Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-11-24
LITERARY.
TEST OF COURAGE,


THE TEST OF COURAGE.
From the French
One evening, q short time alter the battle Oh ron
tenoy tlTij,I a group OF the kings hodygier: wa
coarrecatcG near the Ln;onn basin. AT Ner-"l!.cs, list
enin. 70 two oi their number discu-s!iS u sutJec
which at that period was rarely n matter OF contro
Vera in military circles.
.Hcfusr n duel after n public affrunt." exclaimed
the ;aIi->t CT the speakers, whose hrnnZcd features
were rendered almost fcrociouS by q thick red mus
taclIe 81: Is II stain that all the waters OF The deIuet
would not wash away
Il repeat, Monsieur de Malatour," replied the othe!
in O. ca!Gl. polite tone. "thai there il more true cour'
age in refusing shan III accepting Il duel. "hnt If
more common than 20 yield Ia passion, cr"r, or ven
ccunce; and what more rare 'nan to res; them
Therefore i; is u with. when exhibited at the price OF
pablo o2i,!i1n: 10. what costs nothing ia esteemed Us
worth nothing"
"a marvel! Monsieur d'Ar-cntrr. ] won. advise
if ever the king gives y"u me c"H,;nuiii OF q cnnnpa'
ny, 10 have en-ravcH "0 the saures "f the soldiers
the ommandmcat-'i" >b0H do mD mnTdcr.'"
And wherefore not! Ills majesty would have
better servants, AMI tn" country fewer ptandcrcrs, II
We had IN our regiments rluGr soldiers aid fewer bull
lies. Take, a. an example, him with whom you seem
80 much incerse!: has hc !ot rctly avenged VIVA
you call an aiiront by taking. with his own hands, an
.u,gny's coiors, while Your k0cvcs most likely formed
q prudent reserve behind The baggage"
towards themselves have their moments of cour'
age"
And the brave also ;hcic moments OF fear"
The expression Is no, that Of Il gentleman.
j IL tIltt u Slb'lslCuE hc lUltlI'', " H'SC ii!iI'iN
equaliei eitEec OF ours. ana who arowcd that he war
not exempt from such mnmCnt- Everybody -has
heard Of his conduct 10 Il bracgai"ci", wh"'bdas'c'
in his presence that he had never known fear. IL
sud- My passed a lighted candle under tie speaker
nose, who instantly drew back his head. IL the grcaI
amusement OF the bystanders, who laughed heartily
az this singular mode of testing the other assertien.'
"Nohe but q marshal of France had dared to try
such n pleasautry. To our subject, sir. maintain
That vuur friend is Il coward, aud you -
And l--,' repeated D'argeiitr'' ms eyes HASH
ing, aud his lips firmly compressed.
~"IIulln. Gentlemen! exclaimed Il third party, who,
OWN. To the warmth Of the argument, hal joined the
group nuurrccivcd. This is my affair, said he to
Monsieur d Argentine, holding his arm; then turning
10 his adversary, acknowledgements dc NNala'our' 1
an al voIir orders
ain that case, after You, if necessary" said OAR
gea,rG, with his usual cailnncss.
'By my honor, YOU charm me, gentlemen! Let us
zone momcn,." replied the new conner, who young
as he was, wore the cross oi ST. Louis.
"No remarks. Gentlemen. hasten
TOO great haste in such eases evinccs less n con-
tempt Tor death than an an1ictyto get rio oil MS rlaii-
tom
II listen, sir
"Monsieur d'ArccntrG inst now stated that tho bra
YES; have their moments OF fear Without tnkinT n,
serious his auecdutc OF Monsieur dc Turenne. | shall
add that, with the exception of the difference that eN'
is,a between muscles ANA nerves, the courage oil thc
duclis. is more an affair of habit than Of principle
for il is the natural state of nun 10 love peace, II not
for the sake nt others. nj least Tor himself. Do you
wish me 10 prove 1t!
Enough, sir: we are not here to listen to n SER
mon"
yet n moment. Here is my proposition we are
al assembled this evening previous to our leave oi
absence | invite You, then, rs also these gentlemen
present, tn u bear-liunt on my estate. or rather amongst
the prccipiccs of Clet, i'll the Eastern Pyrtnncs. You
nre very expert, Monsieur de Malatour-you can
snuff Il candle with Il pistol NJ twenty PAGES, and You
have no equal AT the sma'l-sword. Well, | shall place
YOU before n bear, and if You succccd-l do not even
-. l-..., tnl ~ hiu haf1 lint mareIv IN friDu
upon him-I shall submit Immediately after tn meet
YOU face TO face with any weapons You choose to
name. since it IL only at that price | am TO gain your
good opinion
1 YOU playing n comedy, sir"
Quite the contrary. And | even repeat that this
extreme haste shows more the courage of tho nerves,
than at the true courage arising from princlp'c.
..What guarantee have /, should l accept your
proposition thut you will not again cEdeav"r TO
cvaie me-
ANY word, sir; which | take all my comrades to
witmcss, and place under the safeguard of their hon.
our"
There ran through, his auditory such n buzz Of ap-
probation, that De Msha.our, though with II bad grace,
was OBLIGED 10 acccdc Ia the arrangement. II was
thea agreed that GA the LIST W Septcmbcr, all present
should assemble al the Chateau du Clat.
Wills: the Young lord OF the manor IL making the
necessary preparations for their reception, we shall
explain ;Lc accusation OF Which he was the Object,
vel which had moi Branded him with any mark al dis
grace among Il class Of men 50 puiictllIous on Inc
The Young Baron de Tillctrrton, in entering
smoHzs; the gentlemen who formed the ho"sciiolo
GUAR! O! The king oi France, carried with HIM prln'
ciul,s which remained umcorrupted amidst ali the
frivoiitics Of one OF the most liccn,ious courts IN Eu'
rope. Such. hnwcv,r, is the charm of virtue, even
in liz, midst al vice. that his exemplary conduct had
not onlv gained him the esteem OF his officers, aud
friendship ri his companions, hut had attracted IN,
attention oi the king himself. One alone among III:
comrades. Monsieur DC Malatour, tuuk u~mbrasc Il
this general t,v-r, and, on the occnsl"n OF some tr!
fling EXPRESSION or gesture, publicly in>ultcd HIM.
NilICtreton refused 10 challenge him, a. being contra
~ to bis principles, hut determined thar this se"mit.
cowar!:ce.. in not iigt:ing q we'll known ducl!i:t, 5AoUlC
lie redeemed by some action of fciI' during tif lam
pa;Eu ;ur; commenced. That lnoucrt hIi arrived
ana iMr mis- noble conduct in taking the f.r1iish CO
loTs Il; III, battle OF f"nIcn"y, he received The eros
OF ST. Louis from the kings own hand OH the field
the cui"giuIn ui Marsha! SAKE. and II rcdoubi'Hi enml
~ on tie part of De Mala'our.
The first care of the young baron on arriving at hi
estate was 10 call his maiur-donlo, and old faithful sol
want.
Il have business with thee, my master" said h
cordially shaking him by the hand.
Speak. 'nonseisnggr," repiic! the r"reur' who wa
deeply attached 10 his yOung lord YOU know III
old hunter is yours to his last drop of blord."
Il never doubted il. my old friend. Did you re
cc;va nv letter i-nm Paris
"N,s. sir and those gentlemen, ypur cun'r1de
will have some work before thcul."
care there bears already "I the hrig..is then
asked vill"trcton. cN:crdiu: his hand in the dircctio
OF one "t the lofty peaks, whore suCaisii, coverc
WIKI s,lDN. E.ilNtlt'A "a Ai' '''' '"''
Five in ala complete mtna$c--i"iiicr m"th'
aud children; besides M old bachelor, whom II
S,.an;arGs had driven to this side.
ia less Ii.au Il week We sEa!. 20 IN pursuit oi !hc'
Do YOU know, pa:eur, so!nr of my coinr'iGcs ~" rat
.r roa.l, >portsIMUl: ;nCrc is one q! them wh" Is ab
10 snuff Il candle with II pistol nj twenty PAGES.
'kas,cr, perhaps, than 10 snaff u bea: at tour, 7
piled thc Old man, laughing.
''iha: is what | said also. Blu. rs | should wish
nudge for myself II his prowcss. you must place
together at the saiae postal the bridge "i Mauf
for instance
Hum said the parcur, scratching his ear; q
would better please me 10 have you elsewhere
.NNhyF'
.'Bgcause, 70 guard this post, = mau ought to be
q state OF grace, ioy h" will he between two deaths
the bears ant the pgCcipct.'
u kuow he on., anu 10 mot fear the other; thar!
10 Your lessons"
Il au! sure of that. But, with your leave, I shou
Ike to guard the bridge myself"
.Tpu arc sure, then, tia; tue bears will pass tn
way
';Su-e-ycs; but quite snre-no. Reconcct III;
they aro oullen aud prudent beasts, which :!crcr col
hde their plan OF route tu any one.
alt is agreed on. | shallisuard the bridge with n
ccmGadc. Now 20, a!d have the truckers ready
'vcry well, very we'll" urmur the parcur,
he retired Il snail have my eye Oh HIM.
Eight days afterwards, all those invited, not G!
ccpfiTg Monsieur dc Malatour-who, despite the del
cate attentions OF the host, preserved u cold reserve
were assembled at the chateau. The maSnihcel
grandeur IT the Pyreuccs, their shining submits +
Ieyed against the blue sky Of Spain, was an UNLOCKED