The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-07
THE DUEL IN EUROPE.
The Customs orths v"r,ou. Modes OF Fighting.

gom The Loviou Dr1,y Nsr.
1t Is generally accepted that ducls should
be fought with pistols. foils. or cavalry sabres,
but the insulted party has his choice of wcap-
ons. and nothing prevents him from selecting
field cannons. ms the famous Polish actor Zul-
howski once did in quarrel with u Russian
Colonel Tho insultcd party may also claim
that the fight should be wagcd with the weapons
which he has himself provided; but the usual
plan is for both principals TO bring their woap-
ons and for the four seconds to decide on the
grounds which are the most suitable. pence
full man who has no weapons of his own can
always hire some OF the gunmakers. who
in all Continental capitals keep q beautiful
assortment Of foils weighing no heavier than
willow switches. and OF highly polished pistols
which it is n real pleasure to handle on a fresh
sunny morning before one has breakfasted In
pistol ducls tho principals stand twenty PAGES
apart. and fire ut will after the signal has been
given by ono Of the seconds. who counts three
and then drops n handkerchief. The practice
Of allowing the challenger TO fire first has
fallen into disusc; but in cnscs of deadly
Insult. where both men mean mischief. ii
is arranged that aftor the signal the two
shall be ut liberty to advance TO within five
pncrs OF each other. SO that Hone fires mmo:
diately and misses. the other can step m and
shoot him almost point blank The number OF
shots TO be exchanged depends on preliminary
conventions hut II IL seldom thnt tho seconds
do not declare thai honor is satisfied after a
second shot Tho principals are entirely in
the hands 81 their seconds and must obey with
out discussion. They must not speak to each
aloud to show that they have had any share in
regulating the conditions Of the combat. They
are there to fight. not TO talk. and 1t rests with
the seconds 10 select the ground, TO see that
nsHS ad % has and 1nr Sun an ms os
both men are dressed in ordinary clothes,
and have no such thing M n shirt OF mail
concealed under their wastcOats. Previously
20 n duel the seconds have to determine whether
amrcting IL expedientor possible, Custom for
bids man to challenge one to whom he owes
money, who Is his co-heir to an estate. who is
engaged In lawsuit with him. or who Is 10y
twcnty-h yenrs his senior; and custom also
son who has been convicted Of any offence OF n
dishonest character. or who may have waylaid
an atfront on him with view OF forcing him TO
fight
In foil duels one Of the seconds ought to stand
midway between the cOmbutants. but n little
inside, with walking stick in his hand to parry
foul thrusts This function however demands so
much eXpertness OF hand and eye. that in ducs
lrtwccn civilians " Is rare that man can he
found 70 undertake IT, Failing such acheck. II is
enough TO warn the, combatants that no thrust
must he aimed below the waist or above the
chin: that man must not duck down on his
knee. nor grasp his adversary's weapon.
nor lunge when tho other has been disarmed
or Is standing OF his guard. The French
are very clean fighters. and object to UNI
dorhand or tricky thrusts. but as much can
not be said for the Italians, who generally try
lodges taught them by INSCRIPTIONS fen ling
masters. II Ia n bood-curdlng sight 10 watch an
Italian bounding, dancing, feintng. and glar-
ing like cat. while he holds his weapon alter
nately like skewer. whip. a stiletto, or
toastinR fork. one always feels that the man
is not using his natural weapon but would
mucn rnthcr bc tied foot 10 foot and wrist to
WITH n"icnard la 1s%tss Iiniians and h Snsp
iards often fight naked to tho waist. French
men remove their coats and waistcoats only.
and sometimes their boots when the grass j.
slippery, for II has not yet occurred to them t.
make use OF cricketlng shoes. At the first
blood the seconds must stop the fight to exam
inc whether the sufferer Is in n condition 10
20 on when one man has received two wounds,
however slight. II IL usual 20 put an end to the
encounter. even II the preliminary conditions
have settled battle To the death. for IL is rightly
consideredthat loss Of blood puts man TO n dis
advantage. IL has often been said that the most
dangerous adV9rsarics are those who cannot
fence at all. and this Is true. for the practical
who polses his sword Ike lance. and bears
down on him with rush. On the other hand.
the good swordsman whose nerves are steady
has only ~ straghtcn his arm IN such a con-
Iuncture and the novice will be spttcd like n
fowl. II WIS in this way that poor Dillon, the
sporting prophet. got Killed by the Due de
Grammont- Caderousse-who. by the way was
heHrtily sorry for tho accident and settled "A
pension on tho widow which she is enjoying 70
with any dfTnes bidnches save foils but in cav
airy regiments duels between privates and non
sabres. These encounters are OF frequent oc-
currence, for II is the habit Of Colonies to order
two men To light when there has been bad blood
between them for some time and II must be
owned that this rule has stopped good deal Of
fuyne no s pTT rny l29S Inc
by with a stick to soc that the combatants do
not intid any dangerous injury. on zach
tried by court martial and reduced to
the ranks II he allows n man TO get manned.
The wounds which he comments are the light
half inch deep Slash. which cuts ucrOsa thp
breasts. or the slice athwart the fieshy part of
the neck and shoulder. or the lobe Of the ear.
In Germany, on the contrary whore all military
men fight with sabres. and whore university
students settle their affairs of honor with
adversarys lace il the favorite object. AT
heidelberg and Bonn II il common enough TO
or noses ornaments OF which they seem mighty
proud. which shows how easy some men are TO
please.
The etiquette OF duelling is much stricter in
Germany than in France. for in the former
country aristocratical prcludices are still
deeply rooted. and these prohibit nobleman
or an officer Tor "A commission coniers tenn
pOrary nobility from crossing swords with a
rotrleT. An officer who is assaulted by
tradesman may run him through ON the spot,
or fell him with tho pumme OF his sword.
without mourning punishment; but he must
not go out with him, In France there are no
recognized social grades and general would
be expected to encounter his baker II they had
quarrelled on any subject but baking; for in
stanfe, about politics IN railway carriage.
OF late years. however duellng has gone
much out OF fashion with ordinary folks
and is almost exclusively confined TO journal
lists politicians officers. and young rireUS A
young man Is required TO fight IL he gets mixed
up IN any squaDble in which blows or ugly
words are exchanged. but he is no longer bound
70 fare ses prGireS-thaI is to court nj least one
ilght in order To prove that he has spirit II the
jockey Club were polled 1t would doubtless be-
found that OF its 900 members fully 500 have
never been out Even in the army duelling has
become tho exception. and man of good tom
per can 20 through the whole of his career with
Out getting cartel unless he he So unlucky as
10 meet with brute who Is malicousy bent on
fastening quarrel on him. An instance Of this
sort, which occurred about fifteen years ago led
10 "A ducl Mhlch has become memorable in the
army, and which has possibly prevented many
other duels. A young Lieutenant. who was
serving IN lancer regiment. and who was
much liked 10y his comrades ON account of his