Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-12
The Satisfaction of a Gentleman.

III tue SdiOOu Vi one OI our mOSC reSpectaUle
clubs, frequented by Opulent merchants, coun-
try squires, bankers and lords, with a
sprinkling of naval and military gentlemen
"Sir, will have satisfaction p So saying
and buttoning up his military surtout with
the air Of man was determine on some
desperate course, the offended hero vanished
out of the room. He was Immediately OBJ
served to mount handsome ph9ton, drawn
by pair OF smart grays. His tiger leaped
up behind, and eqipage drove off with flu
rlous clatter upSt James street.
Satisfaction !" OF course every one with
in hearing know the meaning of the words,
when uttered by imam of honor and gen.
tleman." In fashionable circles "satisfaction'
me ans the chance of projecting an ounce of
lead in the shape Of bullet into some often
ding friends body but the man of wounded
honor is equally satisfied" if his friend sends
the bullet into his own head; and if his head
resists it, then he may thank the thickness of
his skull, rather than the soundness of his
brains. Two men of honor fall out about the
most trifing matter, perhaps, inflamed with
wine, beg n to talk angrily-and one ofthcm
uses an offensive word instantly the other
calls for ''satisfaction." The two friends :"
call them fools rather-come out in the
cool grey of the next morning with two 9th
er friends equally foolish and then, in some
chalk-pit or ravnr, each sets himself up as a
target for the other. Two bullets instantly
speed upon their fools Grand. They miss. -
Well the two sec onds step up-'interfere
to prevent further hostilities, ,"-declaring that
their friends "honor is satisfed"-and they
march off to breakfast, thinking they have
done some valiant feat or, the balls hit
their mark /; one, if not both lie on the grass;
a bullet has lodged in the spine of one, and
another bullet in the shoulder joint of the
other; Forth steps wiry man with box
of implements, devised for the cutting out,
extracting, or wrenching away of the little
bullets from flesh and bone. Ah with one
of them it is too late; he lies on grass, breath
less, his lips apart, his eyes glazed he is
dead he has had his desre-''the satisfac
ton of a gentleman The other. after sub
hitting to the tortures of bullet extraction,
is borne from the field on a litter, "satisfed;"
he has killed his man." Such is honor, in
the mouths OF fools.
| But we must return to our stOry-Scarce
ly had the gentleman of wounded honor rushed
out of the house, ere the friends of the
other assembled round him to ask. "What
is the matter ? And how did you fall
out %
"'The matter" said the offending gentleman,
who sat somwhat stupefied at the abrupt and
thiea ening exit of his military friend;" why,
the fellow is as irasclble as a turkey cock.
we fell into dispute about politics, about
which he knows positively nothing. He be-
came more and more insolent, and his argu-
ments were at length so absurd, that could
not help bursting out laughing, and telling
he was bullet-headed fool"
I" Is that all ?" said silly merchant "why
everybody knew that long ago y
Aye, but to tell him of it, said another;
II fear mischief will come of it."
A considerable damp seemed to have been
thrown upon the spirits of all the company.
and the circle gradually broke up. The gen.
tleman who had been the cause of the cx-
posion at length rose and went home, not
over free from anxiety. He now regretted
the use of the offensive word, and yet he
felt that it had not been undeserved. Not be-
ing a military men-for he was a banker in
good business, and with extensive connec-
tiOns-he could scarcely divine what the
other would do in reference to the satisfac-
ton, which he had spoken of; yet he had
some unpleasant misgivings about the is
sue.
The banker was not left long in doubt
Next morning, after an anxious night, a thun-
dering rat-tat came to his door. Immediate
ly thereafter gentleman WAS admitted
The banker rose Cup to meet him, and recog-
nized him for military gentleman-in fact
| the major of the others corps.
"I have the honor" SAID he, "of waiting
upon you at the instance of my friend, the
Honorable Captain Sir Eustice Fiz-Giles; this
letter will explain to you the object of my
visit"
The banker opened the mssve 1t was
written in thunder-and lightning. hand, and
smelt frightfuly of gunpowder; in fact, there
was no misunderstood ng it.
"I will call upon the captain" said the
banker. 81 will do so at once.''
The usual mode of such matters as you
are aware, is to refer me to your friend"
In good time, sill" answered the bank
er I" but first would see the captain him
self"
"Very well,' sad the major; "but the usu-
al course of such matters -"
Yes, yes y said the banker :" 1 know !;
but wish to sec the captain himself.
" He will refer you to me-"
Very well ! then shall have the pleas
urc of seeing you again y aud he bowed the
major politely out.
The banker went straightway to the chol-
eric captain. "Sir," said he to him. Il am
not at all ashamed to confess myself in the
wrong, in having used towards you the ex-
preston which has given you offense. | beg
to withdraw it, and apologize for it with all
my heart"
"Too late, sir, by Jove too late p said
the captain twirling his moustache. "You
must meet me, sir; nothing short of that will
do Had knocked you down on the spot,
an apology right have been accepted; but
did not knock you down, and your apology
comes too late. refer you to my friend who
is authorised by me to settle all necessary
preliminareS. Name to him your time and
place, and 20 home and settle your affairs"
The banker was thunder-struck. He con-
sidered with himself for q while. "WelI,
sir - said he at length, if it must be so,
meet me tomorrow at o'clock, in the large
| field north of - Lodge, in the
road, with your friend and pair of revolv-
ers.'
Enough, sir" said the brusque captain
and they parted.
The parties were on the ground at the
time appointed. The captain was accompan-
led by his friend the major. The banke,
was attended by a gentleman in suit of pro-
fessional black-a very unmilitary and most
civil looking parsonage. As they approach
ed, the major suddenly stepped before his
principal, and addressing the bankers Sec
ond, said
"It was perfectly understood, sir, that
pistols were to be the weapons employed on
this occasion but here, sir, if mistake not,
you bring blurderbus under your arm.'
81 beg your pardon" said the other, draw
ing tie instrument forth; lit is not blunder-
buss but telescope
"And what, in Heavens name, is the mean
ing of this hope it is not meant as an ad-
ditional insult to my principal ?"
'Oh by no MEANS said the banker, who
nr0ceeded to inform the major of his nrevi