The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-09-15
What Frcnchmen Fight Duels
About

From Arsenc HOuHaye in the n. Y, Trbunc.l
Twas at the ball at the Hotel de Vile
escorting Nine Victor Hugo, while N,
Hugo gave his arm to Madame Houssaye,
There was chair empty and the one next
to il contained hat. took up the hat
and gave the chair to Nine Hugo, OF
course | did not propose to hold the hal
all night, so | put it on the floor, Its
owner soon arrived, II was celebrated
duelist, NJ. Sherbette, a deputy from
Scissors. lie came straight to the chair
which had had the honor Of holding his
hat, lie was about to attack Madame
Victor Hugo, but as was talking with
her, he turned upon me,
as it you, sir, who have displaced my
hatI' AYES, sir" "Did you put it on the
floor ~ "Yes. Do you think | ought to
have put it on my headY "But, sir, you
have insnlted me, Here Is my card"
took out card and threw it in his
hat,
"Monsieur p said the deputy, furiogsly,
edo You suppose | am going to pick up
my hat|
"Do you suppose" | said, that am
going to put II on your head ~
Victor Hugo laughed, Madame Hugo
smiled, but Nadine lIOussayc was not at
all amused.
n require, sir" said the deputy OF
Scissors, that you replace my hat on the
chair where it was" | began to laugh.
A little circle had gathered. NJ, Sher-
bette finally picked up his hat under pre-
text OF taking my card.
"MOnsieur Arsene Houssaye," he said,
Eve arc from the same place, reason
more for our meeting"
al await your seconds, NJ. SherbcIte."
replied.
at what hour% AT this hour, we
can fight as soon as we leave the hail."
NJ. Sherbettc bowed to the two ladies,
and went of in search Of two seconds. !
asked Victor Hugo and the Marquis de
BellOy to act as my witnesses in this RI.
diculous affair. NJ. Sherbette's seconds
soon appeared. II was decided that we
should light with pistols at 20 PAGES at
the Bots de Boulogne at daybreak, 1t was
then hardly midnight, but we resolved to
pass the rest OF the night At the ball. At
that time | was very fond OF waltzing.
They told Madame HOussaye that the AZ
fair was amicably settled, so that we
amused ourselves pleasantly until near
dawn.
As ill.luck would have it, We all met
in the clOak-rOom, principals and sec.
Ouds, at Is q nuisance" said one of
Shcrbette's seconds, "to go to the Bots in
thh snow Storm" "COme," said the other
laughingly to NJ, Sherbette, "as you are
the injured party you can apologize"
"NGver y said NJ. Sherbette.
The two seconds came to me. "Say
one word to free us from this task. We
want to go to bed" "NevCr" | cried In
my turn. NJ. Sherbette put on his hat
with slant over the right ear | put on
mine with slant over the left. The four
seconds besieged us, and said they would
not accompany us unless We were more
goOd.natured about II.
"Aftcr ALL" said Victor Hugo, II think
that ArsenC lIonssnyc, having insulted
only NJ. Sherbette's hat, might make his
apologies to it,
At this moment word from NJ. Sher-
betlce changed the face Of things. "If
NJ. Arsene lIoussaye declares that in Of.
Tending my hat he did not mean to offend
me, / will 'hold myself satisfied with this
declaration"
declared that had not aimed nj NJ.
Shcrbettc under his hat, and the duel was
at an end. 1t was agreed in the verbal
prOces.ycrbal, that whenever We met
thereafter we were to salute each other by
n touch Of the hat.