Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-09
-RamiIp Circle,
THE CODE OF HONOR.
Duelling in the French Army

Inc record OF such things. IN France pre-
sents another duel quite as absurd. but
far less horrible.
At the beginning of the present eentu
ry the city of Strasburg resembled Caen,
in possessing a certain number of wrong
headed gentlemen, who took pleasure in
getting up disputes. Soldiers of all
ranks had ample opportunities of picking
Quarrels, whenever they wished it. In
seventeen hundred and ninety four, q
captain of hussars, named Fourier, in
dulged in this amusement to his hearts
content. At q late period, his merit and
courage earned fer him the epaulettes of
a general of division. His aggressive
temper and his address with arms render
ed his names famous in the annals of the
duel. He was invariably victor of these
unfortunate meetings. and Strasburg had
to reproach him for the loss of several of
her sons on the most futile motives of
quarrel, and especially for having killed
on very trifing grounds, a man named
Enthusiastically beloved, the only sup
port of a numerous family-whom he had
challenged without any plausible reason,
and slain without the slightest pity
The death Of Blume was regarded as a
public misfortune.
On the day of Blume's funeral, General
Moreau gave q ball, to which were invi.
ted all the high members of the high bur
geoise. 1t was DESTROYS to avoid the
scandulous scenes which could not fail to
take place between the fellow townsmen,
perhaps the relatives Of the unfortunate
deceased. and the aggressor. who was
styled his murderer. General Moreau,
therefore, desired his aide de.camp, Cap
tain Dupont, afterwards the general who
capitulated at Baylen, to prevent Captain
Fourier from entering the ball ROOM
Dupont stationed himself in q corner of
one of the ante.ehambers, and immediate
ly catching sight Of him accosted him alb
ruptly.
What are yen going to do there 2"
"Aht that you, Dupont2 Good eve
ming Parbieul You see what | am do
ing. l am come to the ball.
"Are you not ashamed to come to q
ball the very day of the funeral of that
poor unhappy fellow Blume? What will
| HID II lCAQo ou0 IClbGlOuS Say
They may say what they please ; it is
all one to ne. But / should like to
know what business is that of yours ?"
at is ~everybody's business. Every
body is thinking and talking about it,"
Everybody is wrong thea. l don't
like people to poke their noses into my
affairs. And now, if yon please, let me
pass"
You shall not go into the bali ROOM
And pray why 2"
Because you must take Yourself of
instead. The General orders you to re-
turn to your apartments"
Am | turned oat Of the house ?"
mo; it is merely a p~recaution."
Are you aware of the consequences of
turning Fourier out Of doors? 7"
Il do not want to hear any of your
rhodomantades. Just have the goodness
to take yourself off,
Listen" said Fournier, in d fury. |
cannot have my revenge on the General,
because he is my superior officer, but you
are my equal ; you have presumed to have
your share in the insult, and you shall
pay for it. We will fight"
Listen in turn" replied Dupont. Il
have long been out of patience with you,
am Disguised with your bullying way,
and | hope to give q lesson which you
will long remember"
Fournier passed a ~sleepless night. He
would have gone mad with yexation, had
he not been consoled with the hope OF
killing Dupont. But the result Of the
combat was not what he expected, for
Dupont gave him q frightful wound.
You fence WELL" said Fourier, as he
fell.
Not badly, as you see."
Yes, but | know your game. You
won't catch me another time-as | will
show you when | am we'll again"
You wish for another encounter 2"
"Parbleu That's a matter of course"
In fact, after a few weeks nursing,
Fourier, for the second time, was face
to face with his adversary. Il was now
his turn. He gave Duponta home thrust
with the comment
You see clearly you hold your hand
too low to parry properly. After you
HeA hioNO y'Oh uob. JoU S6fO uuG ttllc
to stick thres inches Of cold iron between
your ribs"
This is only the second act" cried
Dupont. Well come to the catastrophe
as soon as possible.
FourAier would have liked to coacluae
the third act by the act OF the pistol, but
Dupont claimed the military privilege,
which obliges officers to fight with tAeir
swords. Dupont vas wise in maintaining
his right, for Fournieur's experiences az
a pistol shot is still remembered with as.
constituent. He had accustomed his ser.
want to hold between his finger a piece oil
money which he sent flying with q bullet
at Eve and twenty PAGES distance. And
frequently one Of the huzzars OF his regi.
ment, as be g~alloped past smoking his
pipe, was surprised to find it shed be.
tween his lips, without suspecting thai
Fourier had amused himself by making
q target of the tobacco bowl.
The catastrophe since we must style it
brought about. no decisive result they
each received a trifing scratch. Then
these two wise heads, annoyed at SO neg
alive a result, agreed to recommence the
struggle until one of the two should con.
fess himself beaten, and should renounce
all further resistance. They, therefore,
drew up the following little treaty, which
still exists in the possession of Colonel