The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-12
THE raw or the PISTOL.


when practised 10y gentlemen conversant with
the requirements OF the code Of honor Ia gov
erned by the rules, regulations, and traditions OF
the duclio previously observed In Engl md. and
still authoritative on the European Continent.
From this mistake have originated erroneous
imprtss respecting privileges accrung to,
or duties to be exacted from combatants, prln'
cipals, and seconds resorting to the chivalric
wager Of battle to determine extra. judicial dis
putcs, Gentlemen In this country are presumed
to owe aeeiaL ce to a codo Of honor, radical
modification of presxisting usages, originating
In our midst, and, In various aspects. at variance
with foreign maxms. The American code
Of honor IL a careful ompilatlon of rules, regu-
lations, and obseTvances traditional among
duellists Of the past generation, rejecting, how
ever. the adoption Of those deemed abhorrent
to advanced civilization, ia this wise dIvestiDg
properly conducted resort to arms from prior
barbarity and sanguinary intent. The Ameri-
eau code OF honor was the production OF Jonn
Lynde Wilson, a Governor OF South Carolina,
who composed and published the work at his
own expense, with view of disabusing the pop
ular mind as to the brutality and unfalrness OF
duelling, at q period when appeals to weapons
in the determination OF personal disputes were
matters Of haoitu Il occurrence, whereby worthy
citizens fell victims as much to their overhead
as to general Ignorance OF the code impera-
lively authoritative over gentlemen OF acknowl-
edged social position. wilson's pamphlet,
modelled after Jenerson's Manual. constitutes
an epitome OF tho etquetts Of duelling and of
rules regulating the IN anagem ent Of hostile en-
counter, from the inception OF n quarrel to Its
legitimate termination on the field o; honor
Previous to the adoption OF the American
code Of honor, auel;ng was ordinarily governed
by loose collection Of rules, famillarly desig-
mated as the code OF 1ipperary, exceedingly in
definite and difficult Of satisfactory construction
species OF common law founded upon tradl-
tions VI our ancestors, variousy interpr. ted 50
to cover all imaginable emergencies. rhe
Tipperary code, through its laxity. invested cof-
fee house braws, street ARRAYS, and indecent
disorders with the dignity of dues, an from its
unwse Translation to this country terminated
that multiplicity of fatal encounters, erroneous
" attributed TO dueing, brin iin2 the | w Of tho
pistol into unmerited disrepute. and instigitiug
Its suppression through stringent penal enact
ments. Nevertheless, as statutory acts are pric-
ticay Ineffective with gentlemen, reg riding the
dictates and oblig ,tions Of honor as superior to
legislative prohibitions. the American code Of
honor has been al pied fyr the IiIance OF those
gentlemen maintaining an ap2e Il to arms to
constitute. in extreme cases. the only grave. dig
nined and appropriate method whereby reDara-
honor.
he female person and tongue bein, held sa
cred, every lady was, aud still IL, presumed to
boast a representative knight either OF kin or
personal stranger, who c uuty dem nds satisfac-
tiOn for injuries Inflicted ucon her body or
reputation. Nevertheless, the code dscreetly
provides that, TO cntitle the lsdV's ch tmpinn to
ch llienge ncr lnsllter or datractOr, tue offence
must have been public or Its consequences pt-
tent to a male relative or friend as woman
being reg rded as incapable Of falschOod, NAL
Ice, or moral tirpituoe, her yeracity or motives
cannot be questioned. Moreover. ~ 1t Is inde-
coIous % connect lldy's name vita the scln-
dal OF duel. her chiinpion, avoiding all diem
mas, reverses his position. and. through prefer
OF drhoera'e aiiront to her insulter, lays him
sell open 10 a formIl demand far sa isf ction On
his own account. In this dele ,te matter. the
Cause OF the quarrel being known, but never al.
deliver his intended insult In the most courteous
n",i"er imaginable. The most genteel manLcr
Destined antagonist in "a 10" roo,n. or "ther
place OF male r-sort. ana To- smite him on tue
cheek with gloved n4nd. the glove or gauntlet
neagns peculiarly beIllcose si.ni1ca,lOn Ia tue
lexicon If chiyglry. the presence Of females or
the appe rance Of violence would prove faiai to
the end sought TO he attained, as upon no point
are the provisions OF thA code more * liicit than
IN the declaration thtt. when a man uescends to
employment ct brute force. of unusual we 4pons,
or ~ unsehtlen,nl. demeanor, ne forieits re-
dress from - court u honor. aud. having a Iah.
ned ls pugst, shoald cutter The prize ring IN
An insult received. the issuance Of a cartel, in
pursuance OF the provisions IT the American
CODE becomes "A matterof Serious cons idetati IN,
No challenge SHOULD be Issued unless founded
UPON demand for satisfaction OF q wei .denned
insult, deliberately intended when has IN
paired tie social standing of the presumptiyeIv
Injured party beyond power Of municipaI law to
redress hetore assuming responsibility IN act
lhs n e'onu' tie friend applied to to bear the
cartel snUulI consult with hts principal, clean
nll lNt@ connected with tue case. weigl tnem
la lis mind. and arrive at IN unbiased conclI-
SION a. 10 whether the an air cannot I've amiuauly
adjusted. AGAIN. he must consider tue social
position; tne aniecedents, the financial condi-
ton ana the personal Chtr cter Of the clal.
lensei parry. as the Gods prvcludcs tender OF
cartel u certain individuals perein ptOiily, while
10 DINERS IL extends inimunitles by reason II
consauguinity, Of family relations. OF society
aihiations, which are denied 70 ordinary COM
hatanis. Once accepting the office of second. a
ffiuud actually assumes entire responsibility foe
the management o. tue affair, tie principal tee
ins II veritiolc puppet IN nis HANDS. entrely
committed 20 his gu rdiinship-a delicate duty,
wnrn cun-cientiou-ly performed, but rArel,
rewarded w':h grateful Results.
lime. plhs r, anI weapons are matters wholly
20 oa determined by the seconds. VINO may en-
terrain suggestions from the principals, To be
al dictated upou in conference wl.h mutual
FREUD should tNex IlOu- dis green ut perpiex
The two seconds, pledged AS they are 10 main
tam All ur' hmiiiailes in sCrupulU us secrecy
uhtii arrival upon tue -ruund..which should DE
reached 10y hired cunycyNuccS. oven allnou!n
the c"mnaian1s snodlu rn-s-s- vehicles oil tleIr
own. bich party SHOULD Oe attended by ms
SURGEON. nut 40 servants are pcrulsted t. wit
mess the duel nor "tner persons connected Wish
the nous hold Of eiingr pr4ucipal.
lhe American code, e,eh a. me present mo-
ment, icrug ttLes for legitimate duslltns pur-
poses out three species % weapons lils rlpler
or sm all sw lrd tne sAD,e or broad sword, ana
tue pistol, and 90 the cnoico Of one Of tuese tue
de zion OF the seconds IS clTcum-crIbed. Pro-
htlcucy Ia lrncing 4 IA he urged - fatal objec-
non 10 the Use OF fapitr or sabre wuen one
lihclb / ayers us Ignorance ~ tue art Of ma d.
llns ether. But A. inst the pistol ~ a weapon
~ y OF II can oe entertained, proyldtu Its make
aui iashlun .ccprI with the req Iirement, OF the
code. The rapicr, Tor centuries a loitiun OF
hspitual costume. aud sun conserved as "A fe
turd IN st.ie and court dress, has lou. since
been drop, ed from tne il,t of Amerlr n Aus CLING
weapons, having been used Of li.e years only ~
,reuie- u Louisiana tnd by foreigners sol ilIn-
INK Ia the cOuntr.. Althougl not essentially 90
Jrruun ible 10 tue code, as most certainty are
ru =, lowing pieces, revolver, bowie knives.
ana sltnlidr destructive implements. 10 81 .srSt
empoSinent OF the small swuri Tor preseat
uutAlng purposes would be regarded a. "A AZ
tempted evasion OF the cartel, or a cr.yon Ell
uedNor To ttho ddV tutIgf OF au uus NLtuI atl-
gnnl-t. In almost a simil llgnt would De
viewed choice Ut the sabre, which, while tue
rdpier was considered as "A distinctive We. non
lbf CIVILIANS, has been reserved wholly for the
use OF gentlemen att .tned To lhe mint .ry and
naval afu4 OF service, cutlass ucIns at lines
suosttutvd for the reg llatOn e ,yalrA sword, 10
HvvOinhOdtto heroes OF the marine uraucl.
me iaNOIl1e ANA most legltl,I late Il &c hng
weapon OF tue present century Is the pistol, ana
dnc one INDIRECTLY recommended ~ the code.
rue llpl srIiN cpuo sanctions The employment