Smyrna times., 1888-07-25
A J0UST IN VIRGINIA.
THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT ON
THE RAPPAHANNoCK.

The Great Event of the Year-Callina the
Roll of Brave knights GLORY and
shame-"Queen of Love and Beauty,
Crowned.
AT last the hour of the Tournament
draws near, and all the vehicles are ranred
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 con
tended III knightly lists, and old ladies
who remember when they were honored
with the crown.
The field, about which all are crowdinp.
IS long, level stretch of pasture land
across which has been marked ont n
straight course, and at intervals of about
100 yards across it are built three frame
structures, which strongly remind one of
glbbets. 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 a
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 a buglo call summons the
Knights, and they are seen approaching
at the far end of the field. SLOWLY tba92
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. fine looking set of men tbev
are and mounted upon superb horses.
And now the call begins. THE KNIGHT
OF the Golden Key, cries the herald, and
young man wearing a wide blue sash.
ana bearing lance tied with the same
color, answers "here." Next "the Knirht
OF the Locust Grove" and a small. dried
up looking man, decked in red, responds.
Likewise are called ''the Knirht of
Sleepy Hollow "the Knight Of Walnut
Hill, the Knight of Chincapin." and
Others
The roll being over, all fall into an atti-
tude of attention, while the orator of tbc
day delivers the Charge to the Knights" ."
reminding them of the ioustings 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-
narles, and there is a general stir among
the crowd in the effort to get good posi-
tons from which to view the riding.
4 HUSH OF EXPECTANCY
Now, all is ready, and the hush # ~
pectancy falls upon the people. Suddenly
the bugle call bursts out amid the silcnce
and the herald cries, "The Knight of tho
Golden Key" At the word he leaves the
ranks, and fixing his lance, spurs his horse
INTO a rapid run, and, his eyes upon the
hrst ring, rushes toward it. On flies his
steed, sending the loose earth in showers
Dehmd hm, and as he passes the first SUD-
port, the knight carries away the rino
upon his lance. In a 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
Dack, 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 n
single ring. And so. in turn all t1v. 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 cav ribbons
streaming in the wind, his eve fixed uDon
the coveted ring. 1t needs a stout heart
a steady hand and a true eye to succeed !
at such work, for the slightest false
motlon may not only miss the ring. but
throw the luckless knight headlong from !
mis- horse.
At length each knight has thrice essaved !
the run; some are covered with glory and |
some with shame. And now comes tbe |
most exciting time, for three knights have |
each the same score and must ride ont the
tie By this time the horses have come
to understand what is required of them
and the spirit of the sport has seized uDon |
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 ceafening 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
IoWn the held toward the judges stand
ms morse hecSed with foam, his face
C,Iazlng beneath his broad brimmed hat
-he people burst into wilder cheers, girls
wave their handkerchiefs. bows throw
'helr hats in the air and all is confusion.
CRoWNING THE QUEEN.
And now he reaches the platform and
'al"tes the judges. The crown is hung
lPon his lances end. Then slowly he
ldes along the outskirts Of the crowd,
lhtl ne comes to a carriage where sits the
ady whose colors he wears, and whose
ace is now radiant with smiles for her
nights success. Reaching her he dis
MOUNTS and drops the crown at her feet
hus choosing her Queen of Love and
5eauty, while the acclamations of the
.rowd attest their approval of his choice.
Meanwhile the knights who have won tba
econd and third places have received
mailer crowns, and hasten likewise to
,estow them upon their ladies. making
hem "Maids Of Honor"
And now for an hour is a pause. while
he crowd breaks up into groups and dis
usses the riding and its results. AS itis
Srowing toward evening, many seize tbo
opportunity to cat the lunches they have +
'rought with them, or are carried off bv
riends to sup in the neighboring farm
louses.
At length the bugle call rings ont once
more and the crowd reassemble near the
tand; The Knight of the Golden Kew"
eeads his lady upon the platform. while
he knight of Walnut Hill" and tbe
Knight of Warsaw" follow with tboir
naios OF honor They are met bv the
Judges and by the most famous speaker
/ the country, who proceeds to make a
ong and fowery oration, ending bv 1
rOwning the ladies', amid the plaudits Of
ne crowd.-R. w. Graves in Detroit Free 1
'ress.