Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-05
TOURNAMENT AT SI'AUNTON.

and pleasant smiles added increased in
terest to the occasion. sThe Staunton
Band" favored the assemblage with spir-
it-stirring music. Twenty-six Knights
entered the lists, each hoping to have
the honor Of selecting and browning
the "Queen of love and beauty" At
the signal of the bUgle, the Earshalled
Knights erode in all their pride" in reg
ular order till halted in front of the
stand, from which they were address ed
by Col. Jas. Ii. Skinner. The address
was brief, classical and ornate. He
spoke as follows:
SIR KNIGHTS
The pastime in which you are about
to engage, merits more dignifed consideration
than it sometimes receives, and may be made to
point graver moral than is ordinarily extracted
from il.
Equestrian exercises have been held in high re-
pute among men, in all ages. In the most en-
lightened and refined States of Greece, from pc
Rod of boar antiquity, sacred games existed
which were solemnized with pomp and splendor
which modern times might indeed rival, but could
scarcely surpass Atthese games ere assembled
not only the flower of the Grecian youth. burning
to distinguish themselves by feats of skill and
strength, but philosophers and statesmen, paint
ers, poets, scuptors, and musicians lent their ge-
MUS to the OCCASION and deemed their immortal
ity secure, if recipients of the prizes, which dis
tingushed merit alone could win. There ravish
| ing music tsmarried to immortal verse; poured
forth the praises of gods and heroes, fed the fires
Of patriotism, kindled martial ardor in the bo-
som Of the Grecian youth, and inculcated the pre-
cepts of religion and morality. Among the exer
cises Of these games those Of the Hippodrome, or
race course, were most in esteem among the Pc
trician youth. Even the renowned Alcbiades,
whose genius made him illustrious both in field
and FORUM aspired to the prizes of the Olympic
chariot race; and his success was deemed wor-
thy of celebration by the muse of Euripides. In
deed it was to the estimation in which horseman-
ship was held In these spectacles, that we may
trace the origin of the Athenlan cavalry. These
games FIJI, as you are aware, most important
page in Grecian History. They served to discip-
line patriotic soldiery, to elevate and enighten
the public mind, to soften and refine the popular
manners and to promote the interests of peace,
by bringing Earring S tates into amicable rivalry
j and by substituting the mimic shows of war in
place of it's stern realities. To the warriors of
that day these games afforded the same exercise
and recreation which the steel-clad Knights Of the
/ Middle ages found in their ijousts and tourna-
ments. When the business Of war was happily
suspended, the stern soldiers of the Cross to in
dulge generous rivalry, and to keep alive their
skill in horsemanship and arms, celebrated with
spirit and splendor the sports of tilt and tourney
But Sir Knights, need remind you that dexter
ity in horsemanship and in the of arms, were,
with the knights of old, but means to an end, and
that what digniied knghthood even beyond titles
of royalty, that it's objects were, to do jus
tice, to honor truth, to practise courtesy, to de
fend the weak to succor the distressed, to be as
father to the fatherless, and friend to the
widow and afflicted. May not, with propriety,
Sir Knights, exhort you to the fulfllmen of these
high obligations Of manhood and chvalry. Have
you had no companions in arms, the latest aspi-
rations of whose gallant spirits were breathed
forth in blessings upon tender object of their
love- or pledge of their affection. These bereaved
ones, Sir Knights, are now your care. "Beteem
not Teven the winds of heav en- visit their faces
too roughly % Take them by the hand-supply
their wants Be as friend and father to them
} honor the dead by your devotion to the living,
and your children, seeing your good deeds, will
rise up and call you blessedr'
Sir Knights, detain you, fear, too long but,
in truth, your sport is so suggestive of the gra-
yer struggles of fe. and the pursuit of its real
prizes, that cannot forbear pointing its moral.
Remember then, that while ssthey which run in d
race run all, but one receiveth the prize Man
is, apparently, too often creature of crcum-
stance His most cherished hopes are oftentmes
disappointed, his worthiest endeavors productive
of naught but ruin. Well hath it been said
| "Fhe very noblest neart on earth hath oft,
No better lot than to deserve"
True Knighthood shines most conspicuously
when battling against adversely. One of the
grandest portraitures in the immortal romances
of Sir Walter Scott, is that in which he presents
the Constable of Chester, Sir Hugo de Lacy, on
his return from Palestine. The gallant Knight
has almost reached view of his baronial towers,
when he is informed, by malignant enemy, that
his a1ianced bride has proved false to him, that
his lordly estates have been wrested from him.
and all his earthly hopes been blasted.
'sThink my Lord" said his would-be- torn entor
tall is lost-ove, dominion, high Office and bright
/ fame--so late chief among nobles--now poor
palmer
Listen to the reply of that knightly spirit
which no misfortune could subdue, and cultivate
/ a like mind with his
"Wouldst thou make sport with my misery =
said Hugo sternly, ssknow then minstrel and put
it in song if you list, that Hugo de Lacy, hav-
ing lost all he carried to Palestine, and all which
he left at home, is still lord of his own mind and
adversely can no more shake him, than the breeze
which strips the oak of it's leaves can tear u the
trunk by the roots
Sir knights, the lists are waiting you, and all
are impatient to behold your deeds. Bright eyes
look upon you! Next to the approval of Heaven,
and the attestations of good conscience, the
| smile of woman is the highest inc entive to
and will follow you in your career. Bear your
selves here, and hereafter, as true knights, as
chivalrous Virgna1s, and love and beauty will
be your merited portion
At the conclusion of the address to
the gallant Knights, the contest for the
honors con- menced, which resulted as
follows:
The "Knight of the Golden Circle Capt.
Lewis Hartman, son Of Col. Michael e. Har-
man, took the first honor, having taken the
ring every ride. He selected and crowned
Miss Ellen Price. the "Queen Of Love and
Beauty
The End honor was taken by the Knight
Of the "Willow Spout S. Fl. McCue, who
crowned Miss Maggie Hest 1st Maid of
Honor.
The 3rd, by the Knight of "Montgomery
all"-Thos. FL. Shumate, who crowned
Miss Mamie T. Link End Maid of Honor
The 18th, BY the Knight Of Hope is under
| INV avan-E r Rurl1o oro,UpoJ NJ.