Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-01
BEAUTY AND CHIVALRY.
SPEECH OF GEN. W. A. QUARLES.

Special Dispatch to the Union and Americana
GAINESVILLE, May 81, ls66.-Thc grand Tourna-
uent for the foundation Of an asylum for COnied-
crate Orphans was held to-day 1t was great
success. 5000 people were present. and it is cal
cuiated that the net proceeds will secure $1,000
| for the institution.
The Tournament was held on the Fair Grounds
near this city. The day was splendid and the
scene was a magnificent array of chvalry and
! beauty. Two steamers freightcd with passengers
came from Nashville Gems. 3. F. Cheatham,
! CerrO GOrdo Williams. Geo. 3. Crittenden, VIM.
! A. QuarIes and other noted exConfederate Off
GERS took part in the ceremonies. Among the
prominent civilians present were the Hons. Cave
johnson and Gustayus A. Henry. The Nash
Vile aud Louisville press were largely represent
ed 5 D. Leonard was the Chief Marshall Of the
day, assisted by +. o. Anderson II. c. Merritt,
| VIM. Daniel, G. f. Cooke J. d. Moores, John
Mas-ic. johnson West, J. o. Thomas, c, +. Smith
and J. f. Bailey.
The King at Arms for the day was Gen. Quarles
the Heralds were Major Clare, of Nashville, and
! J. A. Waggoner.
Seventeen Knights entered the list, by name,
! CIerater Bopard W. A. Elliott-EoJ RoV, Aus-
! tin Peay-.JohH Di Procedi, W. McGure-Thad-
! dcus Of WIrso,c, Henry Hermann. GmtDjdOr,
! Buck Buckner-Scofi-h CheUGlier. Fisher Merritt
! -Ha,ratLa. Geo. Wills-The Black Prince, n.
! Merritt-Roderick DhH, William Small-kHigh
! of The Fall-a Banner J. r. Allensworth-Sr Wal
/ Ter RaIeigh, W. A. IIarris-kaigh Of Poptar
! HiHs. W. NJ Cornell-Kni9a Of The S'rado'cH, II.
! A. Young William TEL, J. NJ. Bournc-SUe
! Hradv Geo. McDaniel-.S,eedish Knight, y. F.
| Hood-Knigh Of the SIrer Noon, f. 5. Young
| KnigLt Coo,stock, James Rice.
Address Of the King-at-Arms.
Before entering the list, Gen. Quarlcs, the King
alarms of the day, addressed the Knights as fol-
| lows:
You come not here to-day, Sir knights. as mere
figures Of an ideal pageant, but as representatives
Of a principle. which, though it may sleep, needs
hut the sivery blast of the bugle to awaken it to
! life and action-the principle that furnished the
| games Of ancient Greece with manly combatants
that made the solid ranks of the Roman legions
| amoving wall ofmartial power-that penetrated
/ and lighted up the gloom of the dark ages and
! with rude battle-axe hewed down the force OF
! barbarism till all Europe was clad in the gar
| ments of gentle and courteous peace. 1t Is
principle that almen admire and all women love.
Its manifestations have been As various as are the
| various ages of the world but there Is displayed
| through all a similitude which enables us to trace
| it to a common paternity.
| IL has all the rudeness and sternness of man
hood, blended with the soft graces that a gentle
motber gives. II strikes with the sword. but the
| same hand that deals the blow is open rs day
| to melting charity. 1t will give and take blows
the iyelong day, and will sing love-lOn ditties
beneath the windows of ladies fair by the light Of
| the moon. 1t can be lead by silken thread, but
will not yield an inch to mortal foe. 1t bows the
knee TO nome save God and woman. It's shield
to the weak sword flashing before the oppessor
ia song TO lady fair-a blow for rival, and
prayer to God Such is the spirit of true chiyalry
A spirit which has lived, does live and will ever
live as long as this earth is the habitaton Of man.
The age OF chivaIry indeed, is not gone, and he
who SO believes is but a confessed witness to his
| own imbecility.
| It's true Sir Knights, you are not here to-day
pauopIied for warlike deeds. No walled city is to
be stormcd-no scrried ranks to be brokcn-5ut
was ever one of the highest missions OF knight
hood TO rid the land of dragons and of monsters
dire. And are not these dragons and monsters
upon whose destruction you may fix your thoughts
to-day, and cxpcnd all the strength Of your
| knightly arms? What dragon is there more hos
tile TO ,lifc than want and destitution? What
wall more piteous to the ear of manhood than
that Of the helpless, houseless hungered orphan?
And do you not hear their cry wherever you go.
whether in the busy haunts of men or in the
| solitude where none intrude? In the city, in
| the hamlet. on the hill top and in the valley,
| where the green mounds rise like arched shields,
| rs if protecting their ieweed dead-whcrcyer you
| 60 is proclaimed ut once my cause and lis silent
| clooucncc is heard. For every mound you sec
there is an orphan. For every dew drop that
sparkIes on the grass a tear that has scaded its
| rlrrowcd way down the check Of some soldiers
/ wife and dropped ON the head of some soldiers
| child. 1t is for these and for these alone, we
| make an appeal Our men, though destitute, are
strong of arm aud of heart. and can do all that
/ manhood can accomplish. Our women, too though
| many of them are unused to toll, sing, we THINK
| more swectly to their spinning wheels than they
| were wont to singto their harps. For them we
| do not ask charity. Their proud hearts would
| burst before their hands would become the recip-
tents of your charity; but for the helpless little
sufferers we do appeal. not TO your reluctant.
| cherries giyer. but to that spirit of universal
| charity which is the gift of God and the heritage
| of the poor.
| know, Sir Knights, there are those who attri-
| butte disloyal rromptngs and disloyal purposes to
this asscmblage. 1t is too absurd to merit notice.
| pass It over in silence, and thank God there are
| those among you who took rs well as gave blows,
and who can prove the testimony of my own 'per-
sonal experience. can Sympathize with suffer
ing even though il be in person Of a wounded or
fallen foe. one who has been soldier himself
knows how to appreciate a soldiers feeling, ard
those who would feed soldiers orphan-and
there yet another higher still who, from his own
| T., fp.l far an oTnlgu'g
wants and the lonely bitterness Of an orphans
fate; he has waved the broad flag of the nation
over the land, and upon it he has inscribed
peace aud there Is peace; and should there be
another war growing out Of the present European
troubles there will be but one flag, but beneath 1t
| there will be not found one of these soldiers in
| peace aud citizens in war.
| As in our late civil war, they will stay behind
with the vulmrcs. and be found where green
| backs most do congregatc. Thank God, these
| inckals are being known, and very soon honest
| people both here and at the North, will strike
them. like so many horse-leeches, from the body
polite. and send them, full and gorscd, It's true,
but nevertheless send them back to the stagnant
| p,oIs from whose muddy bosom they originally
came. But. Sir knights. this is theme not
suited for the ears of courtesy and beauty.
l gladly turn from it, and remind You Of an
| other Of the sources OF kuightly inspiration.
| Need tell what this is Look around you at the
bright eyes. bcaming in radiant loyeliuess. See
these wrcathci smiles, stronger than any tyrantS
| arms. Sir knights You are in danger. know
that SOME of YOU have charged to the hronyed and
hollow lannon's mouth, and have escaped the
| danger. hut alas! there l. no escape from tins.
You may clothc yourselves in triple mail-in
armor of brass and steel: no cunning armorer has
vet devised a shield that could save your hearts
TODAY. and cuudor compels me to tell you that
not one of you will leave this list who will not
die of his wounds or be captured for life without
ransom or rescue.
The Exercises Of the Day.
Amer parading under commau Of Cen vii
iams. the fitting began. and was splendid. The
knights were appropriately costumcd-somc OF
them masked and vlorcd. Buckner's horse fell
slightly injured has rider, whose spur cut An arte-
~ in the horst who bled to death in few min
I ute,. The priyc crown for the Queen of Love and
Beauty was won by CA,rati'r B"v"rd, who hand
cd IL on the point N his lance, and was placed Al
the victor, request. ON the head Of Miss Mollie
Boyd. Of Clarksyille, by Gen. Williams. IN an ell
ogant spcrch. KujOh ri Com.tock rode an old
: Spanish Rosinaute, and made an amusing bur
, Icsge. The barbecue was next served and was 3
I | great success.
Everything was excellent and abundant and o.
ibc finest style known TO the oldest frequenters o.