Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-16
A Hat Adventure.

once had hat adventure myself 1t
was in 1850. | was at the ball of the
Hotel de Vile, escorting Nine. Victor
Hugo, while nj. Hugo gave his arm to
Nine. 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 pro-
pose to hold the hat all night, so put il on
the floor. It's owner soon arrived. 1t
was celebrated duelist, M. Sherbette,
Deputy from Scissors. He came straight
to the chair which had had the honor of
holding his hat. He was about to attack
Nine. Victor Hugo, but, as WAS talking
with her, he turned upon me.
els IL you, sir, who have displaced my
hatg" "Yes, sir" did you put il on
the floor" "Do you think / ought TO
have put it on my headS" But, sir, you
have insulted me- Here is my card"
took out card and threw IL In his
hat.
Monsieurl" said the Deputy, furious
ly, "do you suppose | am going to pick
up my hat?"
"Do you suppose" said, THAT am
going to put it on your hoadr'
Victor Hugo laughed, Mime. Hugo
smiled, but Nine, Houssaye was not at all
amused.
~ require, sir" said the Deputy Of
Scissors, that you replace my hat on
the chair where ii was" | began TO
laugh. A little circle had gathered nj.
Sherbette finally picked up his hat under
pretext of taking my card.
Monsieur Arscne ilonssaye," he said.
We are from the same place, a reason
more for our meeting"
81 await your seconds, NJ. Sherbetto,"
j replied,
AT what houry" AL this hour. We
can fight as soon rs we leave the ball"
NJ. Sherbette bowed TO the two ladies
and went off 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 fight with pistols at twenty PAGES
at the Bois de Boulognc at daybrcak. 1t
was then hardly midnight, but we re-
solved 10 pass the rest OF the night at the
ball. Al that time j was very fond of
waltzing. They told Mime. Houssaye that
the affair was amicably settled, so that
We amused ourselves pleasantly until
nearly dawn.
As ill.Iuck would have it, we all met In
VIC GIDahIpoHi, DilHClpaiS hud etNphap'
at IL a nuisance" said one Of Sherbette's
seconds, "to go To the Bots In this snow.
storm" Come" said the other laugh
ingly 10 NJ Shcrbette, las you are the in
jured party YOU can apologize"
"Neveri" said NJ. Sherbette.
The two seconds came 10 me. Say
one word TO free US from this task. We
want to go to bed" " Neyerl' cried In
my turn. M. Sberbette put on his hat
with slant over the right ear. ] put on
mine with slant over the left. The four
seconds besiegcd us, and said they would
not accompany US unless we were more
good.natured about IT,
After all )" said Victor Hugo, think
that Arsene Houssaye, having insultcd
only M. Sherbette's hat, might make his
apologies to it,"
AT this moment word from Nj. Sher-
bette changed the face Of things. If
NJ. Arsene Houssaye declares that in Of
Tending my hat he did not mean 10 offend
me will hold myself satisfied with this
declaration
declared that | had not aimed at M.
Sherbette under his hat and the duel was
at an end II was agreed, in the verbal
proces.ycrbal, that whenever we met there
after we were to salute each other by
touch of the bat.--Arsene H0ussaye'S Pdrts
Letter IN ". y. IrfJalns.