The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-02

riding al. the rings under another and
more ambitious name. Ia medieval
times, when knlghtn00d was IN flower, the
most puisssnt OF knights did not disdain %
ride at the rings. IN order that in q bat
Tie 10 the death, they might be- able 10
hold the lance steadily and strike an
antagonist surely In some vital spot From
this harmless and innocent exercise they
advanced 10 the tEt, in which blunted
lances were employed. and ja which the
worst mishap that hight befall was a
sharp fail from HE horse. with, perhaps
a bruise OF two Dueis TO the death even
I'm that age when familiarity with CORY
scenes had cheapened human lie, we're
things OF inirequent occurrence those
sanguinary encounters, in which breast
plates Were riven and head-pieces split
open, IN which the sand-strewn lists were
purpled with the blood OF gallant gentle
men, did not happen every day. or even
once a week. but. like the football games
OF the present day. We're reserved FOR
days II Thanksgiving and public teasts'
In Richard Occur de Lions time II was
no uncommon thing for a knight 10 OBJ
tain from his liege lady glove sleeve
or some other gage Ol affection ana bind
II on bis helmet $50 that, when IN the
lists. be might feel that De was lighting
not only for his honor but Tor his lady
HONORABLE SCARS.
"Often times tho token was brought
back to tie lady hacked and torn and
marked with honorable scars, TO De treas
ured as an heirloom more precious than
Jewels OK pieces of plate. OF even IMAM the
stout broast-plate which bore the marks
D. o.
never returned. and a page would bring
back the token. stained with the ia q
thick drops Of blood that bad ricked
from the warriors heart. And such
death was accounted most hOnorable' IN
those DAYS IL was deemed scarcely less
desirable 10 die for ones lady than 10
die as L0chiel wished % die. with his
back % the field and DTS feet 20 the foe,
or as Leonldas and his three hundred
spartans. az am earlier time. died at the
pass Of Thermopyiae.
But il must not be thought that chiv-
airy was nothing but "a thing OF bloody
spectacle. II had its uses and lis pur-
poses u taught men % be iNthiui
and COURAGEOUS. u taught thom 10 en-
dure. Il taught them 90 Doe unselhsh' II
impressed upon them the great lesson
that honor is a dearer thing than Ire
itself Above alb So elevated mankind
and especially did 30 elevate woman I'm
barbara days. woman bad been o. slave
and man her master She had been re-
earded merely as o. higher sort OF house
hold property-nt only tJ adorn kitchen
and % perform mcnia. offices blt ch'F-
airy altered this. II raised woman from
her lowlv place and made her almost
goddess Troubadours sang 10 her,
and the whole world revoved about
her-uuul, IN this age. she Is no longer
"a slave. nor is mal her master. Not
content with receiving the homage of
man. she actually cmuiated him-copies
his dress envics mis- vices aspires % the
ballot and ends boy depising him. Could
Wilfred of Ivarhoe come 20 life I'm this
day I fancy that be might find the fair
Rowena attired in his armor, going shop
ping with Rebecca flirting with Brian de
Bois Cumberland possibly running for
justice of the Peace in North Dakota
PRESERVED THE CUSTOM.
'The south. but more particularly Vir-
glnia. must be regarded as the preserver
OF the tournament. In northern climes.
where the blood runs slowly and the
heart is cold. where men raise daughters
that they may sell them 20 English dukes
or Russian princes, where n man IS
valued not according 10 his moral worth.
but according 10 the number Of dollars
that he owns, young men no longer prac-
tlce the admirable exercises OF chivalry-
they are fOnder of arraylng themselves
in scarlet coats and gaIopng about the
country in pursuit OF bags OF annis seed.
But in Virginia, which has ever been
and will ever be. the land Oh poetry and
romance. our young men sun devote
themselves 10 those amusements which
appeal most strongly 10 The imagination.
While others occupy Themselves with
material things. we live in the fragrance
OF the dear. dead past While our North
ern brethren fiji their souls Win the story
OF how millions are made and bartered
for cheap titles. the Southern pulse beats
most warmly when some one tells the
story Of Gettysburg or Malvern Hill II
has been but little more than half CEN
fury since PHILLIP Pend'etOu Cooke gal
Hoped twenty miles through the dim hills
in the dewy morning that he might
fling a rosebud into hts sweetheart's
window and the came romantic spirit
stu inhahits the Old DOm'nion' our young
men still dream Of deeds or valor. Of
lives thrown away on the heights Of
glory: our Pirls-(iOd. bless them ARE sun
fond Of listening to that beautiful story
that Is as old as the world itself. and
yet ever novel and ever new TO her VINO
hears g.
YIRGINTA'S HERITAGE.
$50 mote II he Let Nirginlans ever re-
member the imperishabie heritage that
IS theirs. let us remember mat what
makes a nation great is not its banks, It's
fondries or its mills nor yet great fac-
tories whose long tiers or lighted Win
dows in the evening glow Ike lighted
firefies; but those in whose young hearts
there burns the unquenchabie IRE or
chivnlrv and fortifude. those by whom
n Is sin deemed beautiful 10 be good
those who believe that ne kniahtliesi
gentleman IL he whose hand Is ever raised
to shelter the defenceiess and the weak.
Let us remember this; let us as true
knights die fearing none and chivalrous