Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-08-13
MISCELLA A N Y.
A Pistol Shot at the Duelists.

MISCELLANY.
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Pistol Shot at the Duelists.
Every one has heard of the English artist,
who being asked to draw an illustration to pa.
per on duelling, sketched an injured husband
falling before the pistol of his wifes paramour,
md casnino with his last breath, 81 am salts
fed"
Such picture contained the whole theory OF
duelinp. .'You have wronged me, therefore
kill me. is the proper translation of every chal-
lenee. 1t is not, "You have wronged me, there
fore must kill you;" for it is abundantly estab-
lisbed by the reports of law cases arising out OF
duels, that wherever the challenger takes pecu-
liar pains to kill his adversary-such as practising
with his weapon beforehand, taking aim with
unusual deliberateness, obtaining some decided
advantage in position or otherwise-he forfelts
whatever attenuation jury might be disposed
to allow to the average duelst, in consideration
of the supposed state of public opinion on the
subject. Let him go to the ground with the ev-
ident purpose of killing his man, and ne becomes
in the eve of the lava mere murderer, 10 Do
nowise distinguished from the burglar who cuts
his victims throat at dead of night. The pub
lie call for his punishment duelists disown him.
The Code of Honor is positive against his con-
duot Again, in challenging he must con-
cede TO his adversary the choice of weapons,
time and distance. There appears to be some rea-
son for believing that the option secured to
the challenged party is not wholly unlimited !;
for instance, that he would hardly be sustained
by the sense of duelists if he proposed to smoke
.stride of q barrel of gunpowder side by side
with his antagonist; but within rules OF tolera-
bly extensive latitude, he Is the master OF tne
combat. lie may choose weapon with tne
use of which he is practised, and impose II
on his adversary who has never handled II oe-
fore. Quite recently, in somewhat notorious
case, the challenged insisted on the use OF
rifles; the challenger had perhaps never hred
one in his life. In former times, spadasslns Ia
miliar with the small sword gained quite rep
utation by insulting people less dexterous win
that weapon; the latter retorted by chailenge
which conferred upon the party offering the IN
suit the choice of weapons and the superior
skill of the practised swordsman easily won the
victory.
During the period of the occupation OF France
by the allies of Louis XVIII, In 1910, this sys-
tenn was pursued extensively by the French ofii-
GERS. Patriotism aud Geep sense OF INJURY
perhaps palliated its atrocity. Day after day,
Prussian and English officers would be grossly
insulted by Frenchmen-would send cartel
fight-and be carried off regularly to Pefe 10
Chaise. Some of Napoleon's maaatres a. drnes
made a business of killing their man each day
A story is told of one of them-an old Capi-
taine Ducroc-who had slain his scores, and was
never known to have met with his match WITH
the sword. He never sent challenge, was al
ways the sggressor and pitilessly insisted on the
right of choosing his favorite weapon. When
he had not found an adversary in the course OF
the day, he would enter the Cafe Foy, at Paris,
toward 6 o'clock, for dinner; and the walters
could tell by his face and the way he twlried MS
grizzly moustache that he was on the look OUT
for q quarrel. Woe to him who gave him the
least chance! One evening, there CHANGED TO
drop into the same cafe an English officer named
Gwynne. He belonged to the army of occupa-
ton bnt had only lust returned to his regiment
from his home where he had been kept close
prisoner by wound received at Waterloo. Du-
ring his absence, his brother had had the misfor-
tune-so he had heard-to quarrel with Capt.
taine Ducroc, and to be killed by him in duel.
Gwynne entered the Cafe Foy few minutes
before six, and sat down at a small vacant table.
A waiter started at the sight, and running to
the Englishman observed with some agitation,
that that was 0the Captains table" what
Captain, my friend" asked the Engishman.-
s'Oh le Capitaine Ducroc!" answered the wait
or, pronouncing the terrible name almost with
feeling of awe. Gwynnes cheek flushed at the
name, but he merely observed that "this table
was like all Others seemingly; still, ne SAID, III
the Capitaine insisted upon IL, he would doubt
less satisfy him." On which, he took up the
newspaper and began to read.
Almost at the same instant the door opened,
and heavy tread of spurred boots was heard
approaching the table. When at few feet dis
lance. ''le Capitaine" stopped and looked at him
,v;th an insulting smile. Gwynne looked calm
" at him, but did not speak. The Capitaine
eat dow,, at table close by, and began to twirl
his ta>,he People who knew him under
stood the eauing of the gesture, and !gathered
closer to the re1oubtable champion OF France.
They had not long to wait before ne commenced
Stretching across sud denly, he seized the lamp
on the Englishman's table, and snatched 1t away
while with the other he plucked the newspaper
ont of Gwynne's grasp. Thcre was buzz IN
the cafe at this gross insult, and one or TWO Eng
Eshmen present sprang to their lset, ana NOV
ed toward their countryman. But ne did not
sneak or move; his face did not even snow any
apparent notice of the afront.
La Capitaine read for moment or two, tnen
turning his chair so as to bring it close to tle
Englisbman's 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 murmur among the consommateurs
but Gwynne contented himself with drawing his
foot up, and folding his arms. His countrymen
gathered around him, evidently CALLED at ms
seeming Indifference to the insult; but he took
no notice At last le Capitaine, after long
look at his antagonist, called to the waiter for
glass of brandy. When it was brought, he rais-
ed the glass and drank it, saying to Gwynne,
"a votre courage, Aglais !"
Then slowly and leisurely the latter rose
He was a man of immense size and strength