun, an extremely graceful and
picturesque appearance. Gsily colored scarfs,
waving plumes, ornamental unmentiona-
bies, and tavors of all descriptions "decked
them out for contest''-and marshalled in
front of the array of carriages, filled with
bright faced young ladies, they were plea
SAINT spectacle. The Knights were as follows:
T. ii. Randolph. Young Lochnvar.
Robi. c. Randolph, Knight of the Valley.
Robt. F. Page, knight Of the Lone Star.
Dr. Vim. NJ. Page, knight tho Red, White and
Blue.
A. c. Randolph knight Templar.
j. Pollard, knight of tho Golden IIorse Shoe.
John Joliffe Knight of Glenowcn.
W. W. Randolph. Knight of the New Dawning.
William Carter, Knight of the Turf
Kinloch FauntIeroy, Knight of No Ornament.
Shirley Carter. Knight of Ravenswood.
Vim. Mcclure. knight of Solfcrin,.
IL. Nelson, knight of Marengo
| pray the worthy chevaliers if have
omitted any of their names or mis-rccorded
any of their designations that they will par
don the omission OF the mistake The pa
per from which | write the names in the or
der there find them, is lrayed, and in
measure indstinct-and the chronicler has
found some difficulty in deoyphering it.
The chevaliers being marshalled in line,
were addressed by John Page, esq, in some
remarks which could not hear, for the dis
lance; and these over, they took their places
at the extremity Of the field, each awaiting
the summons of the herald Archie Page,
esq cannot follow the knights in each Of
their trials at the ring, which, suspended be-
tween two poles in the centre of the field,
presented very slight mark for the point
of the lance, directed toward it by the chevs-
liers in full career. The riding was very
spirited, and uniformly good and graceful
in some of the friendly combatants as excel
lent rs | have ever seen. One Of the injus
tees Of city people is to decry or undervalue
this omplshnent--bu it is worthy Of all
respect. One of the handsomest features of
the equestrian Washington, Of Crawford, at
Richmond, is the poise, and frednesS, 80 to
speak, of the rider in his saddle--and this
ease and balance was presented in the add
mirable riding of some OF the knights at
the Tournament Of which | speak. The
success of the cOmbatants WAS unusual, con-
sidering the small size of the ring; and the
contest was extremely spirited. The first
prize, of course, was the floral wreath, which
the victor would have the privilege Of plac
ing upon the brows of the fair Queen of
Love and Beauty. This was gallantly
fought for. and ut one time every body sup
posed that the knight Of SOlferino, VIM.
McGuire, esq, was certain of the price
But tickle fortune" interviewed. and gave
it to another. The Knight Of tho Red,
White, and Blue, DIR. Vim. NJ. Page YVES de-
clared the victor and then the struggle con-
tinued among the remaining Knights, for
fourth Maids of Honor to the Queen. The
Knight Of the Golden Horse Shoe, j. Pol
lard, esq. like the Knight Of Solferino, was
at first successful, but tie prize was borne
away by the lance Of Young Lochinvar,
gallant young rider, and favorite with all
who know him. The contest for the rest of
the royal retinue, or in other words, the sec
ond, third, and fourth Maids Of Honor then
followed-and the interest was very great.
The young ladies, in their carriages, and
wagons, as ! can testify, followed the
Knights as they charged, with deep interest,
and numerous bets, | am informed, were
made The result was soon decided: and
as more than one of the fortunate ladies had
arrived in single vehicle, the Knights har-
messed themselves, figuratvely speaking, to
it, and drew it out into the arena, where the |
Knight of the Red, White and Blue awaited |
it, the floral wreath upon the point OF his
spear. The remainder of the successful |
chcyalicrs were grouped around him. They |
were as follows. and chose the Maids of
Honor in the order here set down.
Thomas II. Randolph ............. First.
Wm.
Rvbt. {. Randolph Third.
j. Jollurd. Fourth.
The Knight of the Red, White, and Blue,
being declared victor in the contest for the
floral crown, lowered his lance and deposit
ted the wreath upon the fair brow Of Miss
M-F-P-who was hailed by the crowd, and