Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-04
NEW HAVEN CONN. TUESDAY MORNING. 4.
Tuesday Norning, May 4, 1880.
THE VIENNA TOURNAMENT.

| Charity in these days employs many and various instrumentalitiss to accomplish its purpose, but it has inspired nothing more I unique or gorgeous than the tournament re- gently held at Vienna for the benefit of the suf ferers by last winters floods in the provinces | of Moravia, Galicia and Istria. This tourna- ment, which has been in rehearsal for months,
 came of in ''the Spanish riding school" in the evening. This riding school is not the unat- | tractive place that riding schools generally are, but is an elegant amphitheatre, surround ed by galleries borne up by marble pillars. The walls on this occasion were decked with old Gobelin tapestries worth more than $500, ,OOO. The Emperor's box was ornn- mented in the same style, and tropical plants scattered here and there mads the place look still more like 8 fairy palace. Twenty seven Jobloehof electric lamps shone upon the scene and made it's splendor almost as plain as would the sunlight.
 At 7 o'clock the Emperor entered his box. With him came the Arohduke Albrecht, the field marshal, and the Duke of Cumberland, the son of the late King of Hanover. A flourish of trumpets, answered by the band playing an old march in keeping with the time of Macmillan l., announced them. Then appeared as imperial herald fine figure on horseback, Count -Harnancourt, one of the handsomest men in the empire, behind whom followed four heralds, one with the arms of the city of Vienna, the other three with those of the three provinces for whose benefit ths tournament was held, all of them in splendid costumes which dezzled the eye. Then rode in two trains of chasseurs and men-at-arn1s, led by Count Oolloredo and Count Meran, the latter the grandson of the good old Arohduke John. Their follow CTS were variously dressed. One was in the hunters green gsrb, another wore plate armor, third was clad in a shirt of mail, but each bore an enormous spear with fox's tail floating from the top of it. After these came number of deer and channels hunters, led by Count Wilzsk, who a few years ago fitted up ship at his own expense and went in search of the North Pole. After the deer chase followed the falcon chase, led by the Archduke William, the Emperors uncle, and the young Arehduke Eugene, his nephew, whose splendid figure was attired in garb of cream -colored velvet embroidered all over with gold Some of the handsomest ladies of the aristccracy, each with falcon on her gauntIeted hand and exquisitely dressed, fol lowed. Some of these ladies wors the small old German gemmed gold caps on their heads. Iu large carriage, decorated with flowers, gold and tapestries, followed some select beauties of the court who did not choose to put their horsemanship to the test. Most of these ladies wore the large velvet hat so much admired in one of Rembrandt's pictures, and with their splendid dresses of different colors, magnificent jewels, and unparalleled embroi- dery in gold and precious stones, made bril- liant and charming picture. For con- trast's sake the ladies were fol- lowed by the bear-chase and the boar hunt, the former led by the Duke of Wur- temburg. the latter by Prince Thurn and Taxis, in whose train were four hunting-car- riagas with gilt figures, Gobslin tapestries, feathers and ornaments of all kinds. After these came the spells of the chase, borne by the followers and the ohasseurs, and laden upon superb carriages ornamented with lions heads, eagles, falcons and hounds. All the game was real and had been killed the day be- fore by the noble actors in the tournament. The whole procession, consisting of 226 per sons, 142 of them on horseback, and of twen- ty carriages, found room enough in the centre of the riding school and stopped in front of the Emperor, whom the gentlemen saluted by raising their right hands and the ladies by lowing their heads slightly and lowering their riding whips.
 After the tournament had boon opened by this gorgeous procession the falcon-chase rode quadrille, during which the brilliant costumes, the splendid horses and the harmo- ny of all could be observed. But the greatest novelty was 8 quadrilIs, which four of the Emperor's own horsebrsakers rode, and which was gone through entirely in the Spanish pace. Then came quadrilIes with the two horse and four horse carriages, and these, which seemed the most difficult of all, yet went of with the greatest ease. The last performance was the knocking off of deers' heads at full gallop with the point of lance and clearing hedges over yard high Some of the riders cleared l thess with drawn swords in their hands, sonns- times four abreast. The show concluded with the passing of tho whole procession again be- fore the Emperor.
 Those of our readers who are inclined to envy the Niennese Who were permitted to zee such spectacle can console themselves in a measure, for the eircuses are upon us, and 1t only needs little imagination to make spIen- did affair cut of the grand entry" and the displays of horssmanship that follow it. One has only to imagine that the spangles are gems the bright cloths silk, satin and velvet, the riders Archdukes and Arcfduchesses, the ring master an Emperor and the audience thoroughly aristocretio, end the thing is done EDITORIAL NOTES.