Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-08-01
A JOUST IN VIRGINIA.
THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT ON
THE RAPPAHANNocK.

Tho Great Event of tho Year Calling tho
Roll of brave "Knights"- Glory and
shame Queen of Love and icauty"
Crowned.
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 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
who remember when they were honored
with tho crown.
The field, about which all ore crowding,
is O long, level stretch Of pasture land.
across which has been marked out a
straight course, and at intervals of about
100 yards across 1t are built three frame
structures. which strongly remind ono of
gibbets A stanch upright Is SGT In the
ground. and to its top Is nailed cross
bar extending over the course, while from
tho end of this bar hangs ring upon q
hooked wire. The object Of the contest
is to take off these rings upon the point
of lance while riding at full speed. At
ono end of the course is q 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,
reining 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.
L.. ri sh&
of the Golden Key" cries the herald, and
| a Young man wearing wide blue sash,
| and bearing lance tied with the same
color, answers "here." Next ''the Knight
of the Locust Grove" and small, dried
| ND 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, oil 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 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-
| lions from which to view the riding.
HUSH OF EXPECTANCY.
Now, all Is ready, and the hush # -x-
pectancy falls upon the people. Suddenly
the bugle call bursts out amid the silence,
and the herald cries, ''The Knight of the
Golden Keyl' 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 1t. 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 1t by o hairs
breadth, sending 1t 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 q
single ring. And so, in turn all try, each
making a 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 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 luokless 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
al the rings each time, until at last one
Of the knights misses and retires. Now
Genes 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
tho "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 brimmed hat
the people burst Into wilder cheers, girls
wave their handkerchiefs, boys throw
their hats In the air, and all Is confusion
GROWING THE QUEEN.
And now he reaches the platform ani
| SC1uG6S tu5 A0 NAo"A 40
upon his lance's end. Then slowly h
rides along the outskirts Of the crowd
until he comes to carriage where sits thu
lady whose colors he wears, and whose
face is now radiant with smiles for hel
knights success. Reaching her he dis
mounts and drops the crown at her feet
thus choosing her Queen Of Love and
Beauty" while the acclamations Of tn.
crowd attest their approval Of his choice
Meanwhile the knights who have won tn.
second and third places have received
smaller crowns, alN hasten likewise t.
bestow them upon their ladies, making
them "Maids of Honor.
And now for an hour is a pause, while
the crowd breaks up into groups and dis
cusses the riding and its results. As 1t i:
growing toward evening. maVy seize thu
opportunity to eat the lunches they have
brought with them, or are carried OIL BY
friends to sup in the neighboring farm
houses.
| At length the bugle call rings dat once
more and the crowd reassemble near tn,
stand. "The Ksight of the Golden Key
leads his lady upon the platform, while
the Knight of Walnut HIP and thu
knight Of Warsaw" follow with thei
maios of honor. They are met by tn
Judges and by the most famous speake
| of the country, who proceeds to make {
long and fowery Grafton, ending b.
browning the ladies, amid tie plaudits o
the crowd.-R. w. Graves In Detroit Ere
Il 4.