The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-11
FAIR KNIGHTS JOUST
Modern Round Table Men in
Great Tournament.
MANY MEET AT RIVER VIEW
Fair Watch Bold HOrsemen
Ride for Nomenclature Is to En-
thraIl Little Ring on Point of Cum
bersOme Lance-ReguIar Round
Table Stunts-Enthusiasm Prevails.

King Arthur and his table-round, clad
in their shining armor and mounted on
cavorting steeds. that charged in jousts
about the towers of Camelot. seemed
strangely transplanted from Oblivion to
River View yesterday, when the twenty
first annual tournament was held
The familiar old baseball diamond. laid
high in the woods, was transformed into
an imaginary field Of the cloth Of gold,
and on its grasses the chivalrous knights
strove manfully for their ladies fair.
Sixteen knights entered the lists. No
plumed helmets protected their sturdy
heads, but they rode none the less cour-
ageoUsIy; no pointed spikes and heavy
steel lined the sides Of their horses. but
they dashed at the tiny rings with steady
daring; no quartered shield hung from
the knlghtly arms. but the rings sue
eumbed; no blare of trumpets or heaven
splitting cheers greeted the victors. but
they fought for the timid handicap as
nightly as did the bravest of the table
round
It was after o'clock when the trumpet
er summoned the knights for the joust
and ladies fair and ladies fairer hurried
TO the field.
Down travel beaten lane, three dec
Grated arches had been raised at equal
distances. Suspended from their centers
hung three rings. ridlculously small, 81
seemed. and admirably constructed, 70
test the mettle OF the riders.
Spectators Enthusiastic.
Along the sides the spectators lined,
cheering and encouraging. calling TO the
horses and TO the riders, and hoping that
to them would fall the queenship Of love
and beauty
The judges stand. i symphony OF red,
white. and blue. was placed at a point
Of vantage, and II was here that the
knights were called to give their names,
and to hear the significance OF their
jOusting from the lips Of Hon. J. Enos
Ray, member of the Maryland legislature.
who was the orator OF the day
He turned back the pages OF history TO
the days Of chivalry. and dwelt on It's
power In the days of old. He assured his
hearers that chivalry did not cease with
the disbanding Of King Arthur's court,
but that K had survived every stage OF
civilization and was as strong in the
hearts Of the Southern people to-day as II
eyer was in the days Of knighthood.
At the conclusion Of his speech the
trumpet was again sounded and the tits
began. Six Of the knights were from
Washington. five from Virginia. and five
from Maryland. and sectional rivalry was
clearly apparent as L. d. Love. the
Knight of Maryland. dashed down the
narrow pathway and gathered three rings
on his slender lance.
the others jousted with more or less
success IN the following order: Lawrence
SeTbel, knight OF ST. Josephs; A. De Sales
Langley, Washington Boy; Theodore
Gates, Knight of River View; James
Downs. Knight of Virginia; J. A. Har-
ron, knight Of Anheuser Busch; T. Head, /
Knight Of Muns0n Hall: R. B. Kirby. !
knight of Langley; E. NJ Palmer. Knight /
Of Georgetown; ". L. Clark. Virginia Boy; /
II. G. Hirst. Knight of Ingleside: Z y |
James. knight OF the Jolly Six; Basil /
BlandifOrd. Knight OF AcCokeek; J. H |
Blandiford. Knight Of the District Of Co /
lumbia. and G. Harry Palmer, George /
town Boy.
Each Rides Three Times.
Each contestant rode three times down
the lists, and at the end six knights were
found TO have made a perfect score Of
nine. Each rider who pierced three rings
was greeted by burst Of music from the
band stand-music that was Characters
tic Of the name OF the knight. including
a near harmonious rendition OF "Ach du
Lieber Augustine" for the Knight OF
Anheuser-B Busch.
In riding of the ties, this knight with
III,
have frowned or, secured six rings and
the first prize, while the knight of Mum !
son Hall came second, with Washington /
Boy third. Knight Of Maryland fourth. /
and Knight Of Georgetown fifth.
The tournament over 4 series OF con- /
gratulations followed, and many maid /
emily heart beat hopefully that it might I
share the honor of the gailants and be /
one Of the queenly train.
Judge Kendrick, who has the appear /
ance of a modern Merlin. and who. with /
stephen Gardella, formed the arrange /
ment committee, babe the trumpeter call 4
all the flowers of chivalry to the dancing /
pavilion at s o'clock for the coronation /
love and beauty and her suite, who were /
about 10 be chosen.
High up on the stage, the fortunate 4
maideDs were escorted by their knights, /
four Of them blusning, but happy.
Each knight Gets Wreath.
With sweeping compliments, W. Brook /
Hunter, the orator of the evening. spoke |
20 the titled aristocracy and gave each |
knight a lily wreath to crown the girl he I
had chosen.
The queen. Miss Dora Dixon. Of
Friendly, Md, was first hcnored, and /
her graceful courtesy was applauded by |
all. Her maids of honor were Miss Edith /
Row. of Falls Church, Va: Miss Lennie /
Rock and Miss Ethel Harrison. of Wash
ington.
Stamped with royalty, the four couples /
descended from the stage and began the .
stately lancers in the middle of the floor
If the gallants acquitted themselves brave
ly on the field, their ladies fair showed .
their superiority in the terpsichorean
art, for they trod the intricacies Of the .
puzzling figures with dainty surety and
grace and led their less nimble partners
a merry dance.
But the knights, accustomed to the sad
die. bowed their lowest and circled with /
the utmost good nature, and the royal set
was q pronounced success. Then every
body danced and talked of the tourna-
ment. and only an occasional glimpse of
q hobbled horse or the llutter OF a lily
wreath gave evidence of the excitement
Of the day.
The officials OF the tournament were:
Chief marshal, George W. Hardy; aides.
Willard Thorn, Archie Ware and Ralph
Parker; timshceper, Andy Boyer; judges,
r. J. Swan, T. b Middleton, W. T. Casey.
J. Murray. J. Idelln, Harry Naily, and ].
A. Carrico; committee on knights, Charles