The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-20
OLD TIME
TOURNAMENT
Sir Knights Of E,stx Crown Fair
Ladies.
A MOST ENJOYABLE OCCASION
Champlain, Va. Sept. Is. 1910.

Champlain, Va, Sept 10. 1910.
Our quiet neighborhood was some
what enlivened on the evening Of
Sept. 9Th. The young people of
Lloyds had planned to have a tourna-
ment on that day, the first one in this
section for many years. The sport
used TO be a popular one with our young
people many years ago, when the
youth Of our land met to vie with one
mother and each TO try his skill IN
horsemanship. the prize being the priv
nege OF complimentlng his lady love by
GROWING her as queen of the dance,
which followed that night and which
was led off by the queen and her three
maids Of honor, who danced with their
Nnights the royal set.
After the custom became general to
ride for saddles, brides. whips and the
IKE, at which even married men were
allowed TO contest, the sport lost its
sentimental feature and became un-
popular with our people.
The writer well remembers the first
tournament he ever witnessed. IL took
place in Saunders field, near Loretto,a
few years after the Civil war. went
as escort to two young lady cousins
from King George county, who at the
time were visiting my mother IN Caro-
Ine. was too young TO take part in
the exercises, but remember It as
grand occasion. Most of the knights,
and there were more than twenty of
them. had served in the army. many of
them in the cavalry, and as they gallop-
ed around the field, marshaled by an
ex-cavalry officer, each caparisoned in
eaudy apparel. with plumes waving
and lances cleaning, me thought, oh
now grand. They might have been
taken for Mexican lancers, so gaudy
and varied were their costumes. Old
Colonel Henry T. Garnett, remem-
Der, addressed the knights and his
speech was: Go it, boys, while you re
young, for when you're old you can t. .
Aasl How truly the knights Of
that tournay have realized the prophesy
Of that short speech. That night the
dance took place in the old building in
rear of DIR. Saunders store, the music
being furnished by "Oie" Arch. assist
ed by another colored man on the vlo-
lin. After watching the dancers till
sleepy, | repaired to our carriage and
slept till awakened by Ben johnson, our
driver. and found that day was break
ing and the "old Virginia reel' was
beng danced, which concluded the en-
tertainment.
The tournament on the 9th instant
was after the order of the one describ-
ed, in that no other prizes were offer
ed, save the privilege of paying honor
to the ladies. Ten knights entered the
lists: Geo. d. Ellis as Knight of
Lloyds, VIM. l.. Ellis as Glenwood,
VIM. +. Ellis as Old Dominion, Stanley
Gresham as Champlain, w. +. Sale as
Catch EN-, Dandridge Sale as Cheat EN-,
Boyd Taliaferro as The Hills, Pat War
ing as Loretto, H. l.. Newbill, Jr., as
Montagues, Burnley Newbill as Centre
Cross.
They were formed and brought up to
the stand in true military style by 7.
p. Taliaferro. who acted as marshal.
After receiving their instructions from
the Judges, Capt. +. r. Bard, Latane
Sale and 10. Baker, and a short charge
from Judge T. +. Blakey, they tilted
for the prizes, witnessed by quite a
crowd.
The Knight of GIenwood won the
highest honor, Lloyds, Montague and
The Hills winning the others in order
named.
The knights and their guests repair
ed to the spacious residence of Mr.. K.
l.. Ellis, where, after the lamps were
lighted, Miss Mel Hill, of King William,
was crowned Queen of Love and Beauty
by Knight of Glenwood; Miss Beth
Segar, of Spotsylvania, lst maid of
honor, by Lloyds; Miss Judith Talia-
ferro, 2nd maid, by Montagues, and
Miss Imogen Ellis, 3rd maid, by Knight
of The Hills, Judge Blakey delivering
the speech in one of his happiest
strains, emphasizing the power and
nobility of woman, mentioning the sue
cessful and unsurpassed reigns of
Queens Elizabeth and Victoria and the
nobleness Of Florence Nightingale,
Carrie Nation even coming in for her
share of renown.
After the coronation the knights and
their lady friends clipped the light
fantastic" to the once familiar strains
of WALLACE Motley's violin, even the
older generation not missing the oppor-
tunity to dance once more the quadrille,
cotilion and the old Virginia reel.
A bountiful supper had been pre-
pared by the Misses Ellis and Talia-
ferro. The entertainment broke up
about 3 O'Clock, all expressing them
selves as having had royal time.
Spectator.