The sun., 1882-08-27
The Etiquette of Tournaments.


At the South tournaments modelled more
or less after the tournaments of the old days
OF knighthood, have long been popular with
spirited young fellows and their maiden ad-
mirers. They afford an opportunity for
the display of fine horsemanship, show off
the fine points of the eQuestrians to the best
advantage have smack OF chivalry about
them which strongly appeals to the youth
full sentiment OF the region, and the girls
like the idea Of pinning their colors on
knights who go forth to contest for them
under their eyes.
But the Southern tournament is very
different thing from the tourney of the mid
die ages, of the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries and earlier, OF which we have all
read with 30 much delight in many spir-
tied romance. That was a contest between
men in armor, military pageant and the
knights, formed in two opposing bands,
sought to unhorse their opponents, and so
exhibit their skill and address to the fair
ladies whom they served. 1t was rough sport,
and girls OF these days would be loath to wit
ness it. Sometimes the knights got very
badly hurt; sometimes they were even killed
But the tournament at the South is
sport at which the gentlest girl might look
without nervous alarm. The knights do not
hurt each other. 1t is contest altogether
unlike the tournament OF the rough days,
and borrows its features rather from the
tournaments which succeeded the fierce and
exciting tussles wherein the knights shat
tered each others spears, and charged
against each other with almost the violence
~ N mi hattl iS nnl a CHI
tournament, suggestive OF those courtiers
engaged in for the amusement Of ladies after
the original thing had fallen into dsrepute
as too rough for polite society.
or late years, too, tournaments such as
that in which the Southern youth have had
so much delight, have become frequent at the
North. They take place every summer at
fashionable watering places, and afford q
good deal of amusement. They are fantas-
tic, it is true To some older people the fuss
and feathers about them may seem silly
frivolous. But they serve a useful purpose
in encouraging emulation in h, Semanship
most desirable accomplishment, which was
too long neglected at the North. They may
not be US good for that as polo, not so good
as the imitation fox hunts in which many
young fellows engage; still, SO far as they
go, they help to make expert riders. AS
compared with the genuine tournament OF
old, one in which sham knights merely try
to put their spears through rings as they
ride rapidly by may seem a very trihing
affair; but even to do that requires steady
eye and clever management of a horse; and,
besides, it is not dangerous.
Such tournaments, therefore, are not to be
,hn1 I l.,
young fellows riding at a breakneck pace.
and keeping their seats like Indians of the
plains. Nor do we object to their wearing
the colorS of their ladies'. That insprits
them to do better Let them dub themselves
knights, if it peases them to do it, and let
them have Queen of Love and Beauty who
shall be crowned by the victor at the end of
the sports, and lead the dance at the ball in
the evening, if the imitation of chivalry is
attractive to them. What harm is there in
that 7
But nowadays contests of all sorts are
called tournaments. The term does not be-
long to them, of course. 1t would be better
to give them their right names, not search
for one which is merely high sounding. STILL
all manly sports are deserving of encourage
ment, and even if they are misnamed to at
tract attention, we shall not fret ourselves
merely because the language is faulty.
A correspondent in North Carolina writes
to us about what he calls tournament. 1t
Is not that, but n contest as to which shall
be most accomplished in the use Of roller
skates, He does not want verbal criticism
from US, however. He desires us rather to
settle u question of etiquette touching tour
naments putting his question in this WISE
is 1t customary for q lady who is crowned Queen OF
Love and Beauty nj tournament, by the successful
knight, TO make speech in acknowledging the honor
cOnferred II So she be expected to be prepared
make speech when crowned the ting grounds with
out any previous intimaton that she will be chosen
queen ,lf crowned ON the grounds in mpromptu
there ought to lie, it seems, speech made save
an acknowledgement by graceful bow 1t would
argue previous preparation by the lady and great
many wond have TO be committing speeches that might
perhaps he loves labor lost should they fail to so,
cure the coveted honor In our the lady to DO
crowned OF the grounds Al skating roler tournament
and we wish to know the proper etiquette about it,"
IL S entirely Unnecessary that the Queen
OF Love and Beauty should make Il speech
when she is crowned. The less speechnak-
ing at tournament the better, and beauty
has no need OF it certainly Beauty is
enough OF Itself. fal batter than any speech