Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-10-17

that your life and health may long be pre-
served, to enjoy the fruits Of your labors OF
earth. l remain, yours, in Christian es
TEEN. "TllOMAS IlMPSON.
CHAsTISEMENT OF A BULLY.
The following story from Iiarper's Maya
zine for March, which is none the less good
for having been told before, shows that true
courage is rarely or ever allied with mark
cd propensity for ducling
During the period OF the occupation Of
France by the allies Of Louis AVlll., in 1851
the system Of dueling was pursued extensive
ly by the French officers. Patriotism and a
deep sense of injury perhaps palliatel its at
rocity. Day after day, Prussia and Eng
lish officers would be grossly insulted by
Frenchnen, would send cartel, fight, and
be carried off regularly to Pere la Chaise.
Some Of Napoleon's mattress d'arnls made a
business of killing their man each day.
A story is told of one of them--an old
| Captain Duroc-who had slain his scores,
and was never known to have met his match
with the sword. lie never sent Il challenge,
was always the aggrsssor; and pitilessly in
sisted on the right of choosing his i;Iyorite
weapon. When he had not found an adver-
alry in the course of the day, he would enter
the Cafe Fey, at Paris, towards six o'clock,
for dinner and the walters could tell by
his face, and the way lie twirlcd his grizzly
moustache, that he was on the lookout tor Il
quarrel. Woe to him who gave him the
chance One evening, there Glanced to
drop into the same cafe an English officer
named Gwynnc. lie belonged to the army
of occupation, but had only just returned
to his regiment from his home, where he had
been kept close prisoner by wound re-
ceived at Waterloo. During his absence,
his brother had had the mistortune-so he
! had heard-to quarrel with Captain Dcroc,
and to be killed by him in a duel.
Gwynne entered the Cafe Foy few lnin-
utes before six, and sat down at u small va
cant table. A waiter started at the sight, and
running to the Englishman, observed, with
some agitation, that that was 'the Captain S
table What captain, my friend? asked
the Englishman. 'Oh lie Capitaine Duroe!'
answered the waiter, pronouncing the terri
bic name almost with IL feeling Of awe
Gwynne's check flushed at the name, but
merely observing that 'tbi, table was like all
the others, seemingly STILL he said, 'if the
| Captainc insisted upon it, he would doubt
less satisfy him. On which he took up u
newspaper and began to read.
Almost at the same instant the door open
ed, and heavy tread Of spurrud boots was
heard approaching the table. When at a
few feet distance, lie Captaine stopped and
surveyed the usurper with an insulting smile.
Gwynne looked calmly at him, but did not
speak. The Capitaine sat down at table
close by, and began to twirl his moustache.-
People who knew him understand the mean
ing Of the gesture, and gathered closer to
the redoubtable champion of France. They
had not long to wait before he commenced
operations.
Stretching across suddenly, he seized tho
lamp on the Englishman' 5 table, and snatch
ed it away. while with the other hand nc
plucked the newspaper out OF Gwynne I
hand There was a buzz in the cafe at this
gross insult, and one or two Englishmen pres
ent sprans to their feet, and moved towards
their countryman. But he did not speak OF
move; his face did not even show any appa
rent notice of the afiront.
I lie Capitane read for q moment or two,
then turning his chair so as to bring it close
to the Englishman's table, he suddenly
stretched out his leg, and brough down the
heel Of his heavy boot on Gwynne's foot
There was another buzz and murmur among
the consonunateurs +; but Gwynne contcnted
himself with drawing his foot up and fold
ing his arms. His countrymen gathered
around him, evidently CALLED at his seeming
indifference to the insult ; but he took no
: notice. At last lie Capitaine after long
look at his antagonist, called the waiter fol
n glass of Brandy. When it was brought
! he raised the glass, and drank it. saying to
Gwynne, 4 rore courage, Angiais.
Then slowly and leisurcly the latter rose
He was man of immense size and strength
4. 1. L.. L.. Ia
man then grasping his moustache with ont
, hand and his chin with the other, he wrench
cd his mouth open and spat down his throat
Should Monsieur deem fit, he said, in
calm, quiet voice, sto honor me with q call
there is my card So saying he left thu
cafe.
1t is needless to add, that his invitation
was not accepted. Duroc never challenged
the choice OF weapons was essential to hi
: safety
t LEcrUREs-We notice in the Bango
f Wing that the Mechanics Association Q
: that city have made arrangements for
: series of lectures to commence in abou
three weeks. The series is to be some
. what home affair, as We notice tina
: nine of the gentlemen announced are resi-
dents of Bangor. This is as it should be
i and we have no question that the cours
e thus constituted will be superior in man.
II respects to one where from fifty to seventy
:, five dollars is paid for one lecture an
!. that mediocre affair. We are glad
, notice the interest on the part Of the Nc
Is chanics of Bangor in the work ofintellect
ID ual ard social improvement as is manifest
9 ed in their having organized an associa
II II tion, and maintained for some years bac
1 l.. Al