Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-25

] the future. Many persons had purpoSely De-
layed attending until the Tournament. and
/ it is calculated that the number Of visitors
to the Grounds during the day did NOT
fall far short of Is, 900 in fact ID il reason
ably estimated that about IL. 600 spectators
Witnessed the fitting. Tt
/ THE TOURNAMENT
was, of course, tie feature almost exclu-
sivly SOY of the day. At A. III. the
Knights assembled at their headquarters
iu the city, where procession was formed,
by the Marshal and his Assistants, and fol-
lowed by the Tournament Committee, and
Knights in costume, and observing pre-
scribed order of march through various
streets, at length proceeded to the Fair
Grounds and around the race course, as
sembling faally in front of the stand,
where the charge to the Knights was de-
livered by Maj. F. D. Poisson.
f THE ADDRESS
was as follows
Amid these festive scenes devoted to the fruits
| of the Autumn harvest and the rare products of
the skill of man, we welcome with kindly smiles,
you. Sir Knights, who have come here to-day to
grace our exposition with your knightly presence
ana TO delight our eyes with tne exnlDltlOn OF
your gallantry and prowess.
lis true that here you will find no tsntad field
resounding with the clash of arms. the splinter
ing of spears and the shattering of lances, upon
which your deeds of renown are to call down our
pIaudits no heralds in the rich and ancient
Vestments of their almost sacred order, whose
loud exultant tries shall excite and stimulate the
fiery ardcr of both steed and rider min
strels who with triumphant songs descriptive of
the high and noble acts of chivaric daring done
| this day, shall hereafter awake to ecstasy the
living Tyre" no castle. proudly rearing to the
heavens its embatted walls, whose every stone,
ensanguined with the blood Of friend and foe,
could tell tale of knightly valor and heroic
plot, looks down upon you. All, no those ad-
| venturous days have fad. aud with them have
forever passed away the pride and pOmp of lofty
chivalry But where is the eye, be it young or
aged, that does not even now kindle with IN
wonted fire, when it looks over the brilliant pages
OF rare old Froissart, and drinks in the life and
fervid spirit OF those chivalrous days, until the
reader feels, animated and vivid is the recital,
as if he present in his own person, bearing
his manly front to the onward shock of the bat.
ties tide, aud longing to strike thousand stall
wart blows for Love and Honor. What won
drous pictures of noble romance are they How
they linger upon the imagination in all their gor-
geous details. What men of might were they who
did those deeds of superhuman prowess! Yes
truly "Old times are changed, old manners
gone" But have they not left behind them some
effulgent light by which our steps are iilumined?
II the pageantry of chivalry has gone, haR it
borne no rich fruits in minds, produced no
happy results upon acts? Does not knightly
honor aud knightly faith still live deep iupIant-
ed in the hearts of all the good and noble? Does
it always require hand Of iron mail to strike
the sturdiest blow In good causes trow not.
Those who have followed the Southern cross and
ridden with Cavalier Stuart have seen tbOus-
and deeds of chivslric daring as exalted and as
sublime ever minstrel of old ever tuned harp
| to sing. Where among the knights of old
ancient times could nobler knight be
found, than our bright mirror of chivalry. who
lately dying has left to US and our children the
highest example of all those and ennoblihg
qualities which dignity and exait true knight
hood? What age, what country. has ever pro-
duced higher type Of all the knightly Writ ues
tn an our paragon, Robert e. Lee
'Great in council and great in war.
Foremost captain OF his time;
Rich In saving common sense
And. as the greatest only are,
In his simplicity sublime"
Take Tor your unfailing guide that word, which
was the beacon light OF all hiJ actions. pmtyt
EnRraye it deeply upon your hearts! Bear it up
on your baaneEs in letters of godI Gut clear the
road which leads to its goal! Care na4ght for
consequences, when it clearly marks out the
line, but with steady, unfslterng step. deviating
| not ti4e breadth Of q hair, pursue its straight
course. Make this the rule CT your conduct, and
no knight OF yore. who counted his slain by
scores, can boast q nobler triumph than you,
who have conquered SELF and have made base.
| selfish purposes s4hserVlent TO pure and
good ends. Keep ever intact your
p.ighted word. It your knightly
| bond under the great seal OF your
manhood. Help the poor and the destitute. for
the knightly hand and heart are ever open to the
piteous cry Of distress. Fill your minds with
high and noble thoughts and then temptation
| can find no room therein for its alluring pleas
| ures and corrupting Influences. Drive quickly
| away fronits portals ell mean and groveling
| designs, for il they Hnger there but an In slant
| they will invade it's innermost sanctuary and
| leave their fatal irapress The soul Of true
| Knight should be as pure and stainless as the
| cleaning steel of his good sword And Charge
| you now, Sir k4igfts. il you have aught in your
| hearts unbeeoming the true di3lity OF yGrr or
| der to cast it out from your bosoms ere the
| trumpet sounds the charge. No soul can feel
| itself thoroughly possessed and nerved for
great trial while it feeds upon base DESIRES which
| canker and destroy all those nobler impulses
| that strengthen and sustain it. Curb headlong
passion with prudent judgment, leEt, like wild
steed unused to bit and bride, it bear you
on to and speedy destruction. Reso-
lutte in the right, yield with manly grace
| when the dictates of your mind teach
that you are in error. Educate your intellects
| by daily converse with the most worthy
l authors whose generous and exalted teachings
purify the imagination, expand your judgment
| and regulate tbe reaso Strengthen the body
with manly yigor by frequent exercise OF its
powers. Avoid vice as you would the sting of
the poisonous wasp. Let your fGir lips neyer
condescsnd to deceit, for he who but trifes with
truth fails from his proud position in the list OF
pure and unsullied knights. To your country be
ever true. Cling to her only the stronger in the
days OF her woe and dependence. Then when
IL