The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-30
ADDRESS
RoN\. Y, N\cW>Mg.E sN,
TO TIE KNIGHTS OF THE
WESTON TOURNAMENT
CLUB, OCT. 10, 1871.
SIN KNIGHTS:

SIN KNIGHTS:
You enter the Tournament list to.
day to celebrate a relic Of an age that
has passed, rather than an existing and
popular custom.
It will not be denied that the man.
ners and customs, the practices, lives
and virtues Of the men Of this century,
are better and more refined, than dur.
ing the time when the Tournament was
a popular custom. A single glance at
the history Of that period discloses how
rude was the structure Of society, how
petty and insecure the government OIL
the people, how ignorant and sem.bar.
barous the masses, and how vicious the
practices and lives of men. How
scarcely single ono Of the many wars
and encounters in arms was conceived
and executed in any other spirit than
that of conquest, hatred or selfish am.
bition, and how scarcely any man
arose to power and distinction than by
the sword.
But We live in an age when men are
ordinarily measured by the mettlc Of
their minds" rather than BY the
strength Of their blades or physical en-.
DURANGO, and take rank in the affairs Of
State, in the social circle, aud in all the
departments and industries of life, in
proportion to their mental training and
liberal views, rather than physical
symmetry and proves. But to extend
in detail the comparison between this
period and that were impossible. AZ.
ricullurc and commerce, war and in.
vcntion, education, science aud art,
chivalry and the principles Of govern.
ncnt and the standard Of honor, would
all demand an extended notice. Every
part of the history of tho world, OK.
hibiting the manners and customs, the
spirit and ambitions Of men, is fraughs
with extraordinary interest to The
student both of sacred and profanc his.
tory, and there is perhaps no single
subject Of history or custom Of the past,
from the study of which We derive
more profit and pleasure than the Tour.
uamcnt. Illustrating ms it docs the
chivalrc spirit ofthe middle ages, pre-.
serving as is did the better part of man
from the blood.stained ambitions and
bru,alities ofthcpast, and presenting it,
the purest offering of that age, to the
purcst incentives to faith and truth and
honor in all times since the first crca.
ton. This subject also becomes one
of interest as it carries us back to the
feudal system, TO the time Of the cru.
sadcs, TO the war ofthe Roses, to the
history Of the Reformation in Europe,
and to the first dawn Of the ages of en-.
lightencd agriculture and commerce,
and to the more liberal patronage Of
letters.
The history Of later years will dis.
close rapid and mighty revolution and
reformation in the forms and stability
of governments. in the acknowledged
principle5 Of right and justice, in the
manners and business Of life, md in
the sentiments and ambitions Of men.
Yctit is but fitting that the later gen.
erations should at times celebrate the
custom of a class of men upon whom
alone was laid, and who alone respected
an oath oftruih and loyalty, who were
the favored and gallant champions of
the weaker but fairer sex, md the
earnest defenders Of the injured and
oppressed.
The Tournament took its rise after
the establishment Of the fcudal system,
and was introduced into northern
Europe about middle of the ninth cen
fury. 1t was a military sport of the
middle ages, in which the Knights en-.
gagged exhibited their courage, proves
and skill. The ladies we're the chief or
most honorcd witnesses and their ap.
proving smiles the rewards most Cs.
tcGned.
Victory in a Tournament" says
llallam. was little less glorious and
perhaps at the moment more cxqaisitely
felt than in the field, since no battle
could assemble such witnesses of valor."
In modified form, you rcenact it 10.
day in the midst ofan Agricultural and
Mechanical Exhibition-in the midst Of
an agricultural, commercial, artistic
and christian age, not only as a health.
full and manly exercise, not only in
honor Of the more refined sentiments Of
a class Of men ofthosc times, but to ex.
cmplify the spirit Of this age upon the
subject to which the Tournament has
always been dedicated.
However different the modes in which
We ordinarily present ourselves at the
shrine of beauty, upon this one subject
there has been no change since Adam
was enamOred with the first fair woman
who in turn was for a moment be ter
pleased with the reflection of her own
beauty than the addresses of her gal.
liant lover, Romance itself has failed
to estimate how many of the sons Of
Adam have boon rccreant TO their faith.
er's sentiments and example; but |
think the ladies' here should have tho
right land | am sure the knights could
stand the tos) to exclude from the list
to-day any Knight who las never ad.
dressed a similar sentiment to one Of
EYp's mir danplicrp inst as nnv lnl,