Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-11-06

CLAAAAA LNAlA uOA hdlA 0lAtA H1SAAS
opinion would compel hin to demand
satisfaction for this terrible insult, but he
had to anticipate it; for the first time in his
life he did not accept, but sent challenges
for the first time in his career as journalist
gross injustice seemed to have been done
him, and NJ. de Girardin was BY no means
willing not to turn this wrong to account
NJ Degouye Denuncaues Immediately ac-
cepted the challenge TO fight pistol duel
with Girardin. He was said to be an ex-
cellent shot. and for twenty four hours Gil
rardin was really in danger without know
ing it or being informed thereof by his
friends On the duelling ground where
lots we're drawn in order to settle the ques-
ton which Of them was to fire first, this
danger was much increased, the adversary
Of the editor Of the Presse having drawn the
lucky lot,
NJ. Degouye Denuncques said at a soiree
on the eve Of the duel, Il am satisfied that
| shall render a ser7ice, not only to France,
but to mankind, by shooting this man. for
Girardin is no man, but disease that will
soon extend beyond the frontiers Of France
and poison the life blood Of literature,
And he fred with calm conscience and
steady hand at this man whose life seemed
doomed, and-missed him. Not a muscle
quivered in the Journalists face, and when
his seconds signed to him that it was time
for him to shoot he took his pistol in his left
hand, bowed coldlY to his adversary, and
fred into the air Boundless rage seized De-
gouVe; he demanded that Girardin should
fire once more at him; but Girardin sternly
refused to do so. ~ am ready" he said,
'to begin the duel afresh; but nothing viii
induce me to FIRE at that gentleman.
All Paris, as was to be expected, was in
eommotion, and the Presse gained thousands
Of new subscribers NJ de Girardin, who
had succeeded in securing to himself, by
this duel, position in which the most scru-
pulous man Of honor could not have found
flaw, Of course did not fail to use it as much
as possible to promote his own interests
Journalism, then much different from what
it is now, found itself seriously threatened
and not only journalism, but also book pub
fishers aud book sellers, iuasmuch as Girar.
din had invented the teai3eton of the Pari.
sian world, and bought the best and most
interesting works OF popular noyelists at
prices which seemed absolutely fabulous to
the booksellers of that period
REcoNTRE BETWEEN GIRARDIN AND CARREL
We have to mention now decisive epi-
sode in Girardin's life, which, it was at first
believed, would become the turning point of
his career, but which, so far as he was con-
cerned, only served to fasteu his life irreyo
eably to the lamentable path which he had
entered. Armand Carrel, the managing
editor Of lie National, the ablest and best
journalist of his time, and, withal, noble
and true-hearted man, could no longer put
up with the attacks which the editor of the
Presse made upon him; he sent him chal
lenge, and when his friends rebuked him for
it, he replied, "As long as society has no
laws yet to banish such man fromits midst
the duel is the only way remaining to US for
vindicating our wounded honor
The duel took place, Carrel fred first,
and his bullet struck Girardin above the
knee. With a trembling hand and dimmed
glance Girardin pulled bis trigger, and Ar
mand Carrel, whom death had spared in so
many battles, fell shot through the abdomen
and uttering groan of pain, He was car
ried, almost lifeless, past the spot where
Girardin's surgeon was dressing his wound
in the leg. Guardin, lifting his head, and
seeing Carrel's features distorted with pain,
said in low, compassionate voice, Il am
afraid you are suffering much pain, NJ Car
rel. - The dying editor, summoning bis
last strength, raised himself up and said in
a husky voice, yet with a clear and almost
radiant glance, God grant, NJ de Girardin
that you may never have to suffer more from
your wound than | am suffering from my
mortal wound Even Girardins seconds
hung their heads, and Girardin himself
tainted. Carre died on the following day
Fortunately for Girardin, bis recovery
lasted several months, 50 that time lessened
the impression which this dreadful occur
renee produced, even on the minds of the
frivolous public of Paris. He, or at least
his newspapers, would certainly have sue
eumbed TO the general indignation After
his recovery he took a solemn pledge which,
it is no more than just to say, he has full
filed in the most serupulous manner; be
sw0re never to touch weapon again. He
could do so without incurring the sneers of
the French, for be had fought six duels,
and as even his adversaries admit, always
displayed the utmost iEtrepidity.
Already, in the following year, this vow
was to be tested in very trying manner,
when Bergeron, the author, boxed his ears
at the grand opera, in the presence of the
court and the cream of Parisian society,
Girardin did not challenge him, and the
courts alone avenged the insults heaped on
the editor of the PreSse
We have no room to follow the career Of
the Presse, step by step. A Ajournal without
fixed principles, and whose sole object is to
obtain more and more subscribers, aud for
this purpose now fatterS public opinion and
now boldly defies it, such a journal has
history on which a whole work might be
written.
PERSONAL HISTORY OF GIRABDIN.
M. de Girardin is now a millionaire.
Journalists no longer dare to oppose him;
all of them hate him, most of them even
despise him, and yet all Of them bow to his
indisputable influence over public opinion.
Suddenly the storm of the great year IS4S
breaks out-the storm which M de Girar-
din has foreseen, and which he skillfully
avoids by resigning his seat in the chamber
two weeks before the outbreak Of the revo-
luton. At the first symptom of the great