Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-03
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l.
Ouening.


ercises the same power over the public that
a bad habit does over the individual. A boy
of eight or ten years will undergo any amount
OF dizziness and nauseato vindicate his claim
to rnanliness by chewing tobacco without
making a wry face; ard then he finds in
after years that his matured strength has
scarcely power to break the custom. So it
is with all absurdities fastened upon the
public at first it may sicken the public
cruelty offend Its gastric apparatus ; yet, af-
ter being endured and then embraced, it fas-
tens itself and may rest like a mortal plague
upon the public veal for ages.
One OF the most monstrous absurdities
that has descended to us from the dark ages,
and still retaining a hold upon public regard,
is the custom of settling personal differences
and affairs of honor" by the pistol or short
sword at SO many PAGES. At the time of its
origia it may have had some claim to popu.
lar respect from the fact that every man in
that barDarous age was a fighting man. His
vocation was war, and the first lesson taught.
him was that of selfdefence, and he was not
even considered respectable or qualified for
~ ~ hC "a hdNlluH III IL pTOWeSo
t and courage of a true cavalier. Besides the
g superstitious belief of a divine interposition
1 always protecting and defending the right
against the assaults of the wrong, held a
general supremacy over the popular mind
Such was its re~ligio-military paternity, and,
to those who subscribed TO the doctrines
from which it sprung, they had at least a
oopoi lar;t,,, > 1o.,, - --l:.l -
practices.
But now "the pen is mightier than the
sword !" The one is the representative of
h mental vigor and the other a mere impulse
of brutal force. The wearing of deadly
m weapons is not now deemed an essential part
Is of genteel education and animal courage
an indispensable ingredient in Intellectual
al refinement. An individual may be a true
p gentleman without experiencing a thirst for
a blood. A man may be a brave man without
is ever having winged an adversary" or car
rying pistol shot in his own p~ectoral muscles.
ey Absurd in theory as the manner of adjust
JUS ing misunderstanding by duel really is, it
w. is certainly far more so in its m odern prac-
by tice. The whole proceeding is generally a
no laughable farce worked up with intense brag-
de- gadocia. Two drunken NJ. C.'sor two across
lri- the county politicians wake up some morn
ing and find a slight difference between them.
hat They are both chock fulP' Of local swag.
nch ger and personal braggadocio determined to
red maintain the dignity of a State. the dignity
lar of a party, the dignity of a name or the dig.
in nifty of something. Negotiations m
to forthwith. X. demands a retraction. z
lght was only maintaining the dignity Of some.
dge thing, and did not intend anything personal
life by his remarks. X. assumes a categorical
nter position and enquiries of z. if he considers
and him a gentleman. The catechised dignitary
who declinesto COMMIT himself upon so grave anC
light exciting a subject. Another billet passei
ming and x. is politely informed that he can fin
ties, z. at Paddles Pond, at a specified hour, 70
Let further negotiations. In the meantime tn
neg newspaper reporters have not been idle o
sses, asleep. They pounce down upon the q" ri
by NOR" with commendable avidity and til
is is morning papers feed a purient relishsaft
on something " interesting" at a thousand breal
earn fast tables with another i~ncipient " affair
elves honor" Time enough has now been give
for another act in the comedy-an act d
youtly wished for by the belligerent noodle
{ was the Intervention of some specialized magi
when trate to bind them with s~ureties to beha'
Cd themselves and not raise such a clatter abor
the nothing. The parties being the pink Of no
zperl- or, of course they will not think Of perilir
ITSELF pecuniarily their friend by any further Sc
'rror' gotiations." Or, if they have not been
l-ns fortsnate as to be " bound over" Puddle
these Pond becomes the next scene in the farce.
uDer- Wills are made. Seconds, Do and Don
play chosen to help out with the delicate matt
wing Second Don't says the beach at high wat
loe It's the place-distance, 90 yards-weapons, c.
curb bic stones. Second Do says it is ridicuIC
l can and trifing with the offended dignity of
o you gentleman. Or, Don't may suggest a St
each line Observation-Disclosures three paces-we
ere to ons, rifles. Do says thrt is barbarous a
TX not downright murder. So they "negotiat
again, and it generally is quite sati$faetc
tread If it goes on to the last act, a few grains
day a gUnpowder are ignited under ~circumstan
Of the utmost safety to all parties concern
In this way dignity IS maintained and e
req IN acknowledges " entire satisfaction" and
ave az CARDS the other as a man of intense h
al per- toned honor, terrible courage. rine scho
70 be ship, a sagacious Statesman and the ct $
ject for all the dignifed stiles 10 be found
ate the the honorable belligerent's breeches pocl
~: Ridiculous -brainlessly ridiculous !
' Drunken swsgger in its conception, ia
rrectiy hearted squirming in It's progress, and
Tarded temptible fizzle IN its catastrophe Wet
e to us no exceptions to the general result, for
have never been able to see the necessit,
much blood and thunder to maintain
dignity but we do not believe that any /
is fit for public trust who is not maste
himself, who is not always sober enough
take no offence when none is offered.
who has not moral sense enough to recogr
rest 10 the distinctions Of right and wrong. w
or i'm brutality is driven to its appropriate d,
lly and society will have made a grand and a |
step towards christian civilization.
" There are drunken, quarrelsome, ruff
IL upon fellows in the sinks Of great cities, on
ngth of rivers and borders to do al the private e.
ortauee ing of a nation greater than ours. Let :
= bror tlemen accord to them an occupation in wi
they enjoy themselves. Let them mon,
sncy In lie the business. Let men who pretep
at a re- have cerebrum and cerebellum properly
= oIoon auced who can reason who eIoipo - -