Abbeville Press

THE TOURNAMENT.

On Friday last we had the pleasure of attending the Tournament given by the young gentlemen of the village according to previous announcement. The name arises from its being known to most of our readers, dedicated to the military amusements which in the days of chivalry were celebrated on occasions of splendor.

The attendance was unusually large and the exercises of the day passed off most pleasantly and harmoniously. The very excellent band of the 56th New York Veteran Volunteers was present and contributed much to the pleasure of the occasion. A shower threatened at one time to interfere with the amusements, but only rain enough fell to lay the dust and cool the heated atmosphere.

The scene of exercises was an old field near the Lowndesville road about two miles from the village. Here a track was laid out and a transverse beam erected from which a ring was suspended. The passage at arms consisted in riding at full speed and attempting to bear off the ring on the point of the lance. The prize to be awarded to the successful competitor, a fine pair of boots, was suspended conspicuously to view, and a green wreath with which the victor should crown the lady of his love.

Twelve knights well mounted and arrayed in appropriate costumes, emblematic of the characters personated entered the lists of competition. The following are the names of the knights in the order in which they rode, and the characters personated by them: George Miller, Knight of Scotland; J. T. Jordan, Knight of Spain; T. P. Martin, Knight of England; C. Hughes, Knight of St. John's; S. S. Martin, Knight of Switzerland; C. Belcher, Knight of Norway; J. A. Small, Knight of Arabia; J. T. Branch, Knight of Burgundy; Stringfellow Turner, Knight of Turkey; E. Swearingen, Knight of Bohemia; J. N. Belcher, Knight of France; J. Reed, Knight of Italy.

To the successful competitor in four rides the prize was to be awarded. Messrs. J. W. Perrin, J. C. Wardlaw and W. A. Lee were requested to act as judges. Mr. J. T. Mobley, officiated as Marshal of the day and Mr. Andrew Small sounded the bugle signals. As each name was announced by the Marshal, the bugle sounded, and the rider dashed gallantly for the prize. The ring was borne off repeatedly, and after going through the prescribed number of times it was decided that the Knights of Switzerland and Bohemia had "tied," whereupon the contest was renewed, and the prize was finally awarded to the former.

Next followed the crowning of the queen of beauty, the accomplished Miss F. T. of our village, which closed the exercises of the occasion. Nothing occurred to mar the harmony and good feeling which prevailed, and the affair passed off to the satisfaction of all. A soiree at the Marshall House closed the festivities of the day.