Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-16
miscellaneous.
French Duelliig Extraordinary.

. i
The general attention has been recently
| attracted to monstrous French duel. The
records of such things in France present
onother duel quite as absurd, but less hor-
rible.
| AT the beginning Of the present century,
the city Of Strasbourg resembled Caen in
possessing certain number Of wrong head
ed gentlemen who took pleasure in getting
up disputes. Soldiers Of all ranks had am
pie opportunities Of picking quarrels when
ever they wished it. In 1874, captain of
hussars, named Fourier, INDUCED in this
amusement to his hearts content. AT a la
ter period his merit and his courage earned
him the epaulettes Of general Of division
His aggressive temper and bis address with
arms rendered his name celebrated in the
annlas of the duel. He was invariably the
victor in these unfortunate meetings; and
Strasbourg had to reproach him for the loss
of several Of her sons on the most futile
motives of quarrel, and especially for hay
ing killed, on very trifing grounds, a young
man named Blume- generally beloved, the
only support of a numerous mily-whom
he had challenged without any plausible
reason, and slain without the slightest pity
The death Of Blume was regarded as pub
lie misfortune, and sympathized in by a
public mourning.
| On the very day Of Blume's funeral, Gen
eral Moreau gave ball, to which were in
vited the members Of the burgeoise. Il
was desirable to avoid the scandalous scenes
which could not fail to take place between
fellow ownsmen, perhaps the relatives Of
the unfortunate deceased and the agressor,
who was styled his murderer. General
Moreau therefore desired his aid-de-camr
Capt Dupont, afterwards the General who
capitulated at Baylenj--to prevent Captain
Fourier from entering Tie ball room. Du-
pont- stationed himself in corner of one
Of the ante chambers, and Immediately he
caught sight of him, be accosted him alb
ruptly:
"What are you going to do here p
"Ah That's you. Dupont? Good even
ing. Parbleu You see what I am do:
ing, am come to the ball"
care you not ashamed to come to the
ball the very day after the funeral of that
poor fellow, Blume d? What will his friends
and his relatives say 2"
"They may say what they please, it's all
one to me. But I should like to know what
business il that Of yours p
''It is everybody business. Everybody
is thinking or talking about it."
Every body is wrong, theh. I don't
like people to poke their noses into my af-
fairs. And now, if you please, let me
pass"
''You shall not 60 into the ballroom"
"And pray, why 2"
''Because you must take yourself off in
stead. The General orders you to retire to
your own apartments.
81 am turned out Of the house %
''No; it is merely precaution.''
''You are aware Of the consequences Of
turning Fourier out Of doors %
Il 90 not want to hear any Of your rho
domontades. Just have the goodness to
take yourself cf"
"Listenp said Fournier, Id fury, Il
cannot have my revenge of the General,
because he is my superior officer, but you
are my equal, you have presumed to take
your share in the insult, and you shall pay
for the whole Of it. We will fight p
"Listen, in turn" replied Dupont. ~
have long been out of patience with you,-
[ am Disguised with your bullying ways
and hope to learn you lesson which you
will long remember
Fourier passed a sleepless night. HI
would have gone mad with vexation, had
he not been consoled by the hope of killing
Dupont. But the result of the combat was
not what he expected, for Dupont gave hin
frightful wound
"You fence WE'LL" said Fourier, as he
fell.
''Not badly, as you see."
tsYes, but now know your game
You won't catch ME another time-as
will show you when get well again"
.'Parbleu That's matter of course"
ia Fact, after few weeks nursing, Four
nief, fer the second time, was face to face
with bis adversary. It was now his turn:
He gave DupoHt d home-thrust, with thu
comment:
'You see clearly you hold your hand to
low to parry property. After you mad
your thrust you gave me time to stick thre
inches Of cold iron between Your ribs
| "This is only the second act" cried Du