Wichita eagle., 1888-08-04
A JOUST In VIRGINIA.
THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT ON
THE RaPPAHANNOCk.


The Great Event of the Yezr-Calling the
Roll Of Brave knights GLORY and
Shame-"0ucen of Love and Beaufy I"
Crowned.
At last the hour of the Tournaments
draws near. and al tho vehicles are ranged
in line around the field where the contest
Is TO take place--and all are filed 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
VINO remember when they were hoaered
with the crown
The field, about which ell are crowdinr,
Is long, level stretch OF pasture land,
across which has been marked ont a
straight course. and al intervals OF about
100 ysrdS across u are built three frame
structures, which strongly remind one Of
slbbetS. \ staGch upright is set in the
ground, and TO its top is nailed q cross
bar extending over the course. while from
the end OF this bar hangs ring uroa a
hooked wire The object OF the contest
is TO take off these rings upon tbs point
Of a lance while riding at full speed At
one end of the course Is platform for
the judge
AT length busle call summons the
knights, and they are seen approaching
n the far end of the field Slowly tney
ride up TO the stard-;en of them-and.
refining mp their horses. form into line.
facing the judges. ready 20 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 hev. cries the herald. and
young man wearing wide, blue sash,
and bearing lance tied with the same
color, answers here" Next the Kni-ht
of the Locust Grove" aud n small. dried
up looking man, decked in red. responds.
Likewise are called the Knight 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 tho
day delivers the Charge 10 the KNIGHTS
reminding them of the joustings OF old.
AMI IN many flowing period urging them
on, to win glory and fame FOR the sake o.
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 20 view the riding.
A HUsH or EXPECTANCY.
Now, all is ready, and the hush f az
pectancy falls upon the people Suddenly
the bugle call bursts out amid the silence.
and the herald cries, The knight of the
Golden Key At the word he leaves the
ranks, and fixing his lance. spurs his horse
into rapid run. and. his ewes upon the
first ring. rushes toward IL On flies his
steed, sending the loose earth in showers
behind him. and rs he passes the first sup
port, the knight carries away the ring
upon his lance. In "a moment ne is upon
the second, but misses il by hairs
breadth, sending il spinning far into the
crowd; the last be takes. aud 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 10 take a
single ring. And SD, In turn al try. each
making striking picture "a his stout
stecd bears him on ike an arrow. and no
sits firm and erect IN his saddle, his lance
straight before him. his gay ribbons
streaming IL the wind. his eye fixed upon
the coveted rim /. needs a stout heart.
a steady hand saj true eye to succeed
at such work. for the slightest false
motion may nor only miss the ring. but
throw the luchless knight headlong from
his horse.
Al 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 havs
each the same score and must ride out the
tie. BY this time the horses have como
to understand what is required Of them.
and the spirit of the sport has seized upon
each man 8 heart. The riding is superb
Again and again they run. each taking
all the rings each time. until at last ono
of the knights misses and retires. Now
zones the struggle Of the champions.
The crowd is wrought up TO the greatest
and watch with brcathlcss
interest each kniRhtiy contestant. and
break into deafening cheers at each sue
,ess. AT last another ring is missed. and
ne knight Of the Golden hey" stands
victor. A he rides for the last tims
Town the field toward the judges stand
lis horse feciled with foam, his faca
blazing beneath his broad brimmed hat
he people burst into wilder cheers. girls
wave their handkerchicfs. boys throw
heir hats in the air. and all is confusion.
GROWING THE QUEEN.
Ard now he reaches the platform and
alutes the judges. The crown Is hung
'pOn his lances end. Then slowly he
ides along the outskirts Of the crowd.
NTH he comes TO "A carriage where sits tho
ady whose coIors be wears, and whose
ace is now radiant with smiles for her
nights success. Reaching her he dis
counts and drops the crown al her feet,
hus choosing her Queen Of Love and
;eauty," whllo- the secIamstior.s Of fhs
rewd attest their approval of his choice
ieanwhile the knights who la 30 won tho
eeond and third places have received
mailer crowns. and hasten likewise 20
estov them upon tbe.E LADIES', making
hem Maids Of Honor"
And now for an houT is @ pause. whila
nc crowd breaks up into groups and dis
uses the hiding and its results. A. it's
rowing toward evening many seize the
pportunity 10 eat the lunches they have
rouRht with them, or are carried Of ty
riends 70 sup ia the neighboriag farm
ouscs.
A; length The bugIe call rings out oncs
lore and the crowd reassens bic near the
,aEd The knight Of the Golden Key
ads his lady upon the platform. while
le knight Of Valiant Hili' and the
knight OF Warsaw follow with their
iaios Of honor They are net by tie
idges and by The most famous speaker
the country. who proceeds 20 make
ng aud fowery or.sion. ending BY
owning the ladies'. amid the plauditso II
ie crcwd.-R W. Graves IL Detroit Ere.
ress.