Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-19
HOW TEHE DUEL BEGAN AND HOW
az EMBED.
From. tie R.ss,iaa or E'o,ssehki..

CdNn ttNA Cer|AoT 'Lf o
was nothing 20 be seen.
There was only one person who joined US that did not
belong TO the army. lie was a man Of about ~thrty-fve
years, an age which, we felt, fully justified us in enDsid-
erfnR him an old man. His years and experience induced |
us to look on him with no little Difference while his
ordinary moroseness, austere manner, and bitter sarcasm, |
worked a powerful influence on our young minds. A
certain mystery too, was mixed up with his fate; he ap-
pesred to be a Russian, but bad a foreign name. At one |
time, be had served IN q regiment Of hussars, but it was
evident that he did not regard his rm Of service, or some
circumstance connected with it, with any degree of sat
faction No one knew the reason which had induced
him TO give up bis commission, and settle in such a mis-
cradle place AS this, which he had chosen.
Here he lived, at the same time wretchedly aud prodi
galy; he always went oa foot clad in an old worn cut
overe0at, yet kept an open table for all the officers Of our
regiment il is true. his dinners consisted Of only two or
three dishes cooked by an Old discharged soldier; but
champagne flowed Ike water. No one anew his circum-
stances. or the source OF his income, nor did any of Us
ever venture to question him on the subject His library
consisted Of a number OF volumes, mostly on military
subjects, and novels. He willingly lent them, and never
expressed any wish 10 have them returned. His chief
amusement consisted in exercising with pistols, and the
walls ofhis house bore sufficient evidence Of his partially
for this exercise, for they were completely covered with
the marks Of bullets The skill 70 which he had attained
m this his tavof1te occupation, was incredible, and il he
mad offered 10 shoot an apple fro ia the cap Of any Of Us,
none would have shrunk from exposing his head 70 his
unerring aim.
Cur conversation often fell on dueling. Slvio 4or that
was his naule) never joined with us on these occasions
To the question. il ever thad fallen 10 his lot TO be en-
gagged in one, he would sinply answer that it had, but
with that he ended he never entered into any details
and Il was evident that the subject was disagreeable 10
him We supposed that there were on his mind I'M
pleasant recuiieetons Of some victim of his deadly skill
With regard to his courage, it never entered into our
beads TO suspect him Of anything approaching 70 timidity'
There are some people whose appearance alone forbids
our entertaining suca suspicious.
It happened that ten Of orr officers one day dined with
SHvio we drank very deeply as usual, and after dinner
used all our endeavors to induce the host TO play a game
al bank For a long while he refused, for he very seldom
played at length he gave way to our entreaties, and pro-
duced the cords. He then streved on the table fifty dU-
cats, and sat down to throw. We arranged ourselves
nrluuI DIu4 and Eha ufeu 1aUau While plgViWU ElWfu
always preserved the most strict silence. lie never en-
gagged nAany disputes or explanations We knew his
peculiaites and therefore never disturbed him in any OF
his arrangements On this occasion it happened that
among our number was a young officer who had lately
Joined the regiment While playing he had unwittingy
made Is ials- calculation Siiylo TOOK the ehalk ana
squared the account according TO his own reckoning.
The officer, thinking he had made a mistake, underworld
20 explain It, 90 him. Slvio disregirding the interruption
continued 70 throw The officer, losing his patience, took
the ehalN and altered SiIyios account, thinking it 70 be
an intentional uiscaleulatiOn. Silvio evidently did not
approve Of the conduct OF the lieutenant fundamentally
replaced the original figures The officer, Heated with
wine, excited with the game, and provoked with the
ian9hter OF hs companions considered himself violently
lnsuitedi aad IN The night OF passion seized pr 5 can
dlesdcks which was near him, and hurled it al Snvio, who
barely succeed d in escaping the dangerous missile. Sill
vo rose up. his cOuutenauce grew pale with rage and
| with flashing ewes Ia sid Sir. obige me by leaving
this place, sud thank God that this has occurred in my
own house"
The officer departed, Bu not before he had acquainted
The host that he was ready az any time 10 answer for the
affrOnt he had given We did not doubt the consequence
OF the Hullr, and already looked upon our companion as
fee ing that, afrer what bad passed, Siyio could not be in
much hunof for play, we dispersed each one 70 ms quar-
trfs- Where We occupies ourselves IA rthectlng on Tue
events of the evening and on the changes thai would en-
sue from d vacancy. The next m0Tniag ar the WgRcgf
we were already Specializing on the probability of ON
comrades existence, when he himself appeared among
us; we were all eager to know by what lucEy stroke OF
fortune he had escaped To our questions he answered
Suvio. This very much ast0riShed rs. We went 20 him
soon after, and found him in the yard sending BAL after
Dali iutu q card which he had nailed TO the great doors at
me entrance OF the yarL lie received US 10 MS nauat
manner, but dl not mention a word of the occurrence Of
the preceding evening. Three days passed by and the
lieutenant was stu alive We asked one another WIN
establishment; Is il possible thst Slyi9 viii not hglrf
Si,vio did not fight he c0utented himself with q slight
explanation, and made friends.
The termination Of this quarrel produced an immense
effect upon our young minds The want of courage is
excused by Young people less than the lack of any other
Of those qualities which excite their admiration for
courage they consider the most worthy Of human virtues
and even a p~allatiCn for all possible f.1i1gs. However,
by degrees. the whole affair was allowed 70 pas byeRnd
Sivio once more acquired dis former aseendancy.
Formy own part, ! could no longer approach him with
the same feelings Of confidence and pleasure with which
I had hitherto done. Naturally Of a romantic DISPOSE
ton, ], at first, felt an irresistible Inclination toward this
MAJ whose life was such q riddle, and whom believed
to be he hero of some secret and tragieal tale. He liked
me, at least 1 thought so, for alone was free from the
attack Of his neyerfaihng sarcasm. ana ne often cen
versed with me on various subjects with great freedom
and extraordinary gaiety- Bat after that unfortunate
evening, the idea that his honor had been compromised,
shake of, and Il prevented me from behaving toward HE
as I had formerly done, Slyio was too keen and expe-
rienced not 70 observe the change iii my behavior, and
also 10 guess the eanse Of It and il evidently yeXed and
panied him.
The inhabitants Of the capital and of other great cities
have no idea Of the many tiiiug Circumstances which
/ produce an incredible influence on the minds Of those far
removed from the more civilized world, IS for instance,
the anxiety and excitement attendant en- post days On
Tuesdays and Fridays, our Office was filed with officers,
some expecting letters, some nOueY, others newspapers.
The fortunate recipient Of a packet of these last generally
/ nunuaf IL on fha gnnf and communicated the UrinpiUal
news 10 an eager audience. The office at such times pre-
scented a picture Of the most eniiVening and exciting
| character. Slyio was generally found among rs, for ne
received his letters through our regiment One DAY ne
received a paesei; with tae greatest impotence he tore il
open his ewes beaned with delight as he began to run
0yeris contents. Al the officer, being engaged in de
ypuring the contents Of their respective letters, did not
observe the influence which ) lyios correspondence had
pf0duced on him 1t was moi long before he drew our
attention BY suddenly e~xelaiming; "STs, circumstances
have rendered my speedy departure necessary ] set off
tonight consequently / hope Won will not refuse 10 dine
WIKI fne for the last time. l shall expect yOu without
tai" said he turning 20 me. With these words, be hasi
ly retired, and we, having al agreed to meet at his house,
retained TO our several duties
Iarrived at slvios at the appointed hour, aud found
slnost the whole regiment assembled. He had already
packed up am his valu sbles; there remained scarcely
anything but the bare perforated walls. We sat down
70 tie table. The host was in extraordinary spirits, and
his good hunor soon extended itself 10 al his guests.
Thecorss were fying continually the glasses were froth-
ing md Missing necessarily. We drank 70 his success
time outof number and showered over MIN our good
wistas.
il vas late in the evening when we rose from the table.
When SiIyi0 hadtaken leave Of al, and we Were pre-
pariug to depart, he took me by the hand and led me
aside and said quietly: Iwish to speak to you"
The guests left and we remained alone. We sat OPP
positt each other, and for a long time smoked our pipes
ia silenee ehNlo was much embarrassed already all
/ tracesof HE c0nvuls We merriment had disappeared A
deadly paleness gli.tening eyes and the thick clouds OF
smoke isslu'g from ms mouth. gave MN the appearance
Of 4 perfect hend. Al last Silvio interrupted the silence
-Prhaps" sand he, I'VE shall never see each other
agan. Before we separated ] wished 70 unbUrden my
] self on a subject Of which the particulars are well known
/ to You. You have no doubt observed that / care very
| littlt for the opinion OF others; but You 1 love and re-
spec. and il would be very painful to me to leave on
YOU mind amy wrong impressions as to my conduct on
the 0cgsioa, TO the particulars Of which I have just re-
ferreL"
Htstopped, and began TO fill Dis pipe. which had gone
ont. Meanwhile, | sat perfectly silent with my eyes
cast "a the ground.
"Hssemed strange he continued, athat did not de-
mandsaisfacuon from that drunken, ins0lent Lieutenant
BodoL You agree hat having by right the choice Of
weapons, hislte was in my hands, while l was co ~
p~araflely free from danger. Iconld ascribe my mode
ration e generosity, but ! do not wish to deceive you If
/ 3 could ave panished him without exposing myself 20
tie slightest iHiury, would not on any consideration,
have allowed the matter 70 pass by so easily"
j looked at sisio with astonishnent Such a COMES
sion uthriy ealfounded me lie continued " really
mean what l have said Indeed, l should not be justified
m exposing my life 10 any danger Tor, six years ago, l
eceiyedaE insult, and my enemy is stIl alive"
Ny Curiosity was excited 10 the utmost. Then You
dd NOT irht with hm ~ Inquired l. Circumstances
Il did fgst with him and here IS something which
viii bearwitness Of the aHair, he answered.
Siyio use, opened a small box, and took from j a red
can. 1t was ornamented with a iRssel made Of gold
fringe AMI trimmed vita gadloon. lie put II on, and /
observedffrat &c had been shot Though al about an inch
and a haF from the forehead.
"You know, be said, " thatJ served in the - Hus-
| sars: v0uknow also my character. In whatever society
/ have ban even thrown, l have Always been the ruling
genius. From my youth uP, it has been my prevailing
| passion b be -preeminent. In my younger days, extrav
aganee d conduct was in vogue irreguiaTity and wild
ness Of behavior was the day; and in this was second
TO none in the army. We boosted Of drunkenness. !
drank deeper than Baechus himself Duels were con
stantly fixing place in our regiment and ON every
occasion [ acted either a. second on principal. Ny com,
panions i{olized me; and although my proceedings were
not Openly comieuanced by the commanders, I was
looked on a necessary evil
81 wasreveiing, vita a feeling OF undisputed security,
in the enjoyment Of my acquired reputation, when a
I young mn Of very rich and celebrated family was ap
pointed 20 q vacancy in the regiment, Never before or