The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-07-14
/" HON O r:
Duelling Anecdotes,

the French, illustrate the spiri. of that
age when duel was almost necessary
to the reputation ola man Of, fashion
and honor: a
r. DUEL TO THE DEATH.
4 terrible and fatal duet between
two brother-in-laws was fought in tho
at the back of the Hotel
de Vendome. The Dukes of Neniours
and Beaufort; though so closely con-
nected, were actuated by the worst
feelings toward eacll other. More than
once they had been on the point Of
crossing swords: On one occasion they
exchanged slaps OF the face in the
presence Of Mndemoiselle dc MoDtpen-
sief. At last they quarrelled about
some ridiculous question Of precedence
and nothing would satisfy Nemours
but an appeal to arms. They met,
each accompanied by four gentlemen.
The weapons were swords and pistols,
provided by the Due de Nemours:
Wien they came on tile ground the
Due de- Beaufort exclaimed: HAh, my
brother, how disgraceful this is! Let
us forget the past; let us be good
friends" But the other made answer,
i.Ali; you scoundrel! either you must
Kill me or shall kill you,r and with
these words be pulled the trigger; but
his pistol missed FIRE. He thereupcn
advanced upon, NJ. de Beaufort sword
in hand, so that the duke was compell-
ed to fire in self-defense. M. de Ne
mours fell to the ground dead; pierced
with three balls; With which his own
pa8pis had loaded the pistol. Two Of
NJ. de Beaufort's seconds died within
twenty -four hours, and q third was
badly wounded. The other combat
ants escaped with comparative impu-
nifty. ,a
THE oMlNoUs TAFFErA.
Towards the close of the eighteenth
century. two officers of the Gardes
Franchises came to words; which end
ed in one of them receiving box on
the ears; Baron de c., who had
suffered this incxplicable insult, forth
with gnmmed on his cheek a piece Of
tafefa, the exact size of the palm Of
his hand. He then politely invited his
adversary the Chcvalier de T., to
accompany him to the back Of the
Hotel des 1nyalides. In consequence
of that meeting, the chavalier was con-
fined to his bed for two months. The
baron, on the other hand, before leav-
| ing the ground, drew pair of scissors
out Of his pocket, and cut of a narrow
strip all around tile piece of taffeta.
The chevalier had hardly recovered Of
his wounds, when his valet came to
him one morning and said that a gen.
tleman with piece Of taffeta on his
cheek was at the door, and had dec'ar-
ell that the chevalier expected him.
"Yes," replied Monsieur dc T.,
AtelI him 1 will be with him in an in
slant" Again The two disappeared
behind the fnvaffdes, again the cheya-
fer took to his bed, again the taffeta
was trimmed all round. This was re-
tpeated time after time, until the taf1eta
was reduced to small black speck,
81 have come to my last scrap said the
baron to the chevalier, t'and you to the
end of your troubles" So saying, he
ran him through and killed him on the
spot.
HOW DUELLTNG DIED OUT.
The Regiment du Roi, in garrison al
Nancy, had acquired prc-eminently
bad reputation foy dueling practices
and SO much had discipline suffered
that the Due de Brissac was commits
stoned to restore order at any cost
The day after assuming command o.
the regiment, the duke invited the off.
GERS to a grand dinner, and when the
servants had retired he addressed them
in a courteous tone, with a pleasant
smile upon his lips, and told them he
had no intention of interfering will
their meetings. He was one of those
he said, who disliked. the idea Of col.
Letting Oh Oh d sword. He begged, there.
fore. they would go on and anlust
themselves as. they pleased; e only
continued he, "before going out yor
will come to me me- and relate what ha.
passed, and | will telr you what
think Oh. it. After that You will be a,
perfect liberty to lunge5 away IVA at eacl
other, if such be your pleasure. d.
You agree to this, gentlemenf'' eyes
colonel,' exclaimed his guests with on.
voice. SD gig
! Tho duke was the first to quit til,
table, and had hardly Get foot III hi
own apartment when he was informed
that two young captains wished tt
speak to him--the Viscount Richard d
r., and tile Chcvalier Armand d,
/ t..
.sWhat do you want with me- m gen
tlemenf7 inquired the colonel.
"Monsieur 10 Due" replied the Wis
connt, eve come simply to inform 70,
that We are going to fight ono anotke