Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-28
BY HALLE ERMlNlE KIN
Copyright by Bobbs-M Merrill Co.

stood on the green turf, the glass
of fashion and the mold OF form,
| his head bare, his shock of blond
gray hair thrown back, and one hand
| thrust between the buttons of his
| snowy waistcoat. His rich bass voice
rolled out to the farthest corner of
| the field:
"Sir Knights!
| "The tournament to which we are
gathered today is TO us traditional;
a rite of antiquity and monument
of ancient generations. This relic of
| the jousts of the Field of the Cloth
of Gold points us back to an era of
knightly deeds, fidelity to sacred
trust, obligation to duty and loyalty
| to woman-the watchwords of true
knighthood.
1--WE like to think that when our
| forefathers, offspring of men who es-
tablshed chivalry. came from over
seas. they brought with them not
only this ancient play, but the pre-
| cepts it symbolizes. We may be
proud, indeed, knowing that this is
no hollow ceremonial, but an earnest
| that the flower of knighthood has
not withered in the world, that in an
age when the greed of gold was never
! so dazzling, the spirit of true gal
lantry has not faded but blooms lux
uriant in the sparkling dews of the
heart of this commonwealth.
yours is no bitter ride by haunted
tarn or through enchanted forest-no
| arrowed vigil on beleaguered walls.
You go not in cleaning steel and
| fretted mail to meet the bite of
blade and crash of battle-axe. Yet
is your trial one of honor and glory.
/ charge you that in the contest
there be no darkling envy for the
| victor. but only true comradeship
and that generosity which is the
| badge of noble minds.
Il summon you to bow the knee
loyalty before your queen. For as
the contest typifies life's battle, SO
| shall she stand for you as the type
of womanhood, the crown Of knight
hood. The bravest thoughts of chiv-
airy circle about her. The stars of
heaven only may be above her head,
| the glow-worm in the night-chill
grasses the only fire at her feet; still
the spot that holds her is richer than
| If ceiled with cedar and painted with
vermillion, and sheds a light far for
him who else were lampless.
Most noble knightsi In the name
of that high tradition which this day
preservesi In the memory of those
| other knights who practised the tour
ney in its old-time glory! In the
sight of your Queen of Beauty!
charge you, Southern gentlemen, to
joust with that valor, fairness and
truth, which are the enduring glories
of the knighthood of virginia."
Over the ringing applause Nancy
Chalmers looked at him with a little
smile, quizzical yet soft. Dear old
major" she whispered to Betty Page.
l.. L.
stage! And he's effective, too. Thirty
years ago, father says, he might have
been anything he wanted to-even
United States senator. But he would
never leave the State. Not that
blame him for that" she added; I'D
rather be a church-mouse in Virginia
than Croesus's daughter anywhere
else"
The twelve horsemen were now sit
ting their FESTIVE mounts in a group
at one end of the lists. Two mounted
monitors had stationed themselves
on either side of the rope barrier; a
third stood behind the upright, from
whose arm was suspended the silver
ring. The herald blew a blast, call
ing the title of the first of the knights.
Instantly, with lance at rest, the lat
ter galloped at full speed down the
liSlS. lHtIS was d Siidi ~,
clash, and as he dashed on the ring
flew the full length of its tether and
swung back, whirling swiftly. 1t had
been a close thrust for the iron pike
point had smitten its rim. A cheer
went up, under cover of which the
rider looped back outside the lists to
his former position.
In an upper tier of the stand a
spectator made a cup of his hands.
THE Knight of the Golden Spur
against the field" he called. What
odds?"
give to one, Spotteswood," a voice
answered.
Ten dollars" announced the first.
Good" And both made memoran-
dunn on their cuffs.
A second time the trumpet sounded,
and the Knight of Castlewood flashed
ingloriously down the roped aisle-a
miss.
Again and again the clear note
rang out and mounted figure
plunged by, and presently in a burst
of cheering, the herald proclaimed
1.-THE Knight of the Black Eagle
one!" and Chilly Lusk. in old-rose
doublet and inky plume, cantered
back with a silver ring upon his pike.
The hazards in the stand multiplied.
Now 1t was WeStoVer'S knight
against him of the Silver Cross; now,
the Lord of Brandon to win. The
gentlemen wagered coin of the realm;
the ladies gloves and chocolates. One
pretty girl, amid gale of chaff,
staked a greyhound puppy. The arena
swan in lustrous light, and the
greensward glistened in it's frame of
white and dusky spectators. In the
sunshine the horses-every one OF
them groomed till his coat shone like
black, gray or sorrel satin-curveted
and whinnied, FESTIVE and red-nos-
tried under the tense rein. The
riders sat erect and statuesque, pixies
in air. cloaks Tapping from their
| shoulders, waiting the call that sent
each in turn fitting against the gilt
| tering and elusively breeze-swinging
| silver circlet.
| No simple thing, approaching leis-
| urely and afoot, to send that tapering
| point straight to the tiny mark. But
at headlong gallop, astride blooded
| horse straining to take the bit. a
| deed requiring a nice eye, a perfect
| seat and an unwavering arm and
! hand. Those knights who looped