New-York tribune., 1870-05-23
CHIVALRY AND SHIRT STUDS.

If it were not absurd for mere newspaper
writer to question the discretion OF live
knight, we should be tempted to ask whether
the fifteen gentlemen in fancy clothes who
have been exhibiting themselves in Brooklyn
as amateur circus riders do not copy the rueful
cavalier who crowned his head with BARRIERS
basin rather than the doughty champions who
used to smash skulls with real battle axes.
The sport of fitting at ring, while it is neither
so manly as hurdle race, nor so useful as
target excursion, is doubtless very pretty
game in its way-better in many respects than
baseball, cleaner than quOits, and exempt
from emotional dangers which beset cro-
quet. We do not see the connection
between doing battle in defense of the inno-
cent, and catching a little iron circet on the
point of make-believe lance but the Colonel
who presided over the Brooklyn tourney ap-
parently sees it, for he addressed the motley
heroes in strain of high-tOned exhOrtation
such as Don QuixOte used to employ
for the edifcation of his gallant squire.
"Sir Knights" said the Colonel, "the
" institution you propose to revive is over
"thirteen centuries old. 1t was ushered into
"existence by the expressions of those dark
cages in the past in which the light
"Of civilization began to struggle into the
"portals of the breast but had not yet reached
L" the temples of the intellect" After which
exhibition of eloquence on stills, and aideclara-
ton that the prOclivity of tournaments as now
conducted is to augment the dignity OF hui
"man nature and the sum of human happi-
"ness," the ring was hung up, and the Sir
Knights went for it,
We regret that the dignity of human nature
did not suggest to the dashing hOrsemen the
propriety of appearing in the ordinary costume
of Christian gentlemen, and avoiding the some
what incongruous mixture of masquerade tu-
MICS, white shirts, felt hats, sashes, and base
pantalOons which contributed so much to rem
der the spectacle snowy if not picturesque. 1t
is small matter, perhaps, but it would also
have been satisfaction to common minds if
Eddie Gallaher instead of calling himself the
Knight of Shannondale had been content with
the respectable patrOnymic by which he is
known in his fathers printing office, and if the
knight of the Black Plume had either adopted
less romantic title, or concealed the humber
appellation of Jim Walsh, by which he is
known at home. Sir BrackenbrOugh sounds
well enough, perhaps, but Sir Jarboe wont do
at all, and "Sir DR.. {. A. Fox" would have
driven FrOissart crazy.
The first prize of the lists was fine mare; /;
the second and third prizes were gold watches;
the fourth prize-shade of IvanhOe and CGur
de Lion was pair of shirt studs. We
should not omit to add that the winner of the
mare has also the privilege of placing the
crown of beauty tomorrow upon the head of
cher whom he esteems beyond all other
"women." Anybody, therefore, who may be
curious upon the subject of Sir Eddie Gala
hers affections will have an excellent Oppor-
tunity of acquiring valuable knowledge with
out the risk of asking impertinent questions.
Probably the dignity of human nature will not
be materially advanced by the ceremony, but
that Sir Eddie's choice will illustrate " the pro-
"clivity of tournaments to augment the sum
"of human happiness" there can be no man
per of doubt