Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-10-25

sion party from the 3lst Senatorial dis.
trict was lost as certainly as a bucket
OF water is lost when emptied into a
river.
The uppermost topic, that evening in
toe city among the reading and bust
ness people was the dispatches from
Europe indicating the outbreak of
gigantic war in that country on the
Turkish question, hsfore the lapse OF
rsuuy months, and produce dealers, or
dealers in grain were that evening
drawing or laying their plans accord
ingly, aud gold ran up in the figures to
the delight of dealers in that precious
metal. The next topic for general con-
versatiOn was the Southern tournament,
in anticipation for the next day. One
hundred thousand people, aud more
than that number, earnestly longed for
good weather on Thursday, SO that the
Tournament could be presented in its
best. A glorious day was vouchsafed
for the occasion as if to WOO a multi
tude to witness the last shadow of a
misersbly poor imitation Of Knight
hood or knight Errantry that Southern
gentlemen INDUCED in.
In the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Four
teenth Centuries kings, princes and
military chieftains became Knights, aud
frequently challenged each other to
mortal strife in the Tournament, either
for renown or the settlement of matters
in dispute between them. The favor
ite weapons of the Knights we're the
sword, battle axe, heavy club called a
mace, dagger and long lance. They
usually wore closely fitting coat of
mail, of minute links of iron, and a
helmet of steel fo- the head, with a
visor to cover the face. Certain parts
of their horses, such as the chest, head
rump and sides we're also carefully pro-
tected by iron armor. Two Knights,
on horseback, in deadly conflict are
represented in bronze statuary in the
German department, and are worth
seeing. How many of the men who
participated with so much earnestness
in the farce on last Thursday are of
Knigh;ly lineage we do not know, but
we believe it would bring the blush
quickly to the face of a scion of a
knight 20 even intimate that he would
be guilty of such tomfoolery as the
Centennial Tournament. The Knights
of old were earnest men; if there was
one thing above another that they de-
spised, it was the sham, the false, the
preteuder Oh shades OF Kpighthood,
what farce was p.rpetTated in thy
name in the Centennial grounds last
Thursday. How many more we do not
know, but to our certain knowledge
there we're two men on the slope OF
Georges Hill, as witnesses TO the Tourn-
amept, in whose veins flow the blood
of men VITO passed through the eneoun-
ters Of Tournaments of the Old World
hundreds of years ago. But shadow
as it was of the earnest and deadly
pass time sports of kings, princes and
chieftains of the middle ages, it was
one of the great events of the Exhi6i-
tior, for Il was the herald of the de-
cline of aristoeracy or dynasty rule.
as much so as the cerem 1nies of the
Presbyterians about the monument OF
John WithersFoon, on Friday, typify
the rise CT the people to a commanding
voice in matters of both State and
| Church.
The Tournament had been advertised
TO begin at = O'Clock, at the foot of
Georges Hill, on a strip of ground
900 feet long, between the Spanish gov
ernment building and the glass works.
Three arches spanned the course at the
distance of 80 feet from each other
From each arch hung a red ring an inch
and quarter in diameter, and the feat
for the Knight TO perform was TO ride
at gallop or run under the arches and
gather the rings on pointed lance. To
do SO required good horsemanship.
Each Knight was entitled to three
charges or tits. The judges stand
was located on the Machinery Hall
side of the course. One hundred and
fifty thousand people we're assembled
there at the appointed tune, but 'bltch
in the arrangement delayed the Knights
from appearing till about 3 o'clock,
wien an address was delivered from the
judges stand by }. f. Stewart, of Bal
iimore, after which the fitting began.
There were thirteen Knights in the list
as representatives of the thirteen o-igi-
nal States. Two Knights represented
the Centennial and the Union, raising
the number of Knights engaged at
fitting to fifteen. They were Southern
men. A number Of borsemeo, in
full middle-age costume had accom-
panied the knights to the course, and
sat on their steeds near the starting
point, not far frem the glass works. To
the Knight of New Hampshire was ac-
corded the first tilt. He failed to
gather the first two rings, but the third
one be gathered nicely on the point of
his lance. The knight from Massa
chusetts was the next on the list. His
horse shed, which resulted in not gath
ering a ring. The Knight from Rhode
Island took one ring, after which We
left the tilting ground and saw no more
of the Tournament.
Friday was Presbyterian Day, SO
named from the dedication of the With
erspoou Monument in FaIrmount Park,
opposite the east end of Memorial
Hall, short distance outside OF
the fence that encloses the Centen-
NAL Exhibition grounds. The hour for
the beginning of the ceremonies had
been stated at l o'clock; but as the
Chivalry had been slow Oh the previous
day in coming to time, We felt slow
about leaving the Exhibition grounds
at the time appointed for the beginning
Of the dedication. 1t was shortly after