The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-05-06
sAisrellanrous.
Rise and Decline Of Chivalfy.


fighting duels- They were equally igno-
rant Of gallantry toward the fair sex, and
condescended to kiss their ladies' only for
the mean purpose Of discovering whether
they had been surreptitiously tippling
Champagne or anisette. In their wars
they relied altogether on their infantry,
and from their sculpturer and paintings it
is evident they nourished very absurd
breed Of horses. Even the divine Homer
yaunts the prowess Of his princes and he
roes in BLACKBOARD pugilistic encounters,
and the great Olympic Games were as
vulgar and brutal as the modern exhibitions
Of Jim Mace and Tom Hyer, The chariot
race was inferior in interest to the trotting
matches at our agricultural fairs, and there
is nothing in history, ancient or modern,
to equal in beastliness the public shows of
the Roman Colosseum. On the other
hand, the Gothic tournament was the most
splendid, romantic, and exciting of all the
public games and festivals that have ever
been established in any age or country;
and it was from Asia, that nursery Of all
that is sublime in imagination, exalted in
sentiment, magnificent is display, and
thoroughbred in horseaesh, that the chez
aleresqae idea was introduced into Europe,
and took root among the ruins of the an
eient civilization; for while man may be
brave, patriotic, and even virtuous on foot,
il is impossible for him to be gallant, ro-
mantle, proud, magnanimous, and, in short,
ehivalric, without the inspiration Of
noble horse. La Croix says: Gle mot,
chevalrie, exprime IN ensemble de meurs,
didees, ct de contoumes, particplier au
moyen age european, ct don't panalogue ne
Sc retrouve pas dams less annales haInaines."
II rose in Europe with the Gothic eathe-
dral, closely intertwined With that sublime
religion which united in its service all the
courage, capacity, and genius Of romant-
ic and wonderful age. Love, faith, and
honor we're the white angels, lawless pride,
lust, and vengeance the fends, blazoned
on its banners. 0ssiap and the NibelH.-
gen Lied sing of chivalry in its lusty,
untrammeled, and heroic youth.
When Froissars wrote, the tendency Of
events had already marked its decline, as
the fierce and naughty independence of
the feudal noble was quelled by the cen
tralizing power Of kings, and the purity Of
knighthood suIlied by the eorrupting in
fuence of courts. Yet, even at that pc
Rod, the romantic idea prevailed that it
was essential to gentleman's character
to pay his debts, that men faced fatigues,
privations, and death itself rather than
fail insheir plighted faith.
Then comes the discovery Of gunpowder,
and foreshadowing the fact, Ariosto sings
how the brave Roland captures shooting
iron from a felonious governor, and throws
the abominable invention into the sea with
indignant exclamation: $50, base and
unworthy weapon. that no true knight NAV
ever use-forged by BeeIzebub--whereby
eowardice, weakness, and rascalitv NAV
triumph over strength, courage aud ius-
tee i" But the brave Roland was mis-
taken. Gunpowder only cracked the she'll
and demanded a change Of weapops in
deed, il elevated the role Of kniehthood by
describing mere brutal strength from the
catalogue Of chiyalric viirtues' and exal,inp
the power of courage and iust;ce
II was really the discovery Of pr;o,;as
that killed chiyalry soul and boay Then
the power that comes Of kpowledye passed
over 10 the uoarmed people The uplet.
tered Prince could 10 longer deleyats ne
writing and read;uv of h;a le,ts,s to .
hired yarlet III ,ba do..b,v non,,..
dared 10 longer ol' boast,
ar,,.,, .o.,..., ~, :. s. -.
savs dsHain ever penned 4 line.
II bao,,,,<. ,,,,..;,,, - l..;.,
1910 d'ss''''' y ieAlnlng 70 reao,
'''sA' 2 learning g rue, ia'e rs ua
''"s eneesh 'or po'h- warriors were
superseded by philosophers tournaments
y scholastic a'spu'a''ons; study bowed the