The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-10-12
A FAMOUS TOURNAMENT.
Tho Splendid Entertainment Given ~ La
Eglinton In 1880.

The Splendid Entertainment Given ~ x04
Egiinton In 1880.
Two episodes In Lord Eglinton's dis
tinguished history invite special atten-
tion. The first Ia tho Eglinton tourna
ment, which took place in August ,ss9l
the second, his brilliant career AZ twioe
lord lieutenant Of Ireland. At the time
Of the famous tournament Lord Eglin-
ton was In his twenty seventh year and
one Of the handsomest and most engag-
ing men Of his day. His desire was TO
produce in his own park modern imi-
tation Of such tournament az that de-
Bcribed by Sir Walter Scott In Ivan.
hoe, " and neither expense nor research
was spared to make il a great and unique
success, Preparations for II and the fes.
tivities which accompanied II cost about
$40. 900, but the munificent host omit
ted from his calculations all thought Of
the English climate, which SO marred
tho enjoyment of the countless guests
that the vast expenditure was in great
measure thrown away. The arena, UT
scene of action, covered four acres, and
two enormous galleries were erected on
either side, the first to accommodate
the earl's private guests, and the second
for invited spectators, to whom tickets
were sent gratuitously by his orders.
Nearer tho castle two vast canvas sa'
looms were set apart for the banqueting
hall and ballroom, while each of the
knights had his own marquee. The deo-
orations of tho lists were of the costliest
description, and at the request OF the
noble host most Of the visitors came at
tired in q mediBval costume.
The grand stand was filed with la
dies splendidly attired in the costumes
of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries,
to whom OH entering the list each knight
in succession paid his devoir. At 2 p.
M, in the midst of drenching shower,
the procession started from the castle,
but the pitiless rain marred all the
splendor of the costly preparation. In
stead of riding on her palfrey to her
throne, the queen Of love and beauty
and her ladies were forced to take shell
ter in carriages, and as they approached
the jousting ground spectacle met
their eyes which elected uncomfortable
shouts of laughter from the spectators
surrounding the lists.
/ There, firmly planted upon his mailed
war charger, sat in unconscious dignity
the Marquis of Londonderry, clad from
head to foot in FURNISHED armor, fol
which he had been measured by cunning
Milanese artificers, in steel inlaid with
| gold, the cost of his panoply being, il
: is said, at least 1000. The marquis
was a short, stout old man, and abov'
> his head he held an enormous ginghan
umbrella to protect him from the pelt
ings of the merciless storm.
Despite the weather, several joustint
matches took place, and, among others
s the Earl of Eglinton, clad in a splendit
: panoply of brass, got the best OF tn
Marquis of Waterford, upon who's
" breast he broke two spears. Alright /
t was announced that the banqueting hal
q and the ballroom, constructed out o
. canvas tents, were SO saturated by tn
heavy rain that twas impossible to en-
ter them. On the afternoon of the sec
ond day the weather cleared, but tn
sports were confined to the ball tent, i
; which Prince Louis Napoleon, after
ward the Emperor Napoleon III, engage
, in a series of mimic combats on foe
, against Mr.. (afterward Sir Charlie
q Lamb, both combatants being sheathe
! in armor. On the third and last day tn
. proceedings ended with general melee
, in which the knights, armed wit
swords, met their opponents in an an
icable fray. 1t was soon seen, however
q that the blows exchanged between tn
fiery Marquis of Waterford and Vii
q count Afford were 80 far from bein
o amicable that the combatants were SCI
: arated by the intervention of the knigf
: marshal On the fourth day the raj
. was so incessant that by universal COZ
!. sent the mimic conflict was given up
a So ended the great Eglinton tournt
r ment after bringing together col
+ course of spectators variously estimate
:, at from 80, 900 to 200, 900 persons.
4 addition to the vast sum spent upon
. by Lord Eglinton, the tournament a
q traoted eager sightseers from all par
: of the United Kingdom, who pal
4 heavily to get there, while the cont
y nent, the colonies and the United Stat
were we'll represented As if to COW
!, the whole affair with ridicule, a vel
: humorous account Of the mock fightir
! and Of the attempted imitation of o.
world chiyalry was written for an Anne
o ican journal by the late Mr.. N. P. Wi
i, lis, fitting exponent of such bizar
e scene. To their dying hour many OF tt
: southern visitors never forgot wh'
y Scotland is capable of in the way of RAJ
;, during the autumn months. -Londe