The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-28
FESTIVAL AT HARRISoNBURG.

FOX CHASE-PoLE CLIMBINGt-CORONA-
TION BALL-SUPPER-ETC-E
"a little nensense now and then,"
is an cid saw which even the most dlgnifled OF
all ages have deemed worthy cf an occasional
greasing up, and application to the looping of
of brief season of enjoyment. On last Thurs
day and Friday, the Odd Fellows and Red Men,
of Harrisonbufg, held their two days festival.
The grounds selected were natural amphlthe-
atef, OH the Hill Top farm, near the town.
The committee had made all arrangements
necessary to successful performance OF the
programme and one would have supposed: from
his omnipresence, that old Sol had received
special invitation ''for the pleasure OF the COM
pany'' as he abided in unclouded splendor,
and contributed no little to the comfort OF the
occasion. Nopretentions were made to anything
of ponderous nature, but every one seemed
to enjoy himself immensely, and the old town
presented a scene of excitement and hustle
which quite rivalled all ante belum Court-day,
or the arrival of the first train on the Orange,
Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroad.
ON THURSDAY
there was grand procession of the several
orders, headed by Clary's Band, which marched
around the different streets, and later in the
day there was tournament, and various and
sundry other chivalric exercises at the grounds,
and in the evening addresses by A. L. Lindsay
and other orators, beside music, oyster supper,
and a variety of entertaining features which
may be embraced under the head Of ''too tedious
to MENTION" and made up the sum total OF
the first days proceedings.
THE FOX CHASE.
The grand day of days, was Friday. Early
in the morning the clarion notes OF the hunts
mans horn resounded DER hill and dale, and
found response in the musical bay Of Speed,
Swift, Shadow, lightning, Telegraph, Keely
Motor and few other long cared and lank-
sided CANNES. all struggling under the weight
of nomenclature indicative of rapid transit, and
fully imbued with the idea that the reputation
of Rockingham and Col. Clatterbuck depended
upon their action that day. 1t was just about
O'Clock when Reynard was introduced to his
audience. When the shackes OF captivity were
loosed from his limbs, he bowed politely, un-
furled his brush to the breeze, and took his de-
partllre for the festive shadows OF the primal
forests. Then came the dogs and excitement,
both running pretty high, with odds on the
dogs A thoughtful spectator yelled, 'Sick
'em Lead, and the pack let out in all directions
except the one taken by the fox. 1t soon be-
came evident that the dogs had not been prop
erly accommodated the night before, and were
afflicted with cold which quite deprived them
of the sense of smell, and rendered it impossi-
BILE to decide between the trail of fox and the
promenade of ground squirrel. They crossed
and recrossed Reynard's foot prints, but either
the fugitive had put Oh his shoes hind part be-
fore. or the proboscides of the hounds were out
of adjustment, or there had been mutual
agreement to travel in diverse directions, or
else it Was not a good day for chasing. for the
pack never did find the trail, and when last
seen, the fox was perambulating in an ada
cent meadow preparatory to paying his adj
dresses to fat, young puilet. Thus ended the
chase, and from the fox's standpoint, it was
voted complete success.
The next amusement on the programme,
was the
WHEELBARRoW AND SACK RACES,
which produced & great deal of laughter, to say
nothing of the dust and broken noses. and was
enjoyed by all except perhaps, the unfortunate
competitors who came out guerJlonless. This
was followed by a
| MATCH GAME OF BASE BALL
between the Independents, Of Harrisonburg,
and the Pleasant Valley club, which resulted
in the defeat of the latter. The playing on
both sides was far from the best.
THE TOURNAMENT.
The event OF the day, was the grand tourna-
ment. 1t had been agreed by the successful
knights to waive the honors of the day previous
and all enter into the contest of Friday on an
equal footing. In addition to the honor of
browning the Queen, prize of twenty dollars
was to reward the achievements of the champi-
on of the day. After a stirring and eloquent
charge by Captain John Paul, delivered from
his seat in the saddle, the fitting began
Twelve noble knights entered the list, twelve
manly hearts resolved to do or die, twelve gal
liant lances were placed at rest, and as the
twelve chargers pranced down the arena, the
Greaser Band struck up, 1--WE won't go home
till morning. After great deal of riding, in
which the contestants distinguished themselves
by the ability with which they missed the ring,
the need of victory and the twenty dollars, was
award ed to Sir Knight ''Harry, of Navarro, "
W. B. Lurty, second honor, Knight of the
''Lone Starr Mr. Munday, third honor, ''King
of Franklin, }" Mr.. Enrlck, fourth honor, Knight
of the Gross J. c. Wright.
| THE PIG RACE.
At the close of the tourney came the pig
race. A critical observer will doubtless be sur
prised at the suddenness of the descent, but
there are strange things transpiring every day
in this queer world of ours, and the step from
the chivalrous to the ludicrous, is not so diff
ticult as in times gone by. Now, in order tc
make a first-class pig pursuer. fine qualifica-
lions are necessary-one must be swift of foot,
strong of limb, steady of eye, firm of hold ant
resolute of purpose. 1t is not recorded that
Caesar ever engaged in pig race, andi is well
for history that such is the case, for as credu-
lous as we may be, it would be hard to believe
that he had ever gazed on creased poker
and exclaimed, ''ueni, gada, rici" IIe might
come, and he might sec, but it depends very
much upon surrounding circumstances, and
the condition Of the pig, whether the sentence
would ever be completed, and Our opinion is