Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-15

in the City Auditorium, as no other
suitable structure here can contain
the host of singers. When they re-
hearse the volume of sound lifts the
roof.
One of the most Economically fas-
cinating events of the Pageant Will be
real Southern Tournament in cos
tune, in which mounted knights on
horses of polo pony speed and cat
ike activity will represent their towns
and countries in fitting and jousting
with lances for cash prizes in gold
and the high esteemed privilege Of
browning the Queen of Love and
Beauty. This will take place on the
afternoon of Friday, the Goth, in
front of the grand stand at the State
Fair Grounds. The Queen will be
crowned in the evening at the Tour
nament ball by the victorious champ
ion of the tourney.
Each knight brings from his local
ity a fair partner as his lady who
roots for the success of her knight.
In medieval fashion the knights tits
for the honor and preference of his
lady. She is tremendously concerned,
for she knows that if she wins she
will be selected for the honor of be-
ing queen. To be selected through
the triumph of her knight has been
the crowning event of many young
girls career in the Old South. Many
southern maids of today are proud
to recall that their grandmothers or
great grandmothers were crowned
through the triumphs of their gallants
of the lance.
The southern tournaments, of
course, are a relic of the times of
knighthood in the Middle Ages and
during the CrusadeS. The tourna-
ments in Virginia have been celebrat-
ed ever since the colonial days, long
before the Revolution. In the modern
Virginia form Of jousting the knights
skill is tested by his ability to ride full
tilt a distance of from u to 100 yards
in six seconds, with his lance levelledl
and to catch upon its sharp points
three suspended rings that are from
one inch in diameter to the size OF
finger ring. Some knights become so
skilled that repeated trials must be
made before the victor can be deter
mined. Meantime the excitement Of
the spectators and of contestants alike
becomes intense. The forthcoming
tournament is for the championship
of Virginia, knights being entered
from every section of the state.
The costumes worn by the knights
represent the period in which the
county took its political origin or
name in the early days. As an in
stance, the knights from Henrico
County will represent and will dress
as Henry. Prince of Wales.son of
King James, in honor of whom the
county was named. The romencla-
turo origins of other localities SIM
larlv determined the character the
knight shall represent. About fifty
knights have already entered the
lists for the grand PaOent tourney,
and a spectator will be able al
most literally tn visualize a scene
from one Of Sir Walter Seats
novels.
A noteworthy feature of the Vir-
ginia Historical Pageant will be the
depicted landing at the falls on the
lanes river at the site Of the future
Richmond. on May %. 1907. of the
Enrlish in their shallop. The set-to
Of the hardy English pioneers with
King Powhattan and his tribesmen
and Captain John Smiths first en-
counter with that mischievous but inn
questionable little mink, Powhattan's
daughter. the Princess Pocahontas,
will be played on the snot 315 years
later to the day bv Virginians who
have been long and faithfully rehears-
ed in their roles
At the Colonial Ball on Tuesday,
the 23rd the Queen of the Pageant.
the Princess and the Duchess. with
their ladies' in waiting. hold n re-
cention and lead the Grand March,
which is participated in by sponsors
from each of the scores of counties
and cities Of the state. The Queen
and her encourage of bauties are es-
corted by a royal guard of honor,
all in costume and each sponsor is
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