The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-30
A Gentleman or the Old EchOO. upon
ihc Field or Honor.

VIC az u fSs. othAhS eihhSs ~ A,-S 1
served with distinction on the Conti- |
nent under the immediate notice Of
the great Frederick; and, having had
the honor of knighthood conferred
upon him by that veteran monarch, he
became thenceforth devoted promo
ter and exemplar of Prussian manners,
customs, tactics, and absolutism. The
dress of his landing, the discipline CT
his personal carriage, the length OF his
marching step, were from the first
without variation. He was a man
grave of visage; and the reason why /
a smile never passed across ii was
that smile had never been laid down
in any Prussian manual of exercise,
nor included in any written strategy |
of war.
The free-hearted, Independent plan
tiers of this little "Gem Island" who |
belonged to the council, thinking life
too short for the observance of much
form or ceremony among a brother
hood of gentlemen, naturally opposed
some of his excellency's favorite |
measures. DIR. B, person OF
fine presence, good address, and prone
TO examine critically the practical ex-
pediency of the governors plans, came
TO be considered as man not inclined
10 vote, or to influence votes, in favor
OF his excellency's projects so that al
last he tame to be regarded as the
leader of the opposition in the council
chamber, and as person to be sum-
marily put down. And one morning,
in the course OF an excited debate, his
excellency made remark so closely
personal, that it could not be entirely
passed over. So the doctor said.
Il can have no reply to make. Your
eXcellency represents the king.
a do, sir, while in this chair, but
the moment leave it l am George
Yonng, and very much al your SER
vice."
Explanation of offensive words, in
The " Pickwickian sense" had not at
that time obtained and the mumbling
of a few phrases about having differed
upon seventh cause" did not pre-
vail. Mr.. Waters father, a member
of the council, was hardly seated at
hcme, before his friend DIR. B. was
announced. He came to ask him to
serve as his second i'm hostile meet
ing. To his great regret this was i'm
possible. He was the oldest member
of the council-board, and, if Sir
George should fall in the rencOntre,
natural animadversion upon his course
would be inevitable. But he had
great pleasure in proposing as a sub
stitute mutual friend, Col. Williams,
Welshman, who commanded regi-
ment at the time stationed upon the
island, and who regarded with no
small degree of contempt the martinez
customs of the Prussian service. DIR.
b called on him at once, and an
nounced his purpose.
"Ah! So you and Friedrich the
Great have got at ii, Ell? l have heard
of the affair in the council, and of his
overture to YOU"
DIR. B. explained his unsucceSs.
fuI application to the senior Waters
and his embarrassing ignorance as to
the manner in which he was to pro-
coed 81 am entirely unacquainted
with the use of pistol" he said, "and
do not even possess pair. l shall
stand no chance whatever with Sir
George Young but life IS Of no cal.
ae sriM a brand upon it,"
Are you quite out of practice with
this pistol 2" asked the colonel.
Il never fired pistol in my life
"Then | would not give guines
for his. A mans first shot is the bes
in the first hundred. Here is pail
of pistols that never missed fire since
thev-were first manufactured. Take
them home with you. Stand before
the largest mirror in the house. Lool
well at your shadow. Raise your pts
tol from your knee in this way, witt
a stiff elbow, ranging along the shad
ow in the glass; and, when you ge
the muzle to the height of the hip
draw the trigger. You will fight il
Glen's sqw-pit. Be there in good sea
son. Place yourself at one end oft
and, when he comes opposite to you
think of the man in the glass; rails
YOUR muzzle will stiff elbow, ant
pull as soon as it ranges with his hip
yOu can't miss him. Ten to one IN
will talk about marching, and facin:
TO the right about, and give you lee
ture about the 'Prussian mode of do
ing things. Tell him you are fixed t.
your spot, but that he can march ant
coun:ermarch, and be hanged to him
Recolect! you have but two things t.
think of after you get upon the ground
See that your printing lines well upol
the touch-hole, and then think of tn
man in the glass. If you dIop pisto
and level at him from shove, you vii
oyershoot him. / should like you t
have a second, but YOU can state t
Sir George the impossibility of pro
curing one, and that you are "conten
TO rely upon any arrangement that h
NAV make in this respect. You ma,
safely do this. After all, he is gen
tleman. and if he had been bred up ii
our service, he would have been sol
der, instead of being. as he now is,
bigoted martinez of the Prussia
school"
At the hour of five in the afternoon
of the following day the parties me
at tie saw-pit. George Young cour
teously Offering a Thousand apollo
gies 4" TO his "placed" antagonist 70
being late, having been suddenl.
called upon TO attend TO some inpor
tant official matters before leaving tn
government house.
The doctor received his explanation
gracefully, and ,hen observed: You
cxcellency has brought no second?
No." he replied; "on The Cont
aeaC, l have known difficulties to arts
from such circumstances, and the hon
Jr Of gentlemen called in question
when two have gone ont against one
but YOU have confided in me; surely
viii conidc in you. | suppose, DI
B, that this business is no nov
city 10 you."
"On the contrary" replied the doc
tor, ait is, thank God, the first occa
sion of The sort was ever yet engaged
in.' ada. .s.. ...
different people have differen
ways of settling it, replied The gov
crnor;" but, an the Prussidn serctce
the practice is TO stand in the cense
of the field, back to back, march ct
four PAGES, then to The Tigbt-about
then level and fire. Ii has been in rel
crcnce to that practice that have hao
the ground of this PIT put in the con
dition for marching in which you SCI
it,"
LAS have never had the honor tt
lie in the Prussian SERVICE" said DIR
B." your excellency will, hope
excuse me from any such evolution
a,n ,,laraJ other IIpre Or If Vol