Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-28
Tor nov Hcyiyal in .ileinia.

The intrepid and dashing horseman-
ship displayed by the Lees and Ashbys,
by Jackson. Stuart, Rosser, Mosby and
others who were the leading spirits of
the Confederate c}vally service during
the late war excited the wonder and
admiration even of their enemies and
developed the fact that the Nirginians
are by nature as accomplished and fear
less riders as any on American soil.
Turner Ashby, the flower Of the Vir-
sinia troopers, who was cut oil in the
prime of manhood, was perhaps the
finest type Of courage and manly grace
in that branch OF the Confederate ser
vice, and to-day in the South his name
is synonym for chivalry.
As people the Nirginians are IN
clined to outdoor life, TO whom the
graces of physical culture come as easy
aud are as inherent in them as their
own charming and warm-hearted hos
pitality. The youth of the Old Domin-
ION who can sit in a saddle in fox chase.
couch true lance in tournament and
Ike a five rail fence in steeple-chase
commands the respect of his fellows and
holds prior lien upon the heart
Of the fairest girl in his neighbor-
hood. Nowhere in the South to-day can
be seen more splendid exhibitions of
the bona-fide fox hunt the old-time tour
nament and cross-country riding than
are given by the youg men of Warren
ton-that picturesque town situated
among the foothills Of the Blue Ridge
in the midst of beautiful pastoral re-
eion. which is chiefly devoted to stock
raising and largely inhabited by the F.
f. VS. of the old regime and their de-
scendants, who have recovered from the
financial and social distresses occasion
ed by the loss of their slaves and are
reviving many Of those delightful Gus
toms and paslimes which formerly pre-
vailed among them and rendered south
ern life at that time so unique and en-
iovable. Here it was that Ashby and
Mosby were reared and had their
home, and the latter made this roman
tic country of hill and dale, of stream
and woodland, the scene of those dar-
ing raids which so crippled the north
ern forces when operating in that sec
ton of the State and gained for him the
sobriquel of guerilla" E"
The battles of Manassas and Bull
Ran were fought only % miles away,
and the gallant boy soldier, Quincy
Marr, was the first 10 lose his life on
the Confederate side. McDowcll's
splendid army, 100000 strong, camp
ed within the limits of the pretty viii
lage and were so touched by the
nobility of the women, whose homes
had been appropriated and turned into
officers headquarters and hospitals,
that they left its quiet precincts un-
harmed and its inhabitants unmolested.
1t is not remarkable, then, that people
who before the war were fond of the
chase and during the four years of that
bloody conflict literally lived in the
saddle should be the riders and marks
men that they are to-day and have a
penchaut for the sports Of the field.
The summer in that country is the
season for tournaments, which are con-
Quoted with ali the pomp and military
mock OF a .loust in the days of "Merrie
England" +" when chivalry had its seat
in the hearts of men and inspired them
TO deeds of romantic valor. Young,
unmarried men are only qualified to
enter the lists OF these tournaments for
tie honor of crowniug 1.-The queen Of
love and beauty" They assume titles
for the occasion which are suggestive
of knighthood and are supposed to ride
for the young woman who reigns over
their affections and might be regarded
as a possible bride The picturesque
costumes the contestants, their gayly-
caparisoned steeds, the silver-tongued
orator and his grandiloquent charge
TO the knights, the inspiration of
the fair spectators whose hearts palpl-
tate with expectancy, the bearing oil of
the victorious ring and the old-tashion-
ed coronation ball that follows at night,
which opens with the address of the
hero of the day and the croWning OF
the queen and her maids of honor, the
dance of the royal set and the grand
finale, in which the assembled compa-
ny, young and cid, unite in that jolly
dance OF the olden time-the- Virginia
reel-form a picture of social life that
recalls the manners and amusements
which were common TO the South so
years ago, but were wiped out and for
gotten after the war.
The women as well rs the men of
Virginia are distinguished for their
horsemauship, and many of them ride
like centaurs before they get out of
short dresses. In the autumn they can
be seen riding across the country unat-
tended and frequently participate with
the husbands, brothers and beauX in
the excitements of the chase. The Nir-
ginia girl is generally conceded to be
charming under any circumstances, but
when she assumes her riding habit and
mounts into the saddle she is an out
door picture of health and grace that
has no replica in the gallery of nature.
n. s. p in Bolfo. Ne'cS.