The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-16
AN ARDENT ADMIRFR
OF UNITED STATES

able efforts in behalf OF Ireland. and
OF "a closer communication with Ameri-
ca, the great Republic that he admires
50 sincerely. feel that 1 cannot refer
10 thiS subject without reminding my
readers OF the line Of ships that ran
between Galway and America in the
nrHt hllt of the nineteenth century.
or time the line was a success, but
after the death Of it's founder. the th!r-
teenth Earl Of Eglinton. it became
talIure. owing, IL is said. to mlsman-
aScnent Whether another transat-
iantic line with home port at Gall
way. VIII have better luck in these
Gays, is or course. more than 1 am COM
petent to argue. as do not know what
merchandise. manufactures or products
IAN ne adVantagcously shipped at CAL
way IN preference TO other ports. Any
now. there Is plenty of room for the
biggest ships in Galway harbor. and
the hills around afford shelter against
high winds
The thirteenth Earl Of Eglinton. who
made such brave effort on the part
or the city of Galway. IS the same earl
VINO spent an enormous sum OF money
In the attempt TO revive an inter est
the famous Eglinton Tournament.
where knights in armor tilted at each
other and broke lances against shields
beneath the smiles of Queen OF
Beauty. This never-to be forgotten
Joust was enacted in the neighborhood
of Eglinton Castle. in Scotland. The
early preparations were made. however.
near London In the then rustic suburb
of st. Johns Wood. Tho dress re-
hearsais' which took place in n large
Held. afforded no end of fun and amuse-
ment to the onlookers. For the
knights" had the greatest difficulty
in mounting their horses on account
of the weight of their armor, and the
way it impeded their motions. They
had to be hoistcd Into their saddl.s
by sort OF derrick arrangement Lord
Eglinton himbelf being the only one
who could vault on to his horse unas-
sisted.
The lovely granddaughter OF Richard
Bransley Sheridan was the Queen OF
Beauty. She was then Lady Seymour.
and afterwards became Duchess Of
Somerset. Many of the great houses
OF England supported the affair and
long list OF rules was drawn up. which
look as though they might have fur
nished the Inspiration for those On the
subject OF pug!lism which were COM
posed thirty years later by the Mar
quis of Queensberry. Hitting below
tne belt, or side swiping" with the
lance. were penalized as "unknightly
acts and the prizes were bestowed
upon those who broke the most lances
against the shields OF thair opponents
The contending knights were the Earl
OF Eglinton himself. the Marquis of
OF Casshis pronounced ''Castles'D
Lord Afford. the Hon. Captain Gage,
Sir Frederick tombstone, Captain Beres-
lord, captain Fairlie; and Messers.
and Lechmere. The lists occupied n
space of about four acres. There were
two galleries for tina accommodation
of spectators. one for the friends OF
other for strangers who had provided
themselves with tickets. No charg,
was made for these. They We're dis
trihuted Sratuitously to all persons OF
reSDHCta m hn
a certain tradesman in Bond Street,
London.
The decorations were magnificent.
some OF those used at tina coronation
2usly; being utilized for the occasion.
oil money In the preparations.
But, alas! the best laid schemes OF
lands great poet sings. He had reck-
oned without the elements. The rain
came down in torrents and continued
throughout nearly the whole of the
Queen of Beauty. instead of prancinE
In on a palfrey. arrived in a closed
carriage The tourney began in this
midst OF deluse. and the thousands
OF umbrellas that We're raised by the
spectators gave an Enthusiastically mod
ern aspect to the medival scene But
those brave knights the Marquis OF
Faerford and the Earl of EgIinton tilt
ed at each other and broke a couple OF
lances. one or two others following
suit, the host himself being crowned
by the Queen of Beauty as the best
knight"
Prince Napoleon afterwards Napo-
leon lid attempted to mend matters
by giving an assault of arms under
cover. The whole affair however was
conquered by the rain. The principal
gamers were the railroads. who trebicd
their fares Their profits must have
peeh large. for the total number Of
spectators, all told. has been estimated
at hgures varying from 100000 TO zoo
600 Although the Earl spent vast
sum of money in his revival of chtyalrv
and had the worst OF luck as far as
the weather is concerned. he NAV be
said TO have gained lasting fame there
By. as II is Impossible for a historic n
to Write on the subject oft tournaments
without giving due space to the famous
and historical one that took place at
Eglinton.
Copyright. 1912. by tho Brentwood
Company