Arizona republican., 1892-04-03
REAL LIFE IN DIXIE.
VlRGlNlANS ARE NOT SURPASSED AS
FEARLESS RIDERS

Where the Daring Cavalry Leaders of tn,
Civil War Received Their wonde rfu
Skill as Successful Horsemen - VIII,
Southern Women Are Graceful.
The bold and dashing horsemanshiI
displayed by the Lees and Ashbys, by
jackson, Stewart, Mosby and others who
were the leading spirits of the Confed
crate cavalry service during the late
war. excited the wonder and admiration
even Of their enemies, and developed the
fact that the Virginians are by nature
the most accomplished and fearless riders
on American soil
Turner Ashby the flower of the Vir.
ginia troopers, who was cut off in the
prime of manhood. was perhaps the
finest type of courage and manly grace
in that branch of the Confederate serv-
ice. and his name today is synonym
for chivalry in the south AS people
the Nirginians are inclined to outdoor
life, to whom the graces of physical
culture come as easy and are as inherent
in them ~ their own charming and
| val lHt yOulU
of the Old Dominion who can sit IL sad
die in "A fox chase, couch true lance in
a tournament and take five rail fence
in steeple race commands the respect
of his fellows and holds prior lien
upon the heart of the fairest girl in his
neighborhood
Nowhere III the south today can be
seen more splendid exhibitions of the
bona iide fox hunt, the old time tourna.
ment and cross country riding than are
given 10y the inhabitants of little town
called Warrenton. IN Piedmont. Va.
situated among the foothills of the Blue
Ridge range of mountains III the midst
OF beautiful pastoral region, which is
chiefly devoted to stock raising and
largely inhabited 10y the f. +. VS. of
the old regime and their descendants,
who have recovered from the financial
and social dlstreSses Occaslnned by the
loss of their slaves, and are reviving
many Of those delightful customs and
pastimes which formerly prevailed
among them and rendered southern life
so unique and enjoyable
HISTORIC SECTION
Here it was that AShby and Mosby
were reared and had their homes. and
the latter made this romantic country
of hill and dale, of stream and wood
land. the scenes of those daring raids
which so crippled the northern forces
when operating III that section of tho
state, and gained for him the sobriuuct
of guerrilla
The battles of Manassas and Bnll Run
were fought only twenty miles away
where the gallant boy soldier Quincy
Mari, was the first to lose his life on
the Confederate side McDowell's
splendid army. 100000 strong. camped
within the limits of the pretty village
and Were SO touched by the nobility
OF the women. whose homes had been
appropriated and turned into hospitals.
that they left its quiet precincts mn
harmed and its inhabitants unmoIested.
It is not remarkable then that "A people
who before the war We're fond Of the
chase aud during the four years and
more Of that bloody conflict literally
lived in the saddle should he the riders
and marksinen that they are today and
have penrhant for the sports of the
field
The summer III that country is the
season for tournaments, which are con.
drcted with all the pomp and military
mock of u JouSt IN the days of "Merrie
England, when chivalry had its seat in
the hearts of men and inspired them to !
deeds Of romantic valnr
Young unmarried men only are guah- |
fed TO enter the lists of these t0urna- |
ments for the honor OF browning the |
queen Of love and beauty They as
sumo titles for the occasion which are |
suggestive Of kuighthood and are sup
posed to ride for the woman who rcigns |
over their affections and might be re-
garded as IL possible bride
a PICTURESQUE SCENE.
The picturesque costumes of the con
testants, their gayly caparisoned steeds, !
the silver tongued orator and his gran
eloquent charge to theknights. the in
splration OF the fair spectators whose
hearts palpitate with expectancy. the
bearing off of the victorious ring and
the old fashioned coronation ball that
follows at night. which opens with the
address of the hero of the day and the
browning Of the queen and her maids of
honor, the dance of the royal set, and
the grand finale in which the assembled
Young and old, unite in that
jolly dance of the olden time-the Vir-
sinia reel-form picture of social life
that recalls the manners and amuse-
ments which were common to the south
thirty years ago, but were wiped out
and forgotten through the war as well
rs the men
The women of Virginia are distin-
guished for their horsemanship, and
many of them ride like centaurs before
they get ont of short dresses. In the fall
Df the year they can be seen riding
across the country unattended and fire.
luently participate with their husbands,
brothers and beaux in the excitements
Df the chase The Virginia girl is gen
orally conceded to be charming under
any circumstances, but when she as
'umes her riding habit and mounts into
he saddle she is an outdoor picture of
grace and health that has no replica in
he gallery of nltTro,--( ,hicnDo Tribune