Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-07
Tournament and Ball at Orkney Springs
From the Baltimore SUM-
THE CROWD AT ORKNEY-THE TOURN-
AMENT AND BALL.

ORKNEY SPRINGS, Shen. co., Va.
August /, 1878.
During the past fortnight or so the
company at this place has steadily gath
cred, and from about two hundred on
the 18th of July has now grown to about
five hundred in number. In that time
the cheated term" which so scourged
many of the chief cities Of the country
has been experienced, and which, doubt
less hurried many more 10 the noun
tains than might have come. Orkney
received its due share, and even last
week its company numbered about four
hundred. In the past two or three days,
in view of the event announced for to-
day-a tournament and grand ballad
ded to the other attractions OF this place
and its health-glving waters, the arrl-
walls have been unusually large with few
departures.
Orkney has fine avenues for eques-
TRANS, and the tourney took place on
the stretch Of smooth and slightly as
cending road on the eastern side OF the
buildings, where, Immediately after din
ner, the guests began to gather in the
spacious porticoes rising to the third
story Of the Pennsylvania and Maryland
Buildings, opposite to which lie a row
of separate, neat and new family cot
tages the porticos and windows OF which
were also filled. The spectacle was
quite gay and animatcd,so many ladies,
with bright faces and smiles, grazing
the scene, and by their presense encour-
aging the knights. who had entered for
the contest.
The marshals were Chief, w. d..
Peachy; aids Mr., White and j. W. r..
Moore.
Capt. II. II. Riddleberger, Of Shen-
andoah, introduced the orator, Marshal
Mccormick, Esq. of Crarke county, who
from the second balcony addressed the
knights, who were mounted and drawn
up below. Mr.. Mccormick spoke at
some length, and the central idea of his
address was the value of an honorable
ambition in achievingall great and wor-
thy results; the hope Of reward IN some
proper form indeed being necessary to
all tndeavor, and the cherishing Of hon
orable and courteous rivalry the true
spirit of knighthood in the past, as it
should be in all the purposes OF man and
society generally at this day.
The address was received with hearty
applause, followed by several inspiring
airs from the band.
Twelve knights entered for the con-
test. generally wearing gay colors, ac-
cording to their respective tastes, all
superbly mounted, aflording fair critic
rion of the fine breeds OF horses raised
in Virginia for under the saddle. They
were all very spirited and pretty ami
mails. and excited much admiration.
The successful riders were as follows:
An. Sibert, Knight Of Rockingham,
achieved the honor OF growing the
queen OF love and beauty: j. +. Tenn
pleton, Knight of Rockbridge, the first
maid of honor; Charles Lantz, Knight OF
Mt. jackson, the second maid ofhonor;
T. J. Meem, Knight of Rude's Hill, the
third maid of honor; a. \. Wise.
Knight of Jupiter, the fourth maid OF
honor.
The other riders were NJ. NJ. Moore,
Knight of New Jersey, whose score was
next to that Of the knight Of Rocking
ham. but withdrew from the contest
for the maids of honor, not having achie-
we'd his ambition to crown the queen;
also w. o. Sibert. Knight of Lone Star,
G.. B. Boyd, Knight Of Blue Ridge, ).
NJ. Henkel, Knight of New Market
Samuel Moore, Knight Of the Forest, Dr..
c. Moore. Knight Of Request, &. F.
Murray, Knight Of Stonewall.
The Judges OF the tourney were
Messrs. b. L. Blackfoyd, W. B. Rogers
and Arthur Herbert.
THE CORONATION BALL.
The ball was set for Q O'Clock at night
IN the great dancing hall, which is loo
feet in length by so in width. The
room was crowded with the well-dresscd
company to its full capacity. y plat
form had been raised at the west end OF
the hall. tastclully decorated with ever
greens and flowers. and on which was a
crimson-covered throne for the queen.
Soon the coronal procession entered,
headed by the marshal, consisting OF
ten little girls in white, a tiny little
thing at the head bearing the crown up
on a cushion which was to deck the
brow Of the queen of love and beatty,
and, followed by the successful knights
with their chosen "ladlcs fair" they
proceeded to the platform, when it was
seen that Miss Mary Mosby, daughter
of the famous Colonel Mosby, OF the
Virsinia cavalry in the late war, haC
been chosen queen by the gallant Knight
of Rockbridgc.
Her maids of honor, selected by thC
knights in turn above named, according
to the order of achievement in the tilt
ling, were as follows: First, Miss Lellf
b. Zrkle, Of Augusta county second
Miss Mamie Graham, Of Alexandria
Va. third, Miss Mamie Metals, o
Washington, D. c. fourth, Miss Nan
ME Marbury, Of Alexandria, Va.
Standing in their places upon thu
platform, the stalwart marshal lifted th'
crown from its little bearer, and hand
ing it to the hero Of the tourney, th'
Queen of love and beauty was graceful
Ily crowned by him, amidst clapping o
hands and music, and assembled to he
throne amidst smiles and bushes, sur
rounded on either hand by her maid
and their knights.