The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-10-02
SfltsttllaI'eous,
THE CODE OF HONOR.

The name OF Colonel Dufay is famiiiar
10 those who beheld the first days Of Res
toratiou, as the most terrible duelist Of his
time. We could not pretend to recount the
innumerable combats in which he figured,
but one there was, which from its singular
ferocity and violation Of all rules in such
affairs, deserves an especial mention.
At the epoch we are about to speak Of, the
Paais- Royal was the theatre of the most viv.
ed scenes OF Paris life. Where now the grand
gallery rears its roof of glass, there were
then but few humble sheds of wood, be.
meath which the trader spread his little
stores Of mechandze to tempt the loungers,
and the ground was not even leveled or
trimmed t. the sen bance OF a promen-
ale but, on the contrary, the turf often
tripped the careless loi,crer by the capri-
cious inequalities Of its natural surface, and
the few lamps of oil scattered here and
there shed but dim ard uncertain light.
In these galleries du bois.' it was that
the ruIfians of the time sauntered in search
of quarcls, which they were very sure to
find, since they always encountered others
there, who, though perfect strangers till
that moment, were charmed to have such
az opportunity of acquaintance, and pleas.
antly arranging the preliminaries, they pro-
ceeded calmly to cut each others throats
the ensuing morning, simply because one
party were royalists and the other liberals.
IL royal guard thought he recognized
retired officer, he Immediately fastened to
propose quiet affair with him, which was
us promptly accepted ; and if retired Off
Ger beheld guard in uniform, he ran to
offer him the combat, which was also gra-
cously accorded. All these brave fellows
killed each other on the principle Of 'the
more the merrier;' but they died perfectly
satisfied and enchanted to have so worthily
sustained the honor Of their party. and con-
vnced that there were no better argument
than this rhetoric Of sword cuts.
Martainville often passed through the
galleries to indulge in this little PaSlime,
before presenting himself at the publication
office OF the Drapeau Blanc;' Colonel Jac-
aueminot, the coolest swords-man of the
day, here laid the foundation OF his fame,
and Colonel Dufay came every evening to
choose q man for victim the next morn.
ing. ........
Dufay was, indeed, the man. the hero,
smatader' Of the place; the deaths of NJ. de
Saint M, Of T, of S., Of B,
Oh. de R, and others had given him an
immense notoriety, and Colonel Dufay was
admired, execrated, and feared universally,
yet still (Which was not extraordinary he
could always find adversariesS such was the
tnfatpatjon with regard to the point Of
HONOR
One evening, Just after his dtunaT, Col.
Dufay entered the galleries, toothPlck
between his teeth, (they did not smoke them
and searching from the corner Of his eye
for q butt for his fatal exercise, whom he
might honor with his bloody favor, and de-
spatch to the celestial delight little in ad.
vance Of the, usual destiny. he perceived q
handsome and powerful, made young man,
clothed in the uniform Of the Guards, who
was walking with some friends.
There's my man ! said be to himself,
Fastening his pace, and pushing against the
young mon as he passed. The young
man stepped to one side, but Dufay turned
back again, and this time struck him in the
side with his elbow. The youth looked sur
prised, but said nothing, and Dnfay then
began following him up SO closely rs TO tread
constantly on his heels. At length the for
mer stopped, and addressing his annoyer,
said politely, Excuse me, sir, but the path
seems wide enough for us not to trouble one
another, and with little mutual goodwill
we can find the necessary room for each
on his own side
Il walk where please, do what ! like,
and trouble whomsoever suits me- replied
Dufay rudely. .,..5 r,.,a