Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-09-30

But there are, it seems, two; for the
students, on this occasion, found one OF
their own, which, doubtless, befriended
them in this mad leap. Certain 1t is
that none ofthe party met with the slight
est accident; and gloriousIy drunk, they
rushed out into the street, after the most
remarkable orgie that had taken place
for some time at Poitiers.
They made a brilliant entre'e into the
cafe'-a general place of rendezvous Tor
the students and officers when they were
not at daggers drawn. Two Of the
latter were playing atbilliards when they
entered but Alfonso, without waiting
tll the game was ended asked, or ra-
lher demanded in an authoritative tone,
that the table should be given up for a
single pool to the thirteen. Thinking
that the object was, as usual, to decide
who should pay for the dinner, or the
demi tasse ct chaises, the players did not
seem inclined to comploy with this re-
QUESTION; but when they learned that a
more momcntous affair-a duel was on
foot, they fastened to lay down their
cues. A duel every thing must yield
to that.
There were but few military men pre-
sent, for that very day there was 'ol-
rec at the general commandants OF the
garrison; and those few consisted ofve-
terans, who preferred passing the even
ing at the cafe to putting on silk stock,
ings and shoes, or Of chendpanS, who In
the regiment went by the name Of crane
or Jourreaur dcs cranes. The old gro
guenards, however, did not quit lhe
room. The chenapans interchangco
glances with each other; and one OF
two of the sub-lieutenants, who had come
to take their demi taSSe before they went
to the ball, also remained. They hao
all more or less formed shrewed guess
of what was to happen, and for the hon
or of the service, wanted the quarrel tc
break out.
In our schools and garrisons at Paris
we are totally unacquainted with the eS
prit du corps which engages a whole
regiment, and an entire body OF young
men in duel, when two are only con
cerned nor can we form any notion
how slight thing a duel is considered
when it is the custom to decide all ques
tions sword in hand. Habit is all in all
and people soon learn to think no NOR
of fighting than going to breakfast. |
becomes a general endemic; and pei
son who, lost in the world of Paris
where he is unknown, might hesltat
about demanding satisfaction for an in
suit, however gross, would in that al
mosphere, be ready any day, or hour c
the day, to call a man out for merel.
looking at him.
The pool was begun. Never did
party when large sum of money de
pended on the issue Of the game, pla.
with more care or caution than thos
thirteen, to decide which of them was t
fight. By degrees the players lost thel
chances, and their number was at las
reduced to two; these two were tn
stranger guest and Alfonso. The look
er-on watched anxiously every stroke
Those balls, that, as they rolled, carrie
with them the fate Of man, were iol
lowed with alncst looks. The officer
came nearer and nearer, and range
themselves round the billiard. The
were not little interested to know whe
ther they, or rather one of them--whlc
they knew not-was to enter the list
with fresh man, no doubt unpractlce
lin fencing, or with the most adrolt an
terrible duelist of the University. Tn
chances were against them. The strar
ger lost.
A singular excitement was occasion
ed by the disappearance of the last ba
in the pocket. Some faces grew pail
but no one stirred from the spot where h
had been standing as spectator. A
fonse looked steadily around him, an
made two or three times the circuit I
the room, as though he were in searcl
but in vain, of some one worth quarre
ling with. At last he perceived a so
of sub-lieutenant, originally drum-majc
and maitre d'arn,eS, and who boasted
having killed his thirty pequins, sittin
quietly in corner. Alfonso wake
! straight up to him, and saluting with
politeness that electrified the compan.
said in his cool way.
, Monsieur, I am exceedingly distre
sed at the situation in which | find m.
, self placed but my honor is concerne
, and you will allow me to engage yours
Without further prelimiharies he gay
him a hit in the face.
1,Las oGoor E+tio ovnootoJ co ,bru