New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-03-31
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Chastisencnt of a Bully.

During the period of the occupation of Franco by
the allies Of Louis SVllI,.in 1915, this system was
pursued extensively by the French officers. Patriot
ism and deep sense of injury perhaps palliated its
atrocity. Day after day, English and Prussian off
GERS would be grossly insulted by Frenchmen, would
send cartel; fight and be carried off regularly to
Pere Ia Chase. Some of Napoleon's maitres d'armes
made business Of killing their man regularly each
day.
story is told Of one of thenl--an old Capitaine
Ducroc-who had slain his scores, and was never
known to have met his match with the sword. He
never sent challenge, was always the aggressor, and
pitilessly insisted the right of choosing his avorte
weapon. When lie had not found an adversary in
the course Of the day he would enter the Cafe Foy
! at Paris, towards six O'clock for dinner; and the
walters could tell by his face and the way he twrled
his mustache, that he was on the looou for quar-
rel. Woe to him who gave him the least chance
One evening, there CHANGED to drop into the same
| cafe an English offcernam Gwynne. He belonged
to the army Of occupation, but had only just returned
to his regiment from his home, where he had been
kept a close prisoner by wound received at Water
loo. During his absence his brother had the misfor
tune-,so he heard-to quarrel with Capitaine Ducroc
and be killed by him in a duel.
GWynne entered the Cafe Foy, few minutes before
six, and sat down at small vacant table. waiter
started at the sight and running to the Englishman,
observed, with some agitation, that that was :. the
Captains table, "What captain my friend p asked
the Englishman. ooh! lie Capitaine Ducroc!'' an.
swered the waiter, pronouncing the terrible name
almost with feeling of awe. Gwynne's cheek
VIE ultlety observed tfIaJ L1S
table was like all the Others, seemingly; still he
said, "if the Captain insisted upon it. he would doubt
less satisfy him. On which he took up the news
paper and began to read.
Almost at the same instant the door opened and a
heavy tread of spurred boots was heard approaching
the table. When at few feet distance, lie Captaine
stopped and surveyed the usurper.wit an insulting
smile. Gwynne looked calmly at him. but did not
speak, The Capitaine sat down at a table close by,
and began to twrl his moustache. People who knew
him understood the meaning of the gesture and ga
thered closer to the redoubtabe champion Of France
They had not long to wait before he commenced
operations.
Stretching across suddenly, he seized the lamp on
the Engshman's table, and snatched it away while
with the other hand he pueked the newspaper out
of Gwynne's grasp. There was buzz in the cafe at
this gross insult, and one two Englishmen present
sprang to their feet and moved toward their country
man. But he did not speak nor move his face did
not even show any apparent notice of the aftront.
LIE Capltalne read for O moment or two, then turn
ing his chair to bring it close to the English
mans table, he suddenly stretched out his leg and
brought down the heel OF his heavy boot on Gwynne's
foot. There was another buzz and Inur1nur among
the consommateurs but Gwynne contcnted himself
with drawing his foot up and folding his arms His
country1nen gathered round him. evidently CALLED at
his seeming Indifference to the insult but he took no
notice. At last lie Captaine after long look at his
antagonist called to the waiter for glass of brandy
When it was brought he raised the glass and drank
it, saying to GWynne, "a rotre courage, dngais ~
Then slowly and lesurely the latter rose. He was
4 man OF immense size and strength. With one
stride he stood beside the Frenchman; then, grasp
ing his moustache with hand and his chin with the
other he Wrenched his mouth open and sDat down his
throat.
h Should Monsieur deem ft,' he said, in a calm
Fquiet voice, " to honor NE with call there is nv
card So saying he left the cafe Needless to add
tiat his invitation was not accepted. Ducroc never
challenged; the choice Of weapons was essential to
his safety