Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-15
Publisher and Pr6priotor .
THE THRUSH IN TIERCE.
From the Overland Monthly. for January.l
nz.,1L. ~

"Touche." s
"No,"
81 Iappeal. Judgment, judgment" " e.
"a clear hit, gentlemen. Monsieur
Paul, you improve. Monsieur Gabriel
you are weak in carte. Let me show
YOU" and Jean Petit, our fencing mas.
ter, took the foil from Gabriels hand,
and threw himself into the correct atti-
tude.
so" said the master, glancing criti-
eally along his blade, from the hilt to the
button, you err, Monsieur, in that bend
of the elbow. Now see, my arm covers
the body, and a half an inch throws my
adversery's blade outof line.
Another bout, cried Gabriel, and
a bottle Of champagne on the result" Z
They cross blades, aud advance and
retreat, and lunge and parry, while Jean
Petit looks on with interest.
" Touche.
Eyes, Gabriel, clear hit, " said /.
Granted; at it again En- garde."
We were all three of us attending a
course of lectures on Material Medica at
- College, in the south of London;
and John Petit, the amiable exile" as
we dubbed him, instructed us in the
mysteries of carte" and "tierce at
three shillings a week per man. Cheap
enough, heaven knows, for the poor fell
low labored as conscientiously i'll his vo-
cation as if we we're being drilled for
field marshals of France, and the honor
of the glory-loving nation depended on
our proficiency.
Paul and Gabriel we're about my own
age--that is to say in the neighborhood
of two-and.twenty. Although warm
friends, there ragged between them a con-
slant struggle for the supremacy in out
door games, in studies, in boxing, fenc-
ing and every pursuit to which the
mind Of the student youth inclines
Gabriel was the most muscular of the
two; but Paul was the most skillful, and
generally carried off the prize from his
weightier but less expert rival. / often
feared that this incessant rivalry might
at some time or other be the cause of an
outbreak between the friends. Once /
said to Paul:
"How will it be if your unremitting
STRUGGLE with Gabriel should extend to
the fair sex, Paul?"
"Never fear, old fellow" he answered,
merrily, Gabriel's taste leans toward
the blonde beauties, and / am heart and
soul devoted to brunettes. In this re-
spect, | assure you, you need lear no
outbreak, nor, indeed, in any, for we are
too good friends to quarrel.
Arm in arm, we left old Jean Petits
academy, and strolled toward Gabriels
room, for friendly pipe. Once estab-
lished in his snug quarters, we dis
patched trim maid seryant-the fair
goddess of the lodging honse-for a
quart Of halfsndhalf, to help the to-
baccO.
"Just noon," said Paul, looking at
his watch. 81 had letter from the
governor to-day, containing small re-
mittance, to supply the inevitable neces-
sites of existence, and consequently
feel inclined for spree. What do you
fellows say to o pull on the river?
4 Agreed" said !; mind, none OF
your racing, high-pFessure pulls, but a
gentle drift for half dozen milse, and
nothing too violent to interfere with the
placid enjoyment of pipe"
30, you lazy rascal" cried the chums
in chorus; but off we go, high pressure
or low-PresEnre."
We were out Of the London smoke,
moving dreamily by this Villa-studded
banks of the river, now sweeping by a
drowsy angler bohbing for perch, aud
again an object Of admiration to the nur-
sery maids and their broods, who lazily
watched us from the bank. Occasion
ally trim racing boat, pulled by trained
rowers. whose barred arms showed mag
nifcent muscular development, foamed
by us, and we laughed in our superior
wisdom at their painful exerhons on
that hot afternoon.
Let us lay on our oars, said, /, ana
I'll give you surprise. f.l..
Bring it along" laughed Paul ling
ing his oars on board.
i drew from under the stern a jar OF
cold punch, which / had concealed for
an agreeable thunder-clap to the party
when the desire for such an ingredient
should begin to develop itself We hob
nobbed, aRd Gabriel proposed toast,
The proyider Of the feast which
I responded to and Paul made a
short speech, in the course Of which be
referred TO the unbounded hberality
that had always characterized medical
students. and Of WHICH he begged TO
point to his friend in the stern lmean-
ing mel as a shining example.
" A thousand suns will shine on thee.
A thousand moons viii guiyer;
But not By thee my steps shall be
Forever and forerer.
spouted Paul, as be lay at full length on
he thwarts. Who can say when We
three will float along thusly againl
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