Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-09


Shenandoah Yalley-P. N. McGraw.
The contest occupied nearly three hours, and
deeply interested brilliant and numerous as
semblage to the last. The riding was admira-
bic. The time of the horses. and precision Of
the Knights ELECTED universal admiration.
The Warwick ofthe day was RICHARD KrR-
WAX. The QUEEN of BEAUTr-his admirable
selection-Miss DALLAS BEALE. I. A. KRa-
WAX. p. GAppxER and P. NJ. McGRAw, had
the honor Of selecting the Maids of Honor =
Miss AxxIE CRowI, Miss ANNIE KIRBY and
Miss MAGGIE KELLY.
The Coronation ceremonies were performed
bv CHARLES DAVIES, who addressed the Queen
and her Maids of Honor. as follows:
SovEEEfGx MAID:
To me-the humblest, but, permit me TO
assure vou. by no means the least devoted Of
your subjects-has been deputedthe pleasing,
! the proud task. of placing upon your brow, pu-
rer than aabaster. little above those eyes
that are beamins with love and beauty, this
wreath. the symbol and pledge of our devotion
10 love and beauty. and to you. their charming
representative-our honored Queen.
For this extreme honor, am indebted TO the
/ KNIGHT Of Iranhoe. whose devotion TO you, i
feel full well. is thereal explanation of hs mag
pi6cent horsemanship to-day. The knight Of
/ Ivanhoe was famous in history. and romance
/ having taken up the tale, flung round It such
beautv that in our youth we are fascinated.
and even the hardness Of riper years IS spftened
/ into admiration at his beroism. The fact oi
history. and the fancy Of the novelist have uni
I tel to-day in the first succes sful knight-the
| honored friend Of Us all.
To speak of the other successful Knights
I should simply have 10 repeat myself. Ladies.
tbey all equally deserve at your hands, and
] am sure will receive a generous guerdon.
As time changes. customs change with it,
You see before you to-day, no field Of cloth Of
gold Beltei Knights no longer attack Wind
| mills. or ride through the air, on impossible
| horses 10 the rescue of suffering beauty. Don
I Ouiyoils and SdHcko PdJlzd, Datcised and 10
ssadlster. .-are all beings Of the past. All theSt
things. and the institutions which they made
up. were. hundreds Of years ago, by single
stroke of the pen Of 0erraltis, turned over tC
the laughter and contempt OF mankind.
No! The green grass, the gift of God to IN
dustrious husbandrv. is beneath our feet to-day
And tho the Knights before You, have beer
engaged in sports that are harmless, tho ac-
tive. it is not on this spot-it isnOt within sigh
of the Shenandoah Valley, that American ne
roiSm Is TO be called in question, or considereC
second even. IN that Of those who surrounde'
the person Of GtaTte1aGgH. and fought. and ole
and died on the famous field of RoHcerdtles.
But what is il that chiefly distinguishes tn
Knights Of to-day from those ofold? 'Iis tins
that having earned the right to crown, and hay
ing crowned YOU, they will return to their shop
and fields and warehouses and Offices back .
the pursuance of their various industrial ayoca
tions. And why (? Because tho, as they hay
proved to-day, they have hearts that yearn Il
: the pulsationS Of love; tho they have eyes tna
glance back, gratefully. the smiles Of beauty
: they too. believe in the dignity Of labor. .fh
. Frize coated gentry are the real gentry OF u
\ Country. said 0CbRRel. And says Bai'ce'
improving on the idea, Honest men are u
: poblemen OF nature" Such gentry, sndsuc
a nobility give new force to the lines OF Le"s
feEOr,-
aIiTes Of all great men remind rs,