The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-09-23
THE TOURNAMENT.
A Gala Day at My Lady's Manor
Strength and Beauty Meet Together


which all other intervening days were
made-dawned without cloud in the sky,
and earth and air were in harmony with
the event which was to signalize the day
ON My Lady's Manor, in Baltimore coun-
ty. The rains of the previous days had
most effectually laid the villainous dust, so
that not speck arose along the converg-
ing highways, that before 10 A. M. were
filled by the carriages Of the ladies and
gentlemen en- route for the scene of the
knightly encounter
The grounds were magnificently located
in a long stretching meadow, on the farm
of Thos. L. Emory, Esq, at the junction of
two roads leading from Towsontown and
Bel Air. The meadow lies North and
South, and nestles, as it were, amid an am
phitheatre of rolling hills, rich with verdure
clad. In the centre was established the
"riding," with the arch tlanked on either
hand by the stands for the Judges and mu-
sic.
The carriages as they entered were ranged
along on both sides of the riding to the
number of one hundred and seventy five or
more, and formed very unique boulevard.
These were occupied entirely by the ladies,
rs there were no shade trees, and the au-
tumn sun beamed down warmly upon the
valley.
By IL o'clock, M, five or six hundred
spectators were awaiting with some impa-
thence for the grand entree of the
| "Krights 80 bold
| la their helmets old,
| With buckles Of brass and spurs of gold"
After a little delay, and the rapid riding
back and forth Of officers and heralds, a
few preliminary rolls of the big-bellied
drum and the sounding of the wind instru-
ments of the band, they came-the knights
and escort riding down the valley. Pas
sing in review, the opportunity was atior-
ded the spectators of noting the costumes
Of the Knights and the beauty of their
stccds which noble animals seemed to en-.
ter into the spirit of the occasion.
The Chief Marshal of the tourney was
Col. James Mahool, Of Baltimore county,
who bestrodc stately stepping black
steed. His aids were Col. Sterling Rosan,
John r. Rutledge Jacob Pearce and Capt.
|. j. Macatec, all of whom were elegantly
mounted.
Those gentlemen who acted as Judges
were Robert Gilmor, of Baltimore city,
John Merryman and Thomas l.. Emory, of
Baltimore county, Nicholas III. Nelson and
Hon. L. Ii. Webster of Hartford.
The Heralds We're four brave-appearing
and tastilyequipped lads; Masters Emory
Warfeld, Siddie Street,, Beale Howard,
and Willie Hutchins. They rode animals
of high mcttlc, but rode them beautifully,
sitting in the saddles like troopers.
THE GRAFTON BY MIR. ARCHER.
After the parade, the Knights, called 10y
the bugle, drew up in front of the stand to
receive their charge. Hon. Stevenson All
cher, of Bel Air, the chosen orator, was
here introduced by Hon. Edwin H. Web
ster, and proceeded to address the knights.
His remarks were based on ancient
knighthood, and the peculiar circumstances
which prompted the institution of the
order. During the 18th century the order
of st. John of Jerusalem was founded,
under the very shadow of the Holy Sepul-
chre, its object the protection of the pill
grims. The order grew to great power
and influence, inasmuch that it was able
to assist very materially the Crusaders in
their struggles against the infdel in Palcs-
q. tine.
The Knights of the Temple constituted
the other one of the two principal orders,
and by consecutive steps at last the knight
hood consecrated itself to the champion
ship and guardianship Of feeble woman.
The speaker dwelt at some length upon
the progress ofcivilization, and the passing
away of the era of chivalry and knight
errantry but brave, courteous and heroic
as were the noble knights of that dark and
lawless age, the speaker did not hesitate
to say that, did the present condition of
society demand it, host of champions
would spring up amongst us as chivalrous
as they. Knights of the present day could
not, as knights, be favorably compared
with those of the olden time, who were
! knights and nothing else.
The speaker then touched upon the IA
nous tourney held at Ashby, in Merry
England-that "Gentle and Joyous Passage
of Arms" and that other famous passage
of arms which was held in Palestine be.
tween Richard CGur de Leon and Saladin,
and in comparison paid high tribute to
the manly bearing of the knightly array
before him, intent not on bloody deeds,
but inspired with ambition worthy of the
occasion.
The talented orator was happy in his
historical illusions and illustrations, and
we regret that the length of the grafton