Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-02
AT CHoIsY LIE ROY.
A GAME OF TIE MIDDLE AGES ON
THE SEINE.
A Barbarous Sport ard Eow it is Con-
Quoted in France
Pans. September 6. 1850.


an hours ride on the railroad. King
Louis XIV. there constructed a magnificent
chateau for his last favorite, Madame de
Pompadour. The broad streets shaded
with giant trees, the grand walks and ma
jestic air of the place well indicate the
footsteps of a king. The garden of the
chateau extends down to the waters banks,
while the extensive park in the back serves
as a screen for the curious of the roadside.
There still remain traces of the deep, wide
walled ditch which in past days extended
around the entire grounds as a fertilization.
The country around Is fruitful, and pretty
extensively dotted with small villages: in
fact so numerous are these little towns that
an ordinary walk would take you through
at least FIVE. Notwithstanding the beauty
and attraction OF the place, particularly its
convenient distance from Paris, Choisy lie
Roy is not favorite resort of Parisians.
1t is altogether too grand and imposing,
for those who thirst for breath Of fresh
air prefer trees of more intimate nature,
whose low, thick branches produce little
cool hooks where they may roll on the
grass and fall asleep. Yet once each year
Choisy lie Roy is
THE SCENE OF MUCH GAYETY
The moment of its fete, which took place
last Sunday. Fetes always take place on
a Sunday; they generally begin ON Sun
day and last over through the following
Sunday. During the week very little
amusement is going on aside from the
checauT de boiS, patronized by the children !;
everything remains stationary until the
last Sunday has arrived. Whatever
may be the entertainment the first Sunday,
the second Sunday is invariably grand
bali and illumination. As Choisy lie Roy is
situated on the Seine, the principal per-
Torrance took place ON the water There
was what is called la joNte, game savoring
so much of the middle ages that it is both
curious and interesting Along the lower
bank of the Seine, close to the waters
edge, was erected tent, high stand in
the center for the Mayor city officials and
the judges OF the prizes to be awarded, and
on either side Of this stand long benches,
graduated in hight, for those spectators
willing to pay ten sous for the privilege of
sitting during the performance. Imnledi
ately In front of the judges stand were
placed low benches in regular rows for the
fanfare The fuTdre exists in all the
cities and villages of France, and is an asso-
citation of amateurs, young men of the
place, who play the clarionet in concert.
Long before the principal actors had made
their appearance or the more aristocratic
audience had arrived, the banks Of the
river and one entire side of the bridge We're
filed with spectators, and to Judge from
the number, it may be imagined at what
early hour those in the front row had come
to get the best places. The river was
filled with men, women and chill
dren moving here and there prepare
tory to stationing themselves in front of
the scene of action. At the appointed hour
the faayare was heard in the distance, then
the musicians were seen moving down the
inclined plane leading Co the lower bank );
they were followed by the Mayor, the
judges and other dignitaries behind these
last came some forty young men dressed in
white linen jackets and pants over fan
mel drawers and shirts, red or blue sashes
around their waists and red or blue caps on
their heads; they each carried long red
or blue pole in their hand with a round
head at both ends, one end of which was
padded. As they approached the crowd
cheered them, the tdntdre blew louder
than ever, and everyone was in state of
SINGULAR EXCITEMENT.
Close to the waters edge were mounds of
sand arranged for the occasion, and into
these the young men planted their stats
and stood around in groups, apparently
impatient for the trial In the center Of
one of these sand banks, facing the tribunal,
was placed sort on tube of metal, into
which rockets were thrust and pushed and
then set off, producing a great noise
to be echoed in the distance as the
rocket exploded far up in the
air. This was the signal that the
exercises were to commence. Immediately
two boats fastened to the bank, one paint
ed blue and the other red, both with
small raised platform at the end, were
seized each by five men wearing the sash
and cap the color of the boat. Four of
them grasped the oars while the fifth stood
to steer. Close to the waters edge stood
three judges, or rather arbitrators, of the
rules of the game. The young men drew
lots as to their opponents and their turn.
Another rocket was sent off the first COM
batants selling their poles took their place
on their respective boats, the fanfare
ceased, the drum was played and the row.
ers piled their oars. The two boats had
departed at a long distance from each other
and were now approaching; as they pass
each other the young combatants take off
their hats and gracefully salute each other
the boats continue for some distance, then
turn, and as they again meet, each young
man places his pole against his breast and
points the other end at his adversary the
force of the movement produced by the
rowers causes one to give way,
and back he goes tumbling into the
water with his pole the vanquisher bows
and turns and totters, and off he goes over
the side OF the boat, dragging his pole after
him, while the crowd on the shore APP.
plaud and halloo with undisguised delight.
The young men splash around in the water
like fish and then swim ashore, laughing
and apparently as amused as their COM
panions, who greet them with derision.
The second combatant had scarcely touched
the waters surface when the drum ceased
and the music of the fanfare recommended.
During this time
ALL Is EXCITEMENT
And animation on shore, as the qualities of
the champions are discussed. The fanfare
finishes and two others take their places
on the boats as they pass each other they
salute as did the first, and it is only at the
second meeting they point their great
poles at their opponents breast. One is
forced to give way and fall into the water,
and fall he did with great splash, while
the vanquisher, with triumph, looks to-
wards the crowd as he keeps his footing
upon the platform, but the heavy pole has
slightly touched the side of the boat ard
his companions with one voice cry
out: cd Feaui pedui He hold his
pole aloft and with proud defiance looks
interrogatively upon the crowd now the
voices of the arbitrator are heard to cry,
sd fequt peau!' when the disappoint.
ed victor Immediately throws his pole in
the water, and joining his two hands above
his head, makes one plunge and disappears
beneath the rivers surface The fanfare
begins as before, and the animated con-
rersation of the sDectators reeommences.