, 1877-12-07
Concerning Duels.


In the time of Henry ILL.,, In a single
province Of France, 220 gentlemen were
killed in duels in six months. In the
reign of Henry Qiartre 1000 were killed
in two years. In those days seconds as
well as principals engaged in the quarrel
The good King granted over $4,000 par.
dons for quarrels alone. From the be-
ginning of the reign Of George III. to
1910 upwards Of 200 leading ouels took
place in England, including 400 princi.
pals and as many seconds. In three Of
them both combatants were killed in the
others, about so killed, 100 wounded, one
half of whom desperately, the other half
slightly; the rest escaped unhurt. It is
estimated that ones chance of life in a
duel is one in five, and sne.half, more or
less, are severely wounded. Twenty
trials occurred; some were found guilty
of manslaughter, four of murder, two
were hanged, the rest imprisoned.
The world has been ever full of men
ready to fight for fancied grievance at
the dropof hat; or if they bad no cause,
then to make one. The nobleman who
fought fourteen duels to prove that
Dante was greater poet than Aristo, and
on his death-bed admitted that he had
never read either, was no more cracked
brain than one Of Washington's aids, who
fought general second in rank in the
revolutionary war to prove that Wash
ington was equal to the official position
he held, and that,as private gentleman,
be was entitled to consideration and re-
spect.
Some gossiping babbler once told La
Fontaine, the fablest, that certain cap
tain was too intimate with his wife, and
that he must fight him. Buckling on his
sword he encountered the officer, told him
his object, and announced his intention of
fighting him. The officer disarmed the
poet, and, assuring him of the ridiculous
ness and falsehood of the rumors, said if
he was the cause of so much trouble he
would come to his house no more. The
officers conduct so pleased La Fontaine
that he Immediately declared that come
he must, and if he did not he surely
would fight him. Caglistro, the quack
and charlatan of Louis XV's time, was
challenged by physician. The renowned
professor of legerdemain proposed that,
it being medical duel, it be settled me.
dicinally; that the parties swallow two
pills,one poisonous,the other innocuous. 1t
is needless to say the duel was off.
Marquis DE Teutaniac, from Brittany,
once challenged the whole pit of a theatre.
Stepping from behind one of the shove
scenes of the stage he shouted out some
thing which the pit hissed. Advancing
to the footlights, in the full gaze of the
audience, he said: Ladies and gentle
men,with your permission piece will be
performed tomorrow, 'The InsolenCe of
the Pit Criticised, by Marquis De Teu-
taniac, in as many acts AS may be de-
sired" No one responding, the crack
Drained duelist was removed.
Prince Delgoroucki challenged Az old
Russian general named Zass, and at the
same moment the Swedish artillery was
heard, and news came that the enemy
were attacking a redoubt. The two at
once engage in their duel by standing in
their embrasure till one or the other was
struck. The Prince was cut in two by
cannon ball, and the general made u
mastery retreat Count De Tolstey and
naval captain fought. The latter in
sisted on a naval duel, and proposed that
they sieze each other and jump into the
water. The Count said he could not
swim the captain charged him with cow
ardice, and rudely seizing him, jumped
into the sea. Both were rescued, but the
captains injuries were so severe that he
died few days after.
Perhaps the most ridiculous story is
that told of General Putnam of revolu-
tionary wolf-fame, known as "Old Put"
During the French war he was challenged
by an English officer, He proposed that
each sit on keg of powder, into the
bung of which was lighted a fuse. After
the fuse got well under way, and the
flame was uncomfortably near the hole,
the officer ran. Hold on, my friend; it's
only onion-seed!" Gentlemen of the
cloth have not always been slow to resent
injuries. De Retx dotfed his cowl and
priestly robes, and showed himself mas
ter of the fence and thrust as often as oc-
casoD required.