The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-28 00:00:00

ELECTION SQUIBS EXTRAORDINARY.

DUELLING IN ITALY.

weapons they were to fight with, one wanting a pistol
at ten paces and the other a broadsword. But the
jury compromised the matter by deciding that they
were not to fight at all, 3aul carried their point.
But the affair did not rest here. The seconds
quarrelled about a trumpery question of eti-
quette, and the matter being placed in the hands of
certain meu of letters, it vas decided that a meeting
should take place. The gentlemen fought ; one of them
woo wounded, and both then declared that their
honour was satisfied. Another duel took place between
officers, each getting a scratch, and a third was fought
between a literary man (wounded) and one of the
seconds of Signor Fambri —both duels with swords.
A number of other duels and disputes followed. The
last quarrel, a very public one indeed, is one between
two journalists—the editor of the Little Chronicle
and the editor of the C 1.0 Plata Turchinte, or "Blue
Chronicle," who fought, not with swords, but with
fists, on Sunday last, outside the Caffe Florian—
rendezvous of the aristocracy—in the Piazza San
Marco. The affair is thus described by the editor of
the Little Chronicle, in his own journal- a journal
which deserves the name of "little," so far as sae is
concerned, and which devotes a whole number, all but
half a column, to an account of the affair—
When I started my Little Chronicle ,says the editor in
question I intended it as a sort of breakwater to the inns-
dating impertinence of the Bill, Chef...de, which was the
first to inaugurate in Venice the system of sus.aii ling false
principles by means of scandal, calumny, and defamatior.
. . . . .To its battle with such people, who every day drag
some honoured reputation in the mire, to whom no names
are sacred not even those of Victor Emmanuel and Geri-
not even that of Daniel .Manin—it was necessary to
adopt their weapons. I also, I admit, have lost caste
among those who judge niatters superficially, but I
believe I have rendered all important service to the
public. What I gained by entering into the contest openly
and with raised vizor was seen on Sunday afternoon.
But no matter. My line of conduct is traced out, and
I shall ind deviate from it. even if it costs me my life,
fort believe that my adversaries are capable of using the
knife of the assassin! Passing down the PliMl San Marco
on Sunday afternoon between tw,, and three o'clock, flee4lM-
-I•3»ied by a friend, I saw Ic, front of the CatV Quadri,
Signor 4—l'—, who, on recognizing me, began to
make signs of provocation. I continued my way, not wishing
to create a disturbance, . . and, finally, went over to the
CalfZ, Florian. When I next saw Signor T----, he was
sta.aling beside me, and in the act "woithy of him of spitting
in my face. In the surprise and shame of such an indignity,
I forgot for a moment tlmt the insulter was not worthy of my
anger, and threw a tumbler at Ids head. This T--, who
was followed by some eight or ten lcatty-dogs (caguotti re-
torted furiously, and a struggle e,c5'0e,1....1n conclusion,
I hope that the lai'y—quite unknown to me who sat near
me in the cattis, the lady chase sacredness ass woman was
insulted by this scandal, will forgive me for having been the
invooluntary cause of so idstressing a scene.
The editor of the Blue Chronicle does not deny the
troth of his rival's statement, but excuses his own con-
duct and renews the warfare with his pen. He says
he is very sorry for what happened on Sunday, both
on account of the time and place of the combat; and
because he broke his nice walking-stick on such an
ignoble back as that of Signor B---.
What can be said for journalists who conduct them-
selves in this way?