Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-07-24

At last the hour of the tournament
draws near, and all the vehicles are ranged
in line around the field where the contest
is to take olace-and all are filled with
happy occupants; pretty girls in ravishing
costumes, young men of every type, old
men who recall the days when they con-
tended in knightly lists, and old ladies
who remember when they were honored
with the crown
The field, about which all are crowding,
is a long, level stretch of pasture land,
across which has been marked out
straight course, and at intervals of about
100 yards across it are built three frame
structures, which strongly remind one of
gibbets. A stanch upright is set in the
ground, and to its top is nailed a cross
bar extending over the course, while from
the end of this bar hangs a ring upon
hooked wire The object of the contest
is to take off these rings upon the point
of lance while riding at full speed. AT
one end of the course is a platform for
the judge.
At length bugle call summons the
knights, and they are seen approaching
at the far end of the field. Slowly they
ride up to the stand-ten of them-and,
refining up their horses, form into line,
facing the judges, ready to answer the
roll call. A fine looking set of men they
are and mounted upon superb horses.
And now the call begins. "The Knight
of the Golden Key" cries the herald, and
young man wearing wide blue SASH
and bearing q lance tied with the same
color, answers .here." Next ''the Knight
of the Locust Grove, and small. dried
mp looking man, dccked in red. responds.
Likewise are called ''tho Knight of
In1l sa.Ixk - NN,I,.
Hill, the knight of Chincapin," and
others.
The roll being over. all fall into an atti-
tude of attention, while the orator of the
day delivers the Charge to the Knights"
reminding them of the joustings of old,
and in many a flowing period urging them
on, to win glory and fame for the sake of
their fair ladies. This ends the prelimi-
naries, and there is general stir among
the crowd in the effort to get good posi-
tions from which to view the riding
A HUSH OF EXPECTANCY.
Now, all is ready, and the hush # *
pectancy falls upon the people Suddenly
the bugle call bursts out amid the silence.
and the herald cries, 1.-The Knight of the
Golden Keyl" AT the word he leaves the
ranks, and fixing his lance, spurs his horse
into a rapid run, and, his eyes upon the
first ring, rushes toward it. On flies his
steed, sending the loose earth in showers
behind him, and as he passes the first sup
port, the knight carries away the ring
upon his lance. In moment he is upon
the second, but misses it by a hairs
breadth, sending it spinning far into the
crowd; the last he takes, and rides slowly
back, flushed with his triumph, amid the
cheers of the crowd.
The rings are replaced, and the next in
order essays the feat, but fails to take
single ring. And so, in turn all try, each
making O striking picture as his stout
steed bears him on like an arrow and he
sits firm and erect in his saddle, his lance
straight before him, his gay ribbons
streaming in the wind, his eye fixed upon
the coveted ring. 1t needs g stout heart,
q steady hand and a true eye to succeed
at such work, for the slightest false
motion may not only miss the ring, but
throw the luckless knight headlong from
his horse.
At length each knight has thrice essayed
the run; some are covered with glory and
some with shame. And now comes the
most exciting time, for three knights have
each the same score and must ride out the
tie. BY this time the horses have come
to understand what is required Of them,
and the spirit of the sport has seized upon
each mans heart The riding is superb.
Again and again they run. each taking
all the rings each time until at last one
of the knights misses and retires. Now
comes the struggle of the champions.
The crowd is wrought up to the greatest
enthusiasm, and watch with breathless
interest each knightly contestant, and
break into deafening cheers at each sue
cess. At last another ring is missed, and
the Knight of the Golden Key" stands
victor. AS he rides for the last time
down the field toward the judges stand
his horse fecked with foam, his face
blazing beneath his broad brimmcd hat
the people burst into wilder cheers, girls
wave their handkerchiefs. boys throw
their hats in the air, and all is confusion.
CRowNING THE QUEEN.
And now he reaches the platform and
salutes the judges. The crown is hung
upon his lances end. Then slowly no
rides along the outskirts Of the crowd,
until he comes to carriage where sits the
lady whose colors he wears, and whose
face IS now radiant with smiles for her
knights success. Reaching her he dis
mounts and drops the crown at her feet,
thus choosing her Queen of Love and
Beauty, while the acclamation5 of the
crowd attest their approval of his choice
Meanwhile the knights who have won the
second and third places have received
smaller crowns, and hasten likewise to
bcstow them upon their ladies, making
them Maids of Honor"
And now for an hour is pause, while
the crowd breaks up into groups and dis
cusses the riding aud its results. AS it is
growing toward evening, many seize the
opportunity to cat the lunches they have
brought with them, or are carried off by
friends to sup in the neighboring farm
houses.
At length the bugle call rings out once
more and tho crowd reassemble near the
stand. Tho Knight of the Golden Key"
leads his lady upon the platform, while
the Knight Of Walnut Hill and the
knight Of Warsaw follow with their
1naios Of Aonor. They are met BY the
Judges and BY tho most famous speaker
Of the country, who proceeds to make O
long and fIowery orafion ending by