Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-08-20
gnfal aud gersumal.

meht, unuer the direct management OF Mr..
Howard Garrett and the efficient Committee
of Arrangement, would take place at the
Great Falls on the 18th inst, was sufficient
to attract large number of visitors as well
as to ensure to those attending, a day of de-
lightful and innocent pleasure
Though the age of chivalry, as an institu-
ton, has long since
"Gone glimmering through the dream of
things that were,"
though the casque, the spear, the banners
and the plume have crumbled into dust in
the museum of curiosities, though the cas-
ties on the steep no longer resounds with
the plaintive lays Of the romantic troubadour,
the true spirit of Knighthood and Knight
Errantry is not dead and can never die
whilst honor is cherished and virtue main
tanned, So long as
Fair laughs the moon, and soft the zephyrs
blow"
so long as woman's image and woman's love
finds shrine or erects an altar upon the
heart of man, so long as the mellow inspira-
ton of her smile is felt or the poetic glance
of her eye can thrill the soul of man with
joy, knightly spirit will exist.
The tournament was instituted in honor
of woman; they held her up as being in
whom every virtue was centered and whose
gentle appreciation was the noblest of re-
wards, and by converting this maxim into
code they threw mantle of sentiment over
the barbaric panoply Of knighthood which
was reflected alike in the device on its buck
Ter and in its altered department. 1t ever
claimed defense and tender regard and
consideration for woman, for her weakness,
her gentleness and her beauty, which,
though the amelioration was originally
more apparent than real, and confined to
empty words and ceremonies, paved the way
for her advancement TO more secure, more
dignifed, and more natural position. The
troubadours, we learn from history, were
not only recognized admirers of virtue, they
were the censors of vice, extending from
land to land, from castle to castle the fame
Of the noble and the good, and the infamy
of the wicked. To them we owe the foun-
dation of the great moral safeguard of pub
lie opinion.
1t has been said by brilliant writer, that
Mark Anthony threw away world for Gle
opatras lips, and Mark Anthony was but
type of his race-that speculative school,
Men may talk about the fanatics of the early
Moslem and attribute to religious zeal his
daring and his triumphs. But men, who
have turned over page after page of the hui
man heart, who have seen it in the sunshine
and the shadow, who have watched its
throbbings from the palace to the hove, will
form more correct opinions There was but
one reward for danger and death, and the
soldier, as the stars of the Crescent floated
over him, thought of the dark eyed girl
his prophet had described in language
whose prose is poetry, whose poetry sings
itself into music. We cannot disguise the
fact, rough hew it as we may, the charms of
woman bend us as softly as the perlumed
petal catches the dew, she is the golden key
to every heart and her consistency is IA golden
lock 10 every dHeCtlOn.
1t did not require the glowing language
Of the prophet 10 urge the presence of the
gallant knighthood upon the occasion of this
tournament. They had upon former occa-
sions, with phalanx of beauty, which RI
vailed the description Of the magic pen of Sir
Walter Scott, when he made immortal the
names of Ivenhoe and Rebecca, entered the
arena and contested for the honor of crown
ing the Queen of Love and Beauty.
The place selected was most admirably
adapted for the manly exhibition of knightly
proves, whilst its rustic charms were al
most indescribably heightened by the rich
laugh of blushing womanhood mingling
with the strains of delicious music rendered
by the band from Poolesville. The judges
stand had been favorably erected upon the
slope ola shady hill with view to catch
every figure as it appeared and moved over
the breathing canvas. At the appointed
hour the knights, attended by their mar
shals, were drawn up in front of this stand,
when Col. Alfred Spates, of Cumberland,
the orator of the day, was introduced and
delivered the charge. 1t was the first time
we have had the pleasure of hearing this
gentleman, and upon this occasion he fully
sustained his reputation as popular pub
lie speaker.
The tilt resulted in the following success
full knights: Messrs. Ed. Wyley, r. Shuge-
row, j. and G. Kemp, and w. Case, to whom
were respectively awarded the following
handsome prizes bride and saddle, bride,
gold headed whip, pair of spurs, and silver
headed whip. The prizes having been re-
ceived, the Knights and crowd of visitors re-
paired to the pavilion that had been taste
full and artistically constructed across ro-
mantle ravine and in the midst of a shade
through which the sunlight seldom makes
its way.
Miss Ella Carroll having been chosen
Queen of Love and Beauty, and Misses Alice
Daley, BERTHE Offutt, and Cora Byxoler as
Maids of Honor Col. Spates then intro
duced Richard II. Beall, Esq, who delivered
a coronation address full of beauty and po-
etc thought Mr.. Beall is young man
and bids fair to become a popular and iasc-
mating speaker.
At the conclusion of the address the de-
eidedly handsome crowns were placed by
Mr.. Beall upon the heads of the Queen and
her attendants, when the string band espe-
cially selected for this part of the programme,
performed one Of its best pieces for the royal
set.
Altogether this was one of the best arranged
and best executed tournaments we ever at
tended in this county and reflects much
credit upon the ingenuity and energy OF our
enterprising fellow-citizen Mr.. Howard Gar
rett Show us a man Of appreciation of the
beautiful in life and we will show you a
man Of good heart and noble impulses
The day was far gone, the light had faded
out on the occdent and the dew on the grass