Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-08-01
From Dentley's Miscellany.
THE DUEL.

|
Of which, however, when | was at that uni.
versty, only a vault, supposed to be a cage
for the wild beasts, remained. This cage,
from the solidity of the masonry and the G.
normous size of the blocks, seemed hides
tructible, but was not so, for when last vi.
sited Poitiers and asked for the KEY of the
cavern, | found it no longer existed, and
that on the site had been erected the inn of
the "Trois Pelerins."
1t is stones throw from the Sales d..
Armes, place with which am better &C.
quainted than with the schools. To revive
my ancient recoections entered tho sale,
and found there an inhabitant of the town
whom had known at college. He pro-
posed that we should dine together at
the Trois Pelerins and after drinking
as good bottle of wine as it afforded, he
related to me what few days before in
the very room where we were sitting, had
happened at dinner of the collegians. 1t
was ordered for twelve, but ono Of the par.
ty having invited friend, the number swell
led to thirteen.
1t is said that superstition supplies the
place Of religion. | have observed this
TO be the case with the most sceptical of
my acquaintance and thus this number,
thirteen, occasioAcd some remarks, and the
stranger was looked upon with no very
favorable eye, and considered us a su.
pernumcrary who brought with him i'll
luck.
One Of the set at length summoned reso.
luton enough TO say,
81 do not dine thirteen"
"Nor l." said another.
"Nor /" was repeated on oil sides.
The guest, embarrassed at this rudencss
got up and was about to retire, when AL.
fonse, to whom he came as umbra, pro-
posed an ingenious expcdient for doing a.
way with the evil augury, and said,
"There is ono way of annulling the pro-
verb that threatens death in the course of
a year to one Of party of thirteen the
way is TO decide which one OF us shall
fight duel this evening or tomorrow
morning.
"Done," cried all the students at breath.
"Shall it be among ourselvcs?" said one
of them.
NO." replied the author of the propo--
sition ; ." for then two Of us would nave
to fight. whereas it ought to be the thir-
teenth."
"Right," said all the young men.
"Then let it be with one of tho officers
Of the garrison"
BE it so," said Alfonso "we will make
pool as usual at the cafe, all thirteen of us
and"
"The first out" said the student.
NO." interrupted Alfonso, ''that would
be a bad omen, it shall be the winner"
"Agreed," replied all and they sat
down to the table with as much gaiety and
insouciance as if nothing had been said.
The stranger, just as the soup was being
put on the table, got up, and, with amags.
terial tone Of voice, addressed the assem-.
bly,. "Gentlemcn, (said hey feel sudden
ly inspired with a sublime idea. We are
about to cat in the ruins of Roman great.
ness (alluding TO the amphtheatre.) Let
us initiate that people in every thing that is
great. Nothing could be more splendid
than the games of the gladators which
were celebrated over the tombs of the nigh.
ty dead--nothng more sumptuous than
the festivals held at their funerals. This
is probably also a funeral fetc, with this
difference, that it is held before not af.
ter death. Let Poiticrs, therefore, rival
Rome in her magnifcencc let this cena
be in honor of the mighty remains over
which we arc sitting let it be morituro, sa.
cred 10 him who is about 10 perish"
"Bravo! Exclaimed the guests one and
ally splendid idea by Jovc! splendid Coz.
ma be it 7"
"Opcn tho windows" cried Alfonso
The windows were oporcd. AS soon as
the soup was served, smash went all the
plates into the yard, and shivercd against
the pavement. So, during the rest of the
dinner, every plate as fast as il was clear
ed, every bottle rs soon as emptied, fol.
lowed their fellows. One might perceive by
the practised dcxterity of this feat that it was
not the first time they had played the same
game.
During the FIRST course nothing particular
occurred to disturb their harmony; but it so
happened that the roti, which is, as you
know, in France always served last, was
burnt. Then there arose agencral burst OF
indignation.
"Send the cook!' exclaimed they all to
the walters.
"Order up the cook, hcrecook ~ was the
universal cry; but the chief was not forth
coming.
Alfonso, the President then said, "must |
90 myself and fetch him 7"
This menace had its effect; the pauure
chef pale as death, aud cotton cap in hand
crawcd into the room. lie was greeted with
dcafcnng shouts.
"Como here" said Alfonso. "Do you
take us for the officers What do you
mean by serving us in this manner-eh p
The man of the spit stammered out an
apology. Alfonso looked at him askance.
"lf | served you right" said he, 81 should
| rookp you cof The defccfaho roti of yours