Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-16
An AGair Of Honor.


The age Of chivalry has not passed away as
some suppose. In New Orleans, if no where
else, it survives, and its code is as exacting in
its demands and as memorable in its penalties
as ever There men cherish that peculiar form
oil honor, which, when affronted, can only be
appeased by the burning OF powder. The New
Orleans Pieayune of the 9Th inst. publishes,
without comment, some letters and statements
containing the history Of an "affair of honor
which had just transpired there, and which
otherwise interesting, is made especially so by
the gravity with which its somewhat ridiculou,
features are treated by the parties. To the PEG
pie of this region, where chivalry of the dueling
sort never fiourished, there is something alb
surdly comical in the idea Of finding satisfac-
tion for an insult or injury in standing up before
pistol in the hand Of the offender, even if you
have a pistol in your own hand at the same
time. To the New Orleans mind, however, this
proceeding seems entirely rational and appro.
PIRATE. In the case now under notice the
original offence was given by an article written
for the Picayune, and published in it, entitled
"rhe Bar and the Judges" in which a lawyer
named McCaleb was charged with making a
profit from his personal influence with his
father-n-law, who was one OF the judges OF the
city courts.
The correspondence opens with letter from
Mr.. McCaleb TO the editor Of the Picayune, re-.
guessing the name Of the author of the often.
sive article, "lor the purpose of obtaining per-
sonal satisfaction and redress" Then follows
the response of R B. Rhett, Jr., editor of the
demand the name of the person who had given
offence, since be desired it "lor the purpose Of
obtaining personal satisfaction and redress !"
repeating this fine formal phrase with evident
ENJOYMENT, and giving as the name required
Hiram J. Grover Next is McCaeb's note to
Grover, saying CURLY that the communication
10 the Plcayune compels him to call "for the
satisfaction which is usual among gentlemen, "
and referring TO the bearers Of the note as bis
"nlends' authorized to act in his behalf Mr..
Grover responds to this note with request to
know upon what part Of the communication
referred 10 the demand for satisfaction Is based
promising, however, that he holds himself fully
responsible for every word aud action of bis
lie. Mr.. NeCaieb gives the Information dc.
sired, and Mr.. Grover, in bis second note, as
snres him that The article which had given Of.
Tense was written solely from a sense Of public
duwi but he does "not intend, through any
Tear Of personal consequences, to swerge from
the discharge Of whatever high responsibilities
good citizenship may entail" and for this rea-
son, which seems an extraordinary one to us.
for sdopting criminal method Of adjusting
private grievance, be grants the demand for
satisfaction and names friend who viii
make the preliminary Arrangements on his
part
Here the correspondence ends, but the story /,
continued IN the form Of 'Broces verbat sign
ed by the seconds, il which they relate that a
seven A. N. Cctober 7tb, the principals, witt
their seconds and surgeons, met at the plac
agreed upon, and the customary pteimnariC
were arranged. The weapons, double barree
shot guns, were then loaded, one barrel only
each, with ball in the presence of the second
aud the combaants took position at forty pace
Stance. On the word being given both FIRE