The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-05-06
The DueliO.

think, barberous mode of settling per
sonal difficulties, seems just now to be
growing in notice and popularity. In
France, which is the centre of all fash
ion and politeness, it is of frequent oc-
currence, and in Spain, the 1tloatic
Monthly for May tells us, that it is the
only resort of gentlemen;
THE point of honor is absolute in
society. The phrase itself has been
used so much that its angles have been
worn off and the three words rubbed
into one-pundonor p,ntO dc hoaor).
Not satisfied with that, the Spaniards
have started from the basis Of this bar
barous abbreviation to build an adJec-
tive, pundonor0SO, which conveys the
highest compliment you can pay. to a
cavalier of CASTLE To be touChy and
quarrelsome-bizarre, as they term it
is the sure index of a noble spirit If
you are not bellicose yourself You must
at least always be ready to accept
quarrel with alacrity. This is a corree
to which every one is subject who
pretends to be in the world. You
must not be too nice, either, in the choice
of an adversary. The son OF one Of
the most important families of the
kingdom was recently killed in duel
with man of greatly inferior social
position. The Governor Of the Philip
pine Islands fought few weeks ago
with young clerk whom he had i'm
prisoned at Manila for not taking off
his hat when his Excellency passed by
for his airing. The clerk bided his
time, and bufeted the Governor at the
door of the Casino in Madrid, hence the
fight Neither youth nor age is just
cause of exemption. The gray-haired
Lieutenant Generals went out this winter
for friendly interchange Of shots. Two
boys at the military school rode in from
Guadalajara with their friends, and
fought before sunrise in the shadow OF
the monument of the Dos de Mayo i'll
the Prado. One was left dead i'll the
frosty grass at the foot of the obelisk
and the rest mounted their horses and
hurried back to be in time for morning
prayers at the college.
In the Southern States of this coun-
try the custom has prevailed to great
extent, and has been the occasion of
severe attacks upon the chivalry Ofthat
section. But reallp, while the habit is
always to be regretted, and sometimes
abused. il is not so "barhcrouS or 80
demoralizing as represented, and it is
generally the most peaceable mode Of
settling the personal difficulties which
are nearly sure TO arise in near Y all
communities. 1t is better and more
honorable We think, than to waylay
q man and main or kill him, or
to impose on physical weakness,
or to abuse and SANDER each other
through the columns of a newspaper or
otherwise. Take as present examples
the bitter and very coarse controversies
now raging in New York between the
editors of several leading newspapers,
the Tribune and the Times, and DANA $
Sun and YoUNG's new paper. Take
also the recent controversy between the
Cincinnati Enquirer and the Commercial,
where the complimentary epithets Of
"liar, scoundrel and coward passed
between them. Are not such exchanges
Of personalities far more injurious to
those who make it a habit of indulging
in them, as well as to the public who
read them, than it would be for those
parties when they feel themselves in
suited or wronged, to go quietly out to |
some secluded spot in the country before
breakfast, and settle their difficulties
with pistols or swords?
The reason for this view of the ques-
ton is obvious. For when men are
made to understand that insults will be
promptly resented, they are more care
full how and when they give them, and
if they are honorable men, they will
never fail to withdraw them when con-
WINGED of error or wrong. But when
insults are given and taken with impu-
nifty, they are as frequent as they are
demoralizing and disgraceful. Billings
gate is always worse than duelling.