Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
SERVED OUT.

In the year 1S3-there lived at Bor-
deauX, the last-or one of the last-of a
long line of scoundrels who had made
that part of France Infamous Ito our ideas)
by succession of cold -blooded murders,
committed under the sanction of what
people were pleased to call the Code Of
Honor. This was certain Comte de
~, q man of great physical strength,
imperturbable SdngroSd, and relentless
cruelty. Not bad sort of companion, as
some said, when the fit-the dueling fit
was not on him; but this came on once in
about every six months, and then he must
have blood, it mattered little whose. He
had killed and MANNED boys of sixteen,
fathers of families, military officers, jour
nalists, advocates, peaceful country gentle
men. The cause of a quarrel was of no
Importance; if one did not present itself
readily, he made one ; always contriving
that, according to the code aforesaid, he
should be the insulted party, thus having
the choice of weapons; and he was dead
ly with the smallsword. 1t is difficult for
us to realize a state of society in which
such a wild beast could be permitted to go
at large; but we know it to be historically
true that such creatures were endured in
France; just as we are assured that there
were at one time wolves in Yorkshire,
only the less noisome vermin had harder
time of it as civilization progressed than
was dealt out to the human brute.
The latest exploit of the Comte de V
previous to the story am about to tell,
was to goad poor young student into
s. challenge; and when it was represented
to him that the boy had never held a
sword in his life, so that it would be fairer
to use pistols, he replied that "fools
sometimes made mistakes with pistols" )"
and the next morning ran him through
the lungs. The evil fit was on him |; but the
blood thus shed quoted him for another
half year, and rather more, for public
opinion was unfavorable, and the air OF
Bordeaux became too warm for HIM.
But the scandal blew over after time,
and he came back to his old haunts, one
of which was a cafe by the river side,
. where many used to spend their Sunday.
Into the littlesgarden of this establishment
our wolf staggered one fine summer af-
ternoon, with the heavy dark look and
3 nervous twitching Of the hands which
those who were acquainted with him knew
well meant mischief The evil fit was on
him; consequently he found himself the
center of a circle which expanded as he
went on. This did not displease him. He
liked to be feared. He knew he could
make quarrel when he chose, so he
looked around for victim.
3 At table almost in the middle of the
garden sat man of about thirty years of
age, of middle height, and an expression
of countenance which at first struck one
as mild and good humored. He was en-
gagged reading journal which seemed to
interest him, and eating strawberries, an
occupation which does not call forth any
latent strength of character. Above all,
he was profoundly unconscious of the
Nf IL a. 4
continued eating his strawberries and
reading his paper as though no wolf were
an that pleasant fold
AS the Count approached this table, it
become sufficiently well known whom he
was about to honor with his insolence
and the circle narrowed again to see the
fphy. II is not bad sport, with some of
Jus, TO see a fellow creature baited-espe-
cially when we are out of danger our
selves .r
The strawberry eaters costume was not
such as was ordinarily worn in France at
. that time, and he had "a curious hat, which
-the weather being warm--he had placed
on the table by his side. He is foreign
err whispered some in the dress-circle.
B Perhaps he does not know Monsieur lie
Comte"
Monsieur le Comte seated himself at the
[ and called loudly, "Garcon." I.Tf y
"Garcon," he said, when that functionary
appeared, take away that nasty thing l'
q pointing TO the hat aforesaid.
Now the strangers elbow, as he read his
journal, was ON the brim of the "nasty
thing" which was very good hat, but OF
British form and make. The garcon was
embarrassed.
".Do you hear me?" thundered the
Count. "Take me that thing away! No
7 one one has q right to place his haton the
4 p at beg your pardon" said the strawber-
ry-eater, politely, placing the offending
article ON his head, and drawing his chair
la little aside; . win make room for Mon,
sieur" .-, --,-
THE garcon was about to retire well
satisfied, when the bully called after him
Have / not commanded you to take
that thing which annoys me awayG"
"But Monsieur le Comte, the gentle
IS man has covered himself"
What does that matter to mef"
"But, Monsieur lie Comte, 1t is impossi-
BILE" = ~ '--
"What is impossible ?"
77sys That should take the genlleman's
: hat" Ell
+, "By no means" observed the stranger,
uneoYerlng again. BE so good as 10 car
ry my hat to the lady at the counter, and
ask her, on my behalf, TO do me the favor
10 accept charge of it for the present"
"You speak French passably we'll for a
foreigner said the bully, stretching hi;
arms over the table, and looking hi:
neighbor full in the face-a litter of con
tempt going round the circle.
Il am not a foreigner, Monsieur
.". al am sOrrV for that "
$50 am /.
May one, without indiscretion, in
quire whyl"
Certainly. Because, If / were a for
eigner, should be spared the pain of see
ing q eompatriot behave himself very
rudely"
Meaning meS"
Meaning precisely you"
DO you know who amg" ASKED TIA,
Count, half turning his back upon him