Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-17

head or q wrinkled face among them they
are usually accompanied by honorable
scars. Every one OK the brigade has an
honorable discharge, and all are men OF
good character.
The horses with them, one hundred In
number, are trained chargers, troop or
battery animals brought from England.
As n rule they are OF the light, active
type, but they are as quick to obey the
word OF command or the bugle call as IL
they had been graduated from a circus.
A SUCCESSFUL OPENING.
When the doors opened there was rush
for seats. and In few minutes the. house
was well-filed Half an hour later II was
packed with brilliant audience, seats as
well as boxes being filled by the best
known people In New York. A fine band
OF fifty pieces, chiefly from the Cold
stream and first Life Guards, furnished
delightful music all the evening. and won
much applause especially when they
played "The Star Spangled Banner and
Hail Columbia" which they did with
az much sweetness as II every one from
the first cornet down to bass drum had
been an American citizen.
The tournament opened with q march
past Of the entire brigade. The band was
headed by "the smallest drummer boy In
the English army" and at the entry OF
the troops the regimental march or each
corps was played. The Royai horse ar
tnlery. with two guns, six horses TO each
came first. Then came in order the First
Guards. all scarlet and white, with nod
ding plumes and steel cuirasses; the Fifth
ROYAL Iancers for whom the band play
ca THE harp that once through Taras
Har:" the Greuadier Guards, the For
ty.second Highlanders, killed and proud
NJ their name. as the BLACK Watch. the
Connaught Rangers known TO the army
list as the Eighty-eighth regiment, step
ping bravely to the air OF st. Patrick
Day." last, the Rifles and Ambulance
CORPS It was. in fact, British army IN
miniature. The brilliance ana variety OF
the uniforms, the fine appearance ana
excellent drill Of the men, ana the clever
yov in which the whole was conducted,
rnado !, a most interesting and delight
full affair.
THE "trooping OF the colors." which is
n ceremony familiar to our troops under
another name. Is simply the delivery OF
tho colors from the charge OF one onlcer
10 another. Before the English colors
we're displayed the American flag was
raised and the band played THE star
Spangled Banner"
The "Plaiting the May pole when was
done by troopers OF the First Lire Guarus'
was n very pretty representation Oh an
old English custom, then some troopers
rode out and very cIeVerly Waue tnel
horses lie down to form ortas'-WolA,
oyer which they fired at an imaginary
enemy. after which. standing iastride
tba nrostrate horses, they caused them
IN rise each man in the saddle.
CLEVER ARTILLERY DRIVING.
rf+Da
ton OF skin In artillery driVing' Inc
guns. limbered up, with SIX horses anu
fnuv manned. were driven at fun speed
aro,,rd the arena. passing between posts
set I'D so that there was hut Twelve
inches OF SPACE to spare. The drivers
lashed their horses to a full rum ana the
,nrre and dashes between the posts were
very exciting. -
pavonet practice between men OF the
Grenadier Guards and the Black Watch
was beautifully done, and the Scotchmen
especially displayed a most realistic Vigor
IN their encounters.
one Of the most exciting features or the
evening was the "Balaklava melee pc
tween teams Of the First Lie Guards
and the Ianccrs. The men were mouSted
on nimble horses, and wore helmets ana
wire masks. on each helmet was
tuft Of ribbons. and each trooper was
armed with n single stick. The object
was 10 cut off the ribbons OF the enemy
bv blows of the stick. and as soon as a
man lost his plumage he was ordered out
The contest was very close ana was
finally won by the IanCers.
These are but a few Of the interesting
scenes presented and 1t is doubtful II a
better pleased audience ever filed out or
Madison Square garden.