[411]
of ladies were present as well as several general officers.
Captain Hale addressed the thirteen knights in a pretty little speech just before the bugle sounded.
The band played at intervals, and the riding was really fine.
Each knight rode five times, and, to be perfectly successful, had to cut off a head, take the ring, strike another head on the ground, and pierce still another on a pole at each riding, and all in ten seconds. One person was selected to burlesque the whole, and he did it admirably.
Then came the pistol-firing at three targets, under full speed, and finally the jumping over rails at different heights.
The crowning of the queen of love and beauty and the four maids of honor was to come off last night at Montpelier, but the mother of the queen objected to her attending, and it was decided not to have any ceremony of the kind at all, but commence at once with the dancing.
I went after the Misses B., of Gordonsville, who had entertained me so hospitably.
Both were very much admired, and were pronounced to be the prettiest ladies present.
Everything passed off very pleasantly, both at the tournament and dance, and daybreak found most of them on their way home. * *
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Richmond, VA. 1890.
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