The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-01

his own country loaded with honor and wealth.
or rather with the spoil of the gold and reputa
tended, he repaired to the city OF Mantua where
the Duke, according TO courtesy usually be-
protection and safeguard of his person.
Having accomplished all this he published
tered on ali the chief gales and pillars Of the
town, and gave all men to understand that his
purpose was to challenge in single combat
city or country that burst be bold
as to fight with him. His challenge was
that at that very time there were
three noted duelists of such highly cried. up
vaor that all the bravoes OF Mantua were con.
tent to give way to their domineering, aud be-
cause OF their former victories la the field all
three in becoming state lived together at the
court OF the Duke The pounding on the gates,
the publications, that blowing of trumpets, and
Dragging generally of the newcomer, reused
the professional ire of these three neroes and
they as Ia duty bound agreed severally to fight
this new champion, thereby obtain his money
increase their own glory, and put the intruder
out of the way. The iders and courters OF the
city took great interest In the affair, and lined
the barriers with their persons. The contest
began by the sound of trumpets, and in three
successive fights, coming off in the space of
fourteen days, these champions ol the honor of
Mantua bit the dust"
In the meantime the conquering hero Is rep
resented as marching about the streets of Man
tua for weeks together without any opposition
or contestment, like another Romuus or Mar
cellus, in triumph. "It is difficult to imagine" I"
says the chronicle, "the lamentable spectacles
the city presented, the courtiers and people
casting down their faces for shame, not know
ing what course to take for the reparation of
their honor.'
At this critical moment in the history of
Mantua the admirable Crichton' arrived,
and he is represented as being neither able to
eat nor drink till he first sent a challenge to
the conqueror, appealing to him to repair, with
his best sword in his hand at nine O'Clock in
the morning of the next day, in presence OF
the whole court, and in the same place where
he had killed 'the other three" to show that
in the court of Mantua there were as valiant
men as he.
The challenge was accepted, and there gath
cred together the Duke, the Duchess, with all
the nobemen, ladies, magnifcoes, and all the
choicest of both men, women, and maids Of the
city. The combatants, dressed in shirts and
drawers, and without any other apparel, took
their places, their rapiers of exact equal length
being handed to them by the Duke. At the
proper signal, shot from great piece of ord
| nance, the two combatants made their ap-
proach to one another. For a while Crichton
acted entirely on the defensive, the ladies soon
| becoming charmed with the sweetness of his
| countenance, and correspondingly disguised
with the sternness of the others aspect.
J The old chronicles give the exact details o.
| the fight, and dwell at length upon the dex
terity and quickness of Crichton, who evi
IDENTIFY depended on science to overcome brutal
force. Each successive advantage is hailed
with Joy by the ladies, whose bright eyes flash
encouragement upon the champion of Mantua
and as Crichton gains one advantage afteI
another over his rude and vaunting foe-as
he forces his rapier with mathematical pre-
cision into the breast, arms, and belly o
his antagonist, and seems disposed to slowly
and by piecemeal render him helpless t
the finishing stroke-the sweet Duchess, tn,
fair women, and innocent maids of Mantus
wave their jeweled hands and flash en-
couragement from their sweet eyes; the con
quered at last giving up the ghost ghastll
not have died by the hands of a blaver man
ITO be continued