The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-30

"Dlu you JoSlie lile iilteht'oh"'iy
~ did!' was the angry retort.
"Gentlemen never do such things"
As Blake said this, with marked en-
phasis, he looked steadily in the Off
GERS face.
"You'll hear from me, sir"
And as the officer said this, menac-
ingly, he turned and walked away with
quite a military air.
"There's trouble for you now, Blake.
He'll challenge you!' said two or three
friends who instantly gathered round
him.
"Do you think 500"
"Certainly. He's an officer. Fight
ing's his trade"
swell, let him."
"What'll you dow
"Accept his challenge, OF course"
"And fight him?"
"Certainly.'
"IIe'll shoot you.'
"l'm not afraid"
Blake returned with friend to his
lodgings, where he found billet alrea-
dy from Redmond, who was ali eager
ness to wing his rival.
On the next morning, two friends
OF the belligerents were cIoseted for the
purpose arranging the preliminaries
Of the fight.
"The weapon?' asked the friend of
the military man. "Your principally
the laws of honor, has the choice; as,
also, the right to name time, place, etc."
eyes, understand. All that is set
tied"
"Hc will fight, then?'
"Fight. o, certainly. Blake's no
coward. "
"Well, then, name the weapons"
"A pair of good goose qullls."
"Sir" in profound astonishment.
"The weapons are to be pair OF
good Russia quiIs, opaque, manutactur-
ed into pens OF approved quality. The
place of meeting, the - Gazette;
the time, tomorrow morning, bright
and early"
"Do you mean to insult me!" This
was said with sternness.
'!Bv no MEANS"
"You cannot be seriousN
"Never was more so in my life. By
the ccde of honor, the challenged par
ty has the right to choose the weapons,
place Of meeting, and time. Is not that
so?"
"Certainly."
"Very well. Your principal has
challenged mine. All these rights are
orcourse his; and he isjustifed in chos-
ing those with which he is most tamll-
lar. The weapon he can use best Is
the pen; and he chooses that. If Lieu
tenant Redmond had been the challen-
ged party, he would, of course, have
named pistols, with which he is tamil
lar, and Mr.. Blake would have been
called coward, a poltroon, or some
thing as bad, if, after sending a chal-
Ienge, he had objected to the weapons
VIII your principal find himself in any
different position if he declines this
meeting upon like grounds? l think
not. Pens are as good as pistols, at any
time, and will do as good execution
"Fighting with pens! Preposter-
ousm
"Not quite as preposterous as you
might think.-Mr. Blake has more than
insinuated that Redmond's no gentle
man. For this he is challenged to a
single combat that is to prove him to
lie either gentleman or not one. Sure
Ly the most sensible weapon with
which to do this is the pen. Pistols
won't demonstrate this matter. Only
the pen can do it. So the pen is cho-
sen. In the -- Gazette OF to-mor-
row morning my friend stands ready
to prove your friend to be no gentle
man. Let him stand on the defensive,
and prove that he is a gentleman, and
that gentleman has the right to in
suit publicly and without provocatlon
whomsoever he pleases. Depend upon
it, you will find this quite as serious an
affair as if pistols were used.'
81 did not come here, sir, to be trl-
fled with"
'No trihing in the matter at all. |
am in sober earnest. Pens are the
weapons. The -- Gazette the
battle-ground. Time early as you
please tomorrow morning. Are you
prepared for the meeting?"
"No."
"Do you understand the consequen-
ces?"
"What consequences"
"Your principal will be posted as a
coward before night"
"Are you mad?"
HNo CooI and in earnect We