The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-28
q II cnnt nrics instead Of years rolled be.


blno grass meadow. zyherc Marse Phil
practiced riding bare back and without a
bridlc ON the thoroughbred mare he had
CHOSEN for the purpose Round and round
he would GO fitting at the rings hang
ing from their supports, ana stfihgihg
them Oh the long, slender lance he was 10
use II was pretty enough sight TO see
him practicing in the dcwy mornings,
both rider and horse with that indescrib
able thoroughbred look. clean cut. power
ful. erect with an ear and an eye like al
Indians. and courage one instincti"ely
felt would never falter They would go
fo their death. If need be. with a rush
jeff never forgot those mornings. Some
times he wonld time them, sometimes ole
m,rseter. sometimes pretty Polly, Marse
Pills consin. would flutter down TO the
ring and stand there with the big stop
watch in her hands the dainhest judge
that ever called time on laggard rider
Ii was only when Polly WAS time keeper
that the mare and her rider failed to get
around in the twenty seconds prescribed
by the tournament management Tor 'he
race. and Jeff groaned in spirit when he
thought Of the possible effect OF Polly
presence on the great day
II Law Miss Polly's gwine to make
Marse Phil lose dat race yit. he prophe
sled dismally.
The ring in the meadow at Woodstock
was but prototype OF many another III
the noichborhood Tor the tournament
was 10 be grand affair The prize for
tie victor was a slender golden crown set
with rubies. and he was TO choose from
among the county bellies the one lie would
crown queen Of love and beauty.
Finally the day arrived, such All Octo.
Der dav as only comes to Tennessee ana
southern kentucky, when the air IS iuii
Of the bluc haze of Indian summer and
the forests are like banks Of opal, red ana
yellow. brown and green. quiverlng
mass Of color in the autumn breeze, ana
the long white turnpikes curve between
banks of golden red and purple iron
weeds The fair grounds where the tour
nament was 10 be held was gay with
music and bright with flags. The rich
country people Were coming IN IN heavily
laden carriages. the booths where col0red
lemonade and indigestible gingerbread
was sold or feats of skill or chance AT
tempted. were in full swing Of custom.
Host crs led blanketed and silky coated
hcfscs in and ont the crowd, nurses III
cav baudanuas and white aprons seurried
about with daZcd and frightened children
every now and then the wind would bring
q whiif Of the ssvory barbecue being pre-
pared under the superintendent OF OLD
Ben in a trench under the oaks, for a big
dinner and dance was TO finish oil the
DAYS festivities. Ii was noisy, bolster
Gus. good natured crowd, care free as
they never were to be again.
Upat the amphitheatre the track was
being spriukled and rolled until ii was
hard and firm. over at one side was the
flight Of steps covered with white cloth
that led to the throne where some forth.
nate Youth was 10 lead his sweetheart, and
there in the presence OF all his little world
crown her queen Of love and beauty.
1t was as pretty and "a picturesque
scene under he soft southern skies as ono
could well imagine and it would have
been pathetic enough for all its bravery il
only one had known that the south had
come TO the very last days of her hundred
wears of song and merry making, and that
this was almost the last h0lidaying OF &
happy, care free people
But the band was beginning to play
what was it, I'm dreaming now of Hal
lie. sweet Halle, it is the southern air, if
we have one All. many night under the
stars on the eve of battle, or in the dim,
gray dawn when they sprang from hall
broken dreams of home to boot and sad
die. when the band played Listen to the
Mocking Bird. did those gallant young
fellows recall that day with heartsick
and homesick th1ob The music throbbed
out louder and louder through the vibrant
air. the grOoms We're leading the sleek
coated thoroughbrcds round and round the
ring the contestants were getting ready,
only Marse Phil is lingering for a few last
words with Polly, who is pinning on his
breast q knot Of white and silver ribbon
that looks brave enough against the black
velvet and silver lace that somehow
makes a good foil for his fresh young
beauty and 1.-the figure.
Il am your knight, Polly, lie is say
Ing. "if I win | crown You queen OF love
and beauty. and NY wife and aUdacity
wins with pretty Polly, as humility never
would. and She Aushes a little under her
clear dark skin as she answers
II YOU win.
Those were the days when people read
Scott instead Of Howells and James, and
when they believed, like Stevenson, that
the finest hero is better for wearing bit
of purple, so when the contestants III the
tournament rode out they wore the old
court dress Most of them were descen
dants OF the old knightly lines of Eng
land and there may have been some in
distinct inherited consciousness of other
Journeys and jousts that made this sport
take such hold on their imaginations, so
they came as Iyanhoe and Boise Gilbert
and the Black Knight and Sir Launcelot,
and host of others.
Presently the bugle called time and the
first knight entered and saluted the audi
euce that sat eager, breathless, attentive
Poor fellow. 1t was not long before he
earned q real knighthood on the field Of
battle when lac rode with that same un
faltering and immovable seat in the sad
die right into the face of death and
planted his colOrs on the enemy's smok
ing batteries There was a murmur of
recognition for him and his horse for it
was an audience that owned and was
...;,;..1 g rno1 horse tlasl and