Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11


| nifcence as well
| as its great cost
and absurd limitations of the Middle Ages
tournament, was great farewell fete given
to Lord Howe, the commander of the Brit
ism forces, by % of the leading officers of his
army, headed by the young and popular
Major Andre. Andre selected or probably
coined the title, which is said to signify a
medley or mixture.
Just why the British should desire to at
tract public attention to their departure
from the city is what the Americans and a
great many Engllshmen could never under
| stand. Certainly Lord Howe's campaign
had been neither brilliant nor successful,
and he evacuated Philadelphia in the use
of that discretion which in this instance at
least was the better part of valor.
TO LOYAL AND DIsLoYAL ALIKE.
Invitations were sent to all the socially
prominent ladies in the city, both Tory and
otherwise. Of course, many of the patriotic
ladies declined to attend. The company as
sembled before o'clock in the afternoon at
Knights wharf, near the foot of Green
street, where they entered row boats and
barges, and proceeded along the river front
through lane lined by men-of-war, gaily
decorated. Ali the city turned out to wit
ness the display. At the Association Bat
terry, which stood where the Pennsylvania
Railroad now has Its freight yard,
below Prime street, the merry
crowd landed and moved forward
between a double line of soldiers
and cavalry to the fitting grounds, plot of
meadow as large as a city block, where all
the musicians in the army led the parade.
There were two pavalions facing each
other, and the front rows OF each were re-
served for seven of the principal young
ladies of the country, dressed in attractive
habits and wearing in their turbans. the
favors with which they meant to reward the
knights who were to contend in their honor.
Presently band of knights dressed in an
cient habits of white and red silk, and
mounted on gray horses richly caparisoned,
entered the lists attended by their 'squires
on foot in suitable apparel. Lord Cathcart
was chief Of the knights, and rode with great
pomp. ......-
THE CHALLENGE AND ANSWER.
After they had made the circuit of the
square, their herald after flourish of trum-
pets proclaimed: "The Knights Of the
Blended Rose by me, their herald, proclaim
and assert that the ladies of the Blended
Rose excel in wit, beauty and every accom-
plishment those of the whole world, and
should any knight or knights be SO hardy
as to dispute or denv it. they are ready to
enter the lists with them, and maintain
their assertions by deeds of arms according
to the laws of ancient chivalry."
At the third repetition of the challenge,
the sound of trumpets was heard from the
opposite side of the square, and another her.
&c i
and orange, gaIloped into the lists. The
black herald ordered his trumpete-s to sound,
and then proclaimed defiance to the chal-
lenge in the following words: 'The knights
of the Burning Mountain present themselves
here not to contend by words, but to dis
prove by deeds, the vainglorious assertions
of the knights of the Blended Rose, and
enter the lists to maintain that the ladies of
the Burning Mountain are not excelled in
beauty, virtue or accomplishments by any
in the universe"
Shortly after the Black knights entered.
Then followed the tourney, in which the
warriors gallantly stroye until a certain
time previously fixed when the ladies signi-
fed their satisfaction at their knight en-
deavors. when the combat ceased, ending in
what nowadays might be called draw. 4
AFTER THE TOURNEY.
Among Jn6 ldQleS favored were Feggy ana
Sophie Chew, of the famous Chew House in
Germantown, and Williamina Bard, after
ward the wife of General Cadwalader of the
Continental army, and mother of Lady
Erskine, and connected with the bluest
blood of England. The Ladies of the
Blended Rose each wore white silk polonaise
which formed flowing robe, a pink sash,
six inches wide, filled in with spangles,
wells edged with lace and high head dresses.
The Ladies Of the Burning Mountain were
attired in the same general way.
After the tourney the whole company
moved over the sward to the Wharton man
sion, where they were RECALLED with tea and
lemonade, while the knights were decorated
by their ladies fair. How can one tell Of
the ball that followed, or of the fireworks,
or the supper served in a magnificent apart |
ment, 200x40 feet; of the two dozen slaves |
with silver collars and bracelets who bent |
to the floor as the guests entered; of the sui |
len booming of cannon, which the gallant |
campaigners assured the ladies were OF no |
consequence, even while knowing that the |
Americans led by Captain McLane were |
making q desperate attack on their re-
doubts, or how the fun waxed fast and furi- |
GUS until until the ball broke up at 4 |
o'clock in the morning, and how in "a hours |
after, not single red coat was left in Phila-
delphia, the victorious colonists, wild with |
joy, taking possession Of the city.
QUAKER