The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-28
From the .Neto York Constellation.
DIALOGUE ON DUELLlNG

F. Were any man TO call me a liar, a scound.
rel, or fool, I'd challenge him.
w. And so prove your title TO at leas, one of
the opprobrous epithels.
How, sir do you call me fool
w. By no means How could be so rash.
as TO think of it. when you have Just declared
you would challenge me !?
F. That would, in less than the snsnn;no
of pistol.
w And fyou should, where would be the
advantage
+. Why should kill you of course.
w But suppose would not fight?
F. Then ! would post you for a liar and
coward,
w. That probably would not hurt me. and
certainly would not benefit you. Your posting
me would not prove you any the less of fool /;
the original charge, if ii had any force, would
remain the same though you were 20 post me
F. 1t would be some satisfaction at least TO
stgmatize you.
W. But suppose that should accept your
challenge and kill you
F. Why, then my honor would be satisfied.
w But the charge of fool would still cling to
your memory, and those, who once had charity
enough TO believe you possessed some little
sense, would be thoroughly convinced BY the
last act of your life that YOU were fool They
would say Here lies that fellow F., who in
order to convince people that he was not fool
died as the fool dielh.'
F. Do you mean to insinuate that I am
fool?
w. Certainly not. know you would chal
lenge me and have not the least desire to bo
killed Just now, mol do feel bloody minded
enough to wish to kill you or any other man
But suppose should call you fool, and being
challenged, should be fool enough 10 Fl o ht and
shnuld XII ms hat
gain
F. | would wipe out the stigma Of being call
ed fool.
W. How so? You would not prove Yourself
any the less of foel by having stood nm to he
shot at ; though you should chance to escape
deaih. The original charge would still remain
with the same force as formerly.
F. But should crafty my revenge, and tina,
would be some comfort.
w That is on he superstition YOU Kill me
but II kill you, then, friend F., you would saw
nothing of the qualification. The truth is, the
whole plea Of wiping out a stigma, whether il
be OF tool, liar, scoundrIl, or what not has mr.
foundation in reason or sound arguments be.
cause the challenging, the killing, the posting
or whatever may be the result, leaves the
original question, whether the charge be true
or false, precisely where it was before the chal
Ienge. A fool may call out wise mana Ii
ar man of truih,-a scoundrel, an homes
man, &c. The mere circumstance of chal
longing or fighting, does not place the cbal
lenger on higher ground, or alter his relativ,
position for The better
F. What would you have man do, then
when he is insulted OF slandered?
Do! why if he is an honest man and pooc
citizen, continue so by faithfully observing III.
laws and fulfilling all his duties as a worth,
member of society. On the contrary, if he is i
bad man. the best thing he can do is TO sci
about amendment; and instead of killing his
adversary, be careful to give him no further
cause TO speak evil of him.
r. And so let the stigma remain upon his
own character'
w. Let him do as I have mentioned and bs
WIN soonest get rid of the stigma An honest
and true man is like pure gold, a tarnish cannot
adhere 10 him. The harder he is rubbed. the
brighter he shines. -, 60 - ''e