The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-05-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

EDITOR CHIEF:
The killing of Mr.. Bienvenep by
Mr.. Phillips in duel at New Or
leans-a strange thing in these days
reminds one of the proximity of this
place to Bladensburg, WHICH was the
famous resort of the high bloods for
this favorite pastime during the PEI
Rod of courtly manners and delicate
sense of honor, which it is supposed
has forever passed away. The "code'
was the higher law of the old cavalier
set who ruled in Washington a half
century ago, and while it was no els
grace to violate the law of the land,
the man who was not ready to sub
NIT to the unwritten demands OF the
code was hooted from society and
drummed from the ranks of respeeta-
BILE people, sure as fate. 1t was only
ffty-fve years ago that Colonel Nc
Carly, an army officer, had quarrel
with q member of Congress, Mr.. Ma
son of Virginia, and as this constituted
case of chiyalry of the very first
class, it was of great Importance that
the duel should be as sensational as
circumstances would permit. To &C
complish this three propositions were
entertained and discussed; One that
the two seions of American aristocracy
should calm their excited feelings
and soothe their wounded sensibill-
ties by sitting together on q barrel OF
gunpowder while some one applied a
lighted torch to a fuse connecting
with the powder. Another PROPOSE
ton was to mount the dome of the
capitol, clasp hands in loving grip,
and Jump to the earth together and
the third was to use muskets at ten
PAGES. The first two were somehow
found to be barbarous, and therefore
inadmissable, but the last, putting
death off ten PAGES, was decided not
to be uncivilized and sufficiently SEN
sational, so they went out, and be-
fore their return there was a vacancy
from the Loudon district of Virginia
and the wounded honor of Repre-
sentative Mason was satisfied by the
sacrifice of his life. The men were
cousins. The Cilley and Graves duel
was another where guns were used
by members of Congress with a fatal
result. Cilley was a wonderful shot
with the rifle, and it was said the
weapon was selected by him to i'm
prove his chances, but good as he
was he failed to hit the mark, and
and his antagonists luck was better
than skill, for Cilley was brought
back from the reneontre dead.
The removal of the Marquis de
Noailles from Washington has been
quite loss to fashionable society, for
the Marehioness was a lively lady,
and in the diplomatic circle kept
things moving as French women do.
Just fifty-fve years ago now, shortly
after the Mason duel, Monsieur and
Madame Melville were having then.
farewell parties and fetes, to the
great regret of the fashionables here.
But Madame Melville slept in an at
tic while here, and it was never
counted against her by any body, as
indeed how could it be? No one
could say it was not in keeping with
the most elevated pretensions of
high life, whether at that day or this.
The Marquis de Noailles and his
lady lived in great style, and had
two houses corner X and Tenth strs.,
adjoining, which they made into one
by cutting the partitions, and which
were furnished in q luxurious manner
with furniture from Paris. They left
early in the season and the houses
are still unoccupied. The grandfather
of Noailles was the French Minister
to the United States in Wasbington's
administration, and both he and his
grandson were highly popular and
respected. They knew how to spend
money, and genuine liberality goes
as far in Washington as any other
place-a fact which is understood by
Boss Shepherd and Henry D. Cooke,
and it doesn't matter whose money it
is, their own or their Uncle's.
Nh,