P'laski's Tunament: 1891

In Short

This work is a character-driven short story centered on the grandiloquent monologue of an elderly man known as "Old Hanover." Having migrated forty years prior to a new region, he still defines his identity through his former master and the "quality" of his native county. The plot follows his recollection of a legal crisis triggered by his wayward son, Pulaski, and a local tournament. It remains a notable example of the post-Civil War literary tradition that emphasizes local color, oral storytelling traditions, and the complex, often strained social dynamics of the era.

The Story

The narrator, a newcomer to the region, is approached by an elderly man from his own home county, Hanover. The man, a figure of "portentous dignity" who dresses in worn finery and carries a staff, introduces himself as "Old Hanover." He is eager to claim a kinship of status with the narrator, distinguishing himself from the local population by constantly invoking the names of the "quality" families he once served.

Old Hanover lives with his wife, Lucindy, whom he regards with consistent disdain because she is from the "up-country" and because she is the mother of his only child, Pulaski. He describes Pulaski as a worthless, "evil" youth who fell under the influence of local "free-issue" neighbors. The conflict begins when Pulaski expresses a desire to participate in a "tunament"—a rural jousting competition on horseback. Old Hanover, viewing this as a ridiculous corruption of the chivalric traditions of his youth, tries to forbid it. When he discovers that Pulaski not only participated but also stole his employer’s wedding ring to "crown" a local woman as the tournament queen, the old man’s anger turns into a frantic effort to maintain his own reputation.

The situation spirals when Pulaski flees, leaving his father accused of murder. Old Hanover is arrested, thrown into a squalid jail, and brought to trial. He lacks a competent lawyer and faces the testimony of his neighbors, including his employer and a man named Jim Sinkfiel', who holds a grudge over a small debt. Just as the jury finds him guilty and sentences him to the penitentiary, Pulaski himself appears in the courtroom, having returned from a trip to Washington. The sudden reappearance of the "victim" leads the judge to dismiss the case.

The story ends with Old Hanover’s swift retribution. Once freed, he takes Pulaski behind the jail and subjects him to a severe beating with a bundle of hickory switches he had been hoarding. He then turns his attention to Jim Sinkfiel', who had testified against him. Forcing Sinkfiel' to pay the debt he owed, Old Hanover uses the remaining switches to deliver a final, satisfying punishment. He concludes his tale by affirming that he, the narrator, and the "quality" of Hanover are the true pillars of the world, feeling fully vindicated in his harsh, idiosyncratic brand of justice.

How It Unfolds

The arrival of the visitor The narrator receives a formal visit from an elderly man who uses his shared birthplace of Hanover County to establish a bond. The visitor arrives with a small retinue, dressed in an eccentric, self-important style that reflects his desire to mirror the "dignity" of his former masters.

The conflict over the tournament Old Hanover explains the source of his current domestic troubles, focusing on his son, Pulaski, and the boy’s obsession with a local jousting tournament. He views his son's behavior as a direct consequence of his marriage to an "up-country" woman, whom he considers beneath his social station.

The legal disaster Following Pulaski's theft of a ring and subsequent disappearance, Old Hanover finds himself charged with murder. He describes the harrowing experience of his imprisonment, the incompetence of his court-appointed counsel, and the overwhelming evidence presented by his enemies.

The trial and reunion During the trial, the narrative reaches a climax when the living, breathing Pulaski enters the courtroom, effectively proving his father's innocence. The judge orders the release of the prisoner, shifting the power back to the old man.

The final reckoning Old Hanover takes immediate advantage of his freedom to settle old scores. He systematically punishes his son and his neighbor, Jim Sinkfiel', using the very switches that were once used as evidence against him.

The People

Old Hanover is the protagonist and narrator of the events. He is defined by his intense, performative loyalty to the "quality" of Hanover County and his desperate need to be seen as a gentleman of standing. His rigidity and belief in physical discipline form the core of his character.

Pulaski is the old man’s son, described as "wuthless" and "evil." He represents the generational divide and the lack of respect for the old traditions that his father holds dear. He remains a largely passive, somewhat foolish figure who exists primarily as a source of his father's "mortification."

Lucindy is Old Hanover’s wife. She is portrayed as an object of his scorn, defined by her "up-country" origins and her supposed lack of social grace. She remains mostly silent, enduring her husband’s verbal abuse with a weary, detached acceptance.

Jim Sinkfiel' is the antagonist who testifies against Old Hanover out of a petty financial dispute. He acts as the catalyst for the legal trouble and serves as the final target of the old man’s righteous, physical vengeance.

In Its Own Voice

"I would 'a' recognizated me for one of de rail quality ef he had foun' me in a cuppen."

The visitor uses this grandiloquent claim to establish that the narrator shares his high social status despite their current surroundings.

"What's in de myah will come out in de colt; an' he is de meanes' chile I uver had."

Old Hanover uses this proverb to justify his belief that his son's character is irredeemably tied to his mother's "up-country" bloodline.

"Hit's a cat I gwine skin, too."

This remark, made while he searches under the bed for his hiding son, captures the old man's menacing, darkly humorous resolve.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the preservation of social identity in the face of displacement. Old Hanover clings to the memory of a rigid, pre-war hierarchy as a way to maintain personal dignity in a world that no longer recognizes it. The story also explores the tension between "old" and "new" ways of life, specifically through the lens of the "tunament," which serves as a symbol for the appropriation and degradation of past cultural forms. Ultimately, it is a study in power—how a man who has lost his material standing seeks to reclaim control through his narrative voice and his capacity for physical dominance over those he considers his inferiors.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the "local color" movement of the late 19th century will find this a vivid, if challenging, historical artifact. The story provides a detailed window into the post-Reconstruction South, capturing the specific cadences of a period dialect and the complex, often hierarchical social attitudes of the time. It is a warm, rhythmic, and highly dramatic monologue that feels like sitting on a porch listening to a life story told with immense flair.

However, the modern reader must be prepared for the heavy use of dialect, which can be difficult to parse, and the starkly regressive attitudes embedded in the narrator's worldview. Old Hanover’s casual acceptance of violence and his elitist disdain for those he views as "po' white folks" or "up-country" are central to the text’s tone. The story does not invite the reader to critique these attitudes so much as to inhabit them through the narrator's eyes. It is best read as a character study of a man whose life is anchored in a vanished social order, and whose sense of self-worth depends entirely on his ability to perform the role of a gentleman from a "better" place and time.