Daily Republican., 1888-09-06
A JOUsr In VIRGINIA.

hAnWu hChtg ailh 1iA hhO NNhAAADn DIV
ranged in line around the field where
the contest is to take place-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 commended in
knightly lists, and old ladies who re-
member when they were honored
with the crown.
The field, about which all are crowd
ing, is long, level stretch OF pasture
land, across which has been marked
out straight course, and at intervals
of about 100 yards across II are built
three frame structures, which strongly
remind one OF gibbets. A stanch up
right is set in the ground. and to its
top is nailed cross bar, extending
over the course, while from the end OF
this bar hangs ring upon hooked
wire. The object OF the contest Is to
take of these rings upon the point of a
lance while riding at full speed. At
one end of the course is platform for
the judge.
AT length bugle call summons the
knights, and they are seen approach
Ahk ut hhC lhA Euu Vi kAlG hNih
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 q wide blue
sash, and bearings lance tied with the
same color, answers "here Next
''the Knight of the Locust Grove"
and a small, dried up looking man,
decked in red, responds. Likewise
are called 1.-THE Knight OF Sleepy Hol-
low" 1.-The Knight of Walnut HILL"
1.-THE Knight of Chincapin," and others.
The roll being over, all fell into an
attitude Of attention, while the orator
of the day delivers the "Charge to the
Knights" reminding them of the
joustings of old, and in many flow
ing period urging them on, TO win
glory and lame for the sake of their fair
ladies. This ends the preliminaries,
and there is general stir among the
crowd in the effort to get good posi-
lions from which to view the riding.
Now, all is ready, and hush OF ex.
pectancy falls upon the people. Sud
denly the bugle call bursts out amid
the silence, and the herald cries, 1.-The
Knight of the Golden Keyp At the
word he leaves the ranks, and fixing
his lance, spurs his horse into rapid
run, and, his eyes upon the first ring,
rushes toward it. On flies his steed,
sending the loose earth in showers be
hind him, and as he passes the first
support, the knight carries away the
ring upon his lance. In a moment he
is upon the second, but misses it by a
hairs breadth, sending 1t spinning far
into the crowd; the last be 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 tails TO
take single ring. and so, in turn
all try, each making 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. II needs stout heart, steady
hand and 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 es.
sayed 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 cham.
pions. The crowd is wrought up to
the greatest enthusiasm, and watch
with breathless interest each knightly
contestant, and break into deafening
cheers at each success. AT last another
ring is missed, and the "Knight of the
Golden Key" stands victor. AS he
rides for the last time down the held
toward the judges stand-his horse
tlecked with foam, his face blazing
beneath his broad brimmed hat-the
people burst into wilder cheers, girls
wave their handkerchiefs, boys throw
their hats in the air, and all is coniu.
sion.
GROWING THE QUEEN.