The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-22
Experience and Opinions OF III. La
bouchere I'm Regard to DuefEilG.
from the London Truth, May ISL

hOuchere III ReSafU 10 Auehnss.
from the London Truth, May 23.J
was once ordered to proceed to Stock
holm, and at this town found favor with
nv supe,iors for the curious reason that
challenged an Austrian chGr96 d'0DatreS.
Never was there q more absurd affair.
There was an Epglshman who had been
challenged by q Swede, whom he declined
to fight. A few days later the Englishman
went with my minister to box in the
theatre. The next day at club the Aus
trian charge datfdireS said before me and
others that Engishmen had odd ideas OF
honor, and more particularly English min
listers. / replied that Englishmen were
not so silly as to fight duels, and that the
English minister was not dishonorab!e
man for appearing in theatre with his
countryman. As it was generally felt that
I ought to challenge this Austrian, "put
myself in the hands" Of the French and
Prussian Ministers. A few hours later my
seconds came to me. I expected that they
were going to tell me that the Austrian had
apologized. Not at all. With a cheerful
smile they observed, cit is arranged for to-
morrow morning-pistols." Att O'Clock A.
NJ. they reappeared. Their countenances
were doWncast. 81 have lost the mould for
the bullets for my duelling pistols" OBJ
served the Prussian, "and we had to bor-
row pair OF pistols, for whose accuracy OF
aim I cannot vouch." This inwardly re-
joiced me, but OF course / pretended to share
in the regret OF my seconds. We sat down
to an early breakfast. "Iou are young, l
am DID," said the Frenchman; "Would
that l could take your place" l wished
it as sincerely as he did, but I tried to as
sumo an air Of rather liking my position,
and I grinned q CHASTITY grin. Then we
started for the park. The opposition had
not arrived; but there was surgeon who
had been kindly requested to attend by my
sympathizing friends. can accident may
happen," observed the Prussian; edo you
wish to contide to me any dispositions that
YOU NAV desire to be carried out after p"
and he sighed in a horribly suggestive man
ner. No, I said; ! had nothing particular
to contde; and as looked at the surgeon
thought what an idiot I was TO make
myself the target for an Austrian to
aim at, in order to establish tue
principle that Englishmen have per-
feet right to decline to fight duelS.
There was a want OF logic about the entire
proceeding that went to my heart. To be
killed is bad enough, but to be killed para
doxically is still worse. Soon the Austrian
and his second appeared. | never felt
more dismal in my life. The Austrian
stood apart. l stood apart. The surgeon
already eyed me Is subject" The
seconds consulted; then the Frenchman
stepped out twelve PAGES. He had very
short legs, and they seemed to me shorter
than ever. After this came the loading OF
the pistols. Sometimes, thought, seconds
do not put in the bullets; this comforted
me, but only for moment, for the bullets
were rammed down with cheerful energy.
By this time we had been placed facing
each other. A pistol was given to each Of
us. ST am to give the signal" said the
Prussian; IT shall count one, two, three,
and then at the word tire you will both fire.
Gentlemen, are you ready?" We both nod
ded. Gone, two, three, fre." and both
our pistols went off. No harm had been
done. felt considerably relieved, when
to 10Y horror the Frenchman stepped up to
me and said IS think that ought to de-
mand second shot for you, but mind, il
nothing occurs again, shall not allow
third shot" "Ye-es," said; so we had
second shot with the same result. Know
ing that my Frenchman was a man Of his
word, felt now that might at no risk to
myself display my yal0r, go demanded
third shot. The seconds consulted togeth-
er; for moment feared that they. were
going to grant my request, and was
greatly relieved when they informed me
sLat tuCJ SOuslNCICu Ihoc W. oAOe
amply sufficient. / was delighted, but
pretended to be most unhappy, and reli-
giously kept up the farce OF being.an ag-
grieved person. Now, there is this curl
Gus thing about duels, which, ] suppose,
accounts for principals taking things so
quietly Before the duel one feels most
Uncomfortable, to Judge by my expert.
ence, but when one has to fire one is so
engaged in listening for the signal that it
does not occur to one that one may be hit.
Agood shot would, ] take It, be able TO take
a deliberate aim undisturbed by. any ner-
Yous trepidation from his target also aiming
at him, because the nervous trepidatton,
however strong 1t may be beforehand, by
some curious disposition OF nature dIsap- |
pears when you are actually firing. Much
the same thing occurs in battle. The uR.
pleasant moment is, according to the expo !
rience OF soldiers. That Just before going
under fire, or when the FIRE is not returned. |
SO soon as soldiers are themselves firing, |