Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-10-19

sweet offices by those only less lovely and beau
tiful than herself
And now, Sir Knights, TO the charge.
The following are the names of the success
full knights, given in the order of the honors
won, together with the names of the ladies
chosen by them respectively:
J. B. Allen, BLACK Knight /. Josephine
English, of Stanton, Queen of Love and Beau
ty; j. A. McGufin, Knight of Fort Lewis,
Anna Ryan, of Stauntop, lst Maid of honor;
W. W. Hamilton, Knight of Lexington"
Mary Cameron, of Rockbridge, End Maid of
honor; S. II. Bell, knight of the Glade"
Emma Brown, Of Staunton 3rd Maid of honor;
Jas. j. Smith, "Kni ght of the Flying Cloud"
Bette Eskridge, 4th Maid of honor. Il
To the successful knight was awarded pre-
MUM saddle for himself aud also one for his
chosen Queen Of Love and Beauty.
CORONATION AND BALL--At the hour ap-
pointed for the Coronation and Ball, the spa
cious Rotunda on the Fair Grounds, a circular
building eighty feet in diameter with comforta-
bic seats around the circumference accommodate
and imposing scene. To the music of the
Grand march from Martha" rendered by the
D.. ID. and Blind Band, led by Prot. Turner, the
costunsed knights, attended by the ladies chosen
by them, marched into the Rotunda, fronting
to the throne, when, on the part of the judges
Of the tourney, Maj. Fl. NJ Bell announced the
successful knights in the order mentioned a.
bove. Then Vim. S. Gilman to whom, for
his special qualifications, that duty had been as
signed, delivered, in handsome manner, the
following felcitous
CORONATION ADDRESS,
With no mailed arm, or cleaning sword, or
barbed trappings for steeds did our knights go
forth to-day to hattie in deadly strife as did the
knights Of old. But in nmic,and bloodless tour
ney they contended, with no less chivalric pride
for the knighy privilege of offering to Beauty
the tribute, which the Brave Of all ages have
sought to win for the Fair. Brighter smiles,
more winning glances, nor ripper bushes never
greeted Chandos, nor Percy, nor Black Edward,
than cheered the knights wearing your victorious
coors, fair ladies' to deeds of daring in the bril-
liant tilt to-day They needed not to go back to
the realms of the shadowy past to seek chival-
rescue model in the Unknown knight, who en-
| has swept along this grand historic Valley, with
| raven plume, on snow white charger, knight,
whose name and deeds will live in song and sto-
| ry when mighty cities have grown old where
virgin forests now stand. Gay Poesy and spark
| ling Romance will not leave him to the cold en-
brace of their staid and exactirg sister, History
but will WOO Tassos, Arlostos and Spencers, yet
unborn, to sing Ashby gloryin immortal verse.
Drawer, knightlier foe, ssg
| Never fought with Moor Or Panim ;
| Rode at Templestowe."
Fit theatre for heroic deeds and chivalrous ex,
PLOTS, this beautiful Valley-pride of Virginia
with mountains bluer than Cheviot hills of
Bonnie Scotland-with rivers, if not richer in
legends more romantic and picturesque than the
Rhine, the Clyde, or the Shannon, with peo-
pie as devoted to their faith as was ever Son of
Judah to the cercinouIals OF his fathers, and
with madens as lovely and as loveable as the
fair haired Saxon or the dark eyed Jewess made
| immortal by the world greatest novelist.
At the festivals which followed the tourney
in the olden times, the successful Knights and
| the ladies OF their choice, were accorded pre-
cedence at the banquet and in the dance, and in
imitation Of that knightly custom, the knights
declared victorious by the judges at the tilt to-
day, will, with the ladies they have named
Queen and Maids of honor, lead in the dance
l.
hope that the reign other majesty may be as bril-
liant as the deeds of the Black knight were
conspicuous In the tourney, for [ need not re-
mind her, Or the honored ladies Of her court, of
the distinguished compliment paid them in be-
ing thus selected by gallant knights, from all
the assemblage now gathered in this Hall, as
womans instinct tells them, that the
''Bravest are the tenderest,
| The Loving are the daring"
The response, on behalf of the Queen of Love
and Beauty, was eloquently delivered by S.
Travers Phillips, ESQ.,, as follows:
Fair Ladies and loyal Gentlemen: -
The fact that you are assembled from every
portion of the lovely VALLEY Of Virginia at
this, its greatest Annual Festival, to contend
Tor that throne whose sceptre is limited in its
sway by no imaginary boundaries, and circum-
scribed in its influence by no geogra ohical d.
visions. but which extends its dominion alike
over inGdel and christian, over sceptie and pa
gan, over demon and angel, including, in its
wide domain, @Q
Camp and grove
And Heaven aboye,'
enhances immeasuraby its value in the eyes Of
/ those whose charms render them worthy claim
ants OF It's honors, as we'll as in the eyes Of
those whose skill, daring, and proves in
| knlghtly Accomplishments give them fair hopes
OF naming Its beauteoGs occupant, and of re-
/ celvlng, at her hands, their well-merited guer-
don.
That contest is now oyer, and before enter
Ing upon the coronation festivities, it only re-
mains for me, as the humble mouth-piece Of
her Majesty, the Sovereign Queen of Love and
Beauty, to signify her gracious acceD tance Of
that crown which is hers because her own ex-
ceedlng fairness hath nerved the strong arm
Of her doughty champion-the worthy BLACK
Knight, a second Occur de Leon-to this deed
of high emprize a
That brilliant host Of beauties, whose claims
| TO your crown were the most considerable, viii
be, am sure, the most ready to yield them tc
this arbtrament which, unlike that of a more
bloody nature, with its relentless and ruthless
cry OF cte u,ctis, is one where the conquered and
the conqueror may alike unite in heaping hon
ors upon, and In twining laurels around the
royal head. since here rivalry ceases when the
nat OF Cupid and Venus hath gone forth-you,
then, will DC the most willing to bend the lea]
knee OF allegiance, homage and feaity to our
peerless Queen, who now gives her royal ASST
rance to all that her choicest object shall be to
make her reign rain Of benefits, and her
enactmeFsts eopious provisions for your joyance,
SO taat your Manga charta, granted of her free
will and with royal grace, shall only demand
and ensure the Feast, the Tournament, and the
Ball, and your Petition Of Rights, and bills for
the redress of grievances, only contain humble
| prayers tor the longer duration OF yonr gentle
| Sovereign power-thus all, with joyous hearts,
will join In the loud acclaim: tod save the
| ~