Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-22
Alefan0ria 6az&tte
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRI-WEERLY BI
EDGAR SNOWDEN.
GAZETTE BUILDING, NO. 70 PRINCE STREET.

GAZETTE BUILDING, NO. 70 PRINCE STREET.
Six ''"' eS IN
The Markham Tournament.
At the tournament, held at Markham on
Thursday, for tho benefit of Turner Ashby
Lodge, No. 232, A. F. & A. M., the following
charge to the knights was delivered by Louis
Il. Payne, esq.,, of this city -
Sir knights, Ladies md Gentlemen The
place of the institution Of chiVaIry 10 tho
world's history is clear. The literature con.
ncctcd with chivalry ruus through all tho bis
tory, fable and poetry of the period or Its eXls
teucc. 1t forms the special characteristic or
European civilization in the middle ages:
During tho period between the 5th and 10th
centuries there existed 10 that part OF Europe
which had been portion of the Roman empire
scarcely trace OF culture except IN the clol5-
tcrs, scarcely any safety to person or property
except such rs had como into the possession OF
tho church. Elsewhere the strong hand OF
violence was tho only law. But in time spirit
Of chiyalrous rcsisence began to manifest itself,
and hero and there brave and humane man
would take upon himself the task OF protecting
the weak, and redressing the wrongs OF tho TO-
iurcd. Women being tho weakest and most
liable to suffer wrong, naturally first claimed
this protection; ard 80 to courage was added
courtesy and refinement, and at least 10 theory,
chastity and temperance as essential to tho
character OF these self appointed champions.
The ideal knight of the middle ages was man
trained to the use of arms. imbued with genc-
rous sentiments, and possessed OF oil the
humane virtues. He was ideally bravo, cour..
tcous, courageous, gallant, ohlvarous and
devoted to tho protection of the ladies. War
was tho main business Of knight, but in tho
most turbulent times men cannot DO always
fighting, and so the chase, tournament and
other games Of mimic warfare were the oocu
lions and amuScments Of chivalry. Tho tour
uament was the most elaborate of these martial
games, and was held under tho auspices OF
some sovereign or great noble, and was atten'
dcd by ladies who bestowed the prizes won py
tho successful combatants. Such. ladies' and
gentlemen, is hurried outline OF tho history
Of the great institution of chivalry, which mas
conferred many benefits upon tho world; 6uoh,
ladies and gentlemen, was chlYary When tno
knights of Branksome Hall:
Wore their armour bright
Through day and night,
Iu gloves Of steel,
Aud drank red wine through tho helmet
barred.
But, ladies and gentlemen, in this material
age the idea is rapidly gaining ground that
chivalry is extinct +; that it has no actual eXls.
tcnco other than on The pages OF the poet or
novelist. Such is not the truth. % the con.
trary every principle which enters into the tor.
malion of chvaric character has found lts
shining illustration 10 this ago. 1t may not be
the chivalry of which :,
They wovo bright fables in tho days OF old,
When reason borrowed fancy painted wings;
When truths clear river flowed oc'r sands OF
geld.
And told 10 soDg its high and mystic
thiogs"-
:. may not be the chivalry which inspired the
ridiculous Dvu Quixnte to 20 forth into the
world "still in rude armour droOood." charging
wind mills and galley slaves it may not be tho
chivary at whose feet Edith Plantagenet drops
a white rose from her jeweled hand; it may 1os
bo the chivsIry which the poet Scott has eulled
all the fowevs of rhetoric and romance in his
Talisman to portray; it may not be the chlValry
of King Arthur overlaid with absurd tcslons by
Monkish chronicers and medieval poets, but 1t
is the chivalry Of tho l9h century, whose
swelling voice comes
From the field at Appomattox, from Manassas
bloody plain,
From Tho lips Of those now living, from the
graves of those who arc slain,
From TIE widows and the orphans, from the
children yet unborn,
| From the ruucd homes and places OF a people
with all, save honor, gone,
proclaiming in tones of thunder that chlvsry
| H. nj
einia has but recently laid too many shinlog
sacrifices upon the altar of chlVary to believe
that it pcrishcd with tho fifth and tenth cen
tu1ies Can apy oDc stand hero within the
shadows Of these grand CID mountains around
which cluster the memories of 50 many valiant
deeds, whose bills have rupg with the thunder
Of Stoncwa Jacksou's cannon, and across
whose rugged breast Ashbys cavalry have
charged, ard tell mc that chivalry is dead
| Were | commissioned by the spirit OF King
Arthur TO create 90 ideal Knight, l would not
30 back to the middle ages. | would not regard
the Council Of Cermont, | would not accept
| the models OF tho Round Table, but 1 would
raise from the sopulcbre and cause to wa TX tortt
in the world, with all tho fires Of life auimstinG
his soul, the blood Of perfect health courslne
through his veins, and the light OF lntellec
a,shiny from his eagle eye, that cavalier, With
out fear and without reproach, whose name and
fame have shed such lustrc upon the Contedo
rate arms.
Goa Willie thy uativo mountains loom
10 misty blue about thy home,
Shall Ashby' 8 fame in battle won
Be to all knights their guiding sur"
10 day the spirit of Turner Ashby appealstt
those whose foot falls press the rocks OF his no
tive mountains, and Inc boots Of whose stced
s,nk in the s5l Of This beautiful valley, telling
them TO DO elevated in courage, defcrentlal L
women, aud sensitive to every suggestion
honor aud duty, for chivalry is not dead. To