The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-10-07
THE BEL AIR TOURNAMENT
"AMOUR Ala pL1s BELIEF

Ell manly sport, are calculated to elicit thu
admiration of the fairer and the Interest
of the manlier sex. SO, as the preparations
had been ample, the tournament Of
Tuesday last was in everv way success
Notwithstanding a III. ned interference
of the weather. Rain fell on Monday, and
the event rested "under a cloud" but
Monday night saw the storm-clouds swept
away, and Tuesday mornings sun rose
smiling upon hill and dale, heralding a
bonny day.
AS early as A. M, carriages freighted
with interested humanity began to pour
into the village, and out the Baltimore
pike, towards the first toll-gate, opposite
which, in the field of Hon. Stevenson Arch
er, the tourney grounds were laid and the
necessary paraphernalia erected.
TILE GROUNDS.
The riding course ran nearly North and
South, rising gently towards the arch, sus-
pended from which hung the ring. The
arch was gracefully dressed in ever
greens, and on each of the corners a mar
BILE urn lent symmetry and grace to the
design. On either face of the arch glitter
ed the appropriate motto Amour la
Plus Belle, "-Love to the most Beautiful
The course was heavy, and for that reas
on the riding was delayed from eleven
o'clock to IL, M. In the meantime the ac-
commodating sun, though interrupted
by clouds, did its best in drying the track,
and the hour of noon found it in much
better condition than was expected.
THE SPECTATORS.
The carriages laden with spectators
among whom was a very large proportion
of ladies, thronged into the grounds mean
while, and took up positions in long lines
fronting the track and the stands, stretching
from right to left for one hundred yards or
more.
AT noon it was estimated that about 200
spectators were present, and this number
was subsequently increased by several hun
dred. Altogether the tout ensemble was
very animated indeed, and the heightened
array off
Linked beauty long drawn OUT
quite took away ones breath in the con-
temptation.
On the right and left of the arch were
the stands for the judges and music, and
everybody began to look anXiously for
the filing of those stands by those
bodies for whom they were inten-
ded. Some of the ladies grew actually i'm
patient-the dear creatures-and very nu-
merous we've the expressions of "Tut, tut,
why don't the music come % or what in
the world is keeping the knights and the
Judges6'
MARsHALINa OF THE KNIGHTS.
Pretty soon there was an uproar of
drums and wind instruments at the other
end of the avenue, born down sweetly,
shom of its harshness, ON the wind. Then
the Knights, the Marshals and their Her.
aids burst from headquarters, and came
prancing forward in cavaleade gorgeous
and glorious as the retinue that attends the
King of Abyssinia. The cayalcade was
headed by the band, which discoursed a
variety of airs.
Everybody instantly remarked the beau
ty of the steeds, the grace of the riders,
their clan and general brave bearing.
Col. Sterling Rosan, Chief Marshal, was
conspicuous in pink sash, black coat, black
hat, set off by black and blue plume, and
white pantaloons He sat magnificent
sorrel. His assistants, Sheriff r. e. Morgan
VIM. G. Scott, Joshua N. Rutledge, Major
VIM p. Trimble, Thos II. Magaw, and DR.
Fl, Clay Whiteford, were all elegantly
mounted and caparisoned.
A BREAK DOWN.
AS the knights were being marshaled in
front of the stand to receive the charge OF
the orator, Hon. Henry ID. Farandis, the
Judges commenced ascending the same
followed by Others not privileged to its
occupancy. In a moment crash occur.
ed, and the front of the stand fell to the
ground, a distance of about eight feet, car
rying with its timbers in mingled body
distinguished orator, dignifed Judges
members of the Press and others. There
following some timid screams from the
ladies, and rapid rushing to and fro OF
the part of gentlemen, but in few mo
ments all was righted and the stand recon
structed as it deserved to be.
Several gentlemen received slight cut
and bruises, among whom we regret to hay,
to number Mr.. Waters, our cotemporar,
of The Democrat. A number of lads hat
just been ordered from beneath the stan(
by the Chief Marshal, but for which pre-
caution we fear we should have to chroni
Gle more serious casualties.