Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-10
THE CODE OF HONOR.
Experience and OpIniOns OF M. La
bOucheFe in Regard 40 DOeIlng.

IHE CODE OF HONORs
Experience and OpInions OF M. La
bOucheTe I'm Regard 40 Dazzling.
London Truth, May 2Sdl
was once ordered to proceed to-
Stockholm, and at this town L
found favor with my superiors for
the curious reason that / challenged
an Austrian charge d'affaires. New
er was there a more absurd affair.
There was an Englishman who had
been challenged by a Swede, whom
he declined to fight. A few days
later the Englishman went with
my minister to box in the theater.
The next day at a club the Austrian
charge d'affaires said before me and
Others that Englishmen hads sodd
ideas of honor, and more particu-
larly English ministers. l replied
that Englishmen were not SO silly
as to fight duels, and that the Eng
lish minister was not a dlshonor-
able man for appearingin theater
with his countryman. AS it was
generally felt that / ought to chal.
lenge this Austrian, l "put myself
in the hands" of the French and
Prussian ministers. A few hours
later my seconds came to me. | ex-
pected that they were going to tell
me that the Austrian had apollo
gized. Not at all. With a cheer
full smile they observed: at is ar
ranged for tomorrow morning.
pistols" Att o'clock am they re.
appeared. Their countenances
were downcast. 81 have lost the
mould for the bullets for my duel
ling pistols" observed the Prussian,
"and we had to borrow pair Of
pistols, for whose accuracy of aim
l cannot youch." This inwardly
rejoiced me, but of course pre-
tended to share in the regret of my
seconds. We sat down to an early
breakfast. "You are young, | am
old" said the Frenchman "would
that | could take your place"
| wished it as sincerely as he did,
but l tried to assume an air Of
rather liking my position, and l
grinned a ghastly grin, Then we
started for the park. The opposi-
ton had not arrived; but there was
a surgeon who had been kindly
requested to attend by my sympa-
thizing friends. can accident may
happen" observed the Prussian !;
edo you wish to confide to me any
dispositions that you may desire to
be carried out after?"- lie
sighed in a horribly suggestive
manner. "No," l said; l had moth
ing particular to confde; and as
looked at the surgeon l thought
what an idiot was to make my
self the target for an Austrian to
aim at, in order to establish the
principle that Englishmen have a
perfect right to decline to fight
duels. There was 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.
Inever felt more dismal in my life.
The Austrian stood apart. l stood
apart. The surgeon already eyed
me as a "subject." The seconds
consulted; then the Frenchman
stepped out twelve PAGES. He had
very short legs, and they seemed to
Inc shorter than ever. After this
came the loading Of the pistols.
Sometimes, | thought, seconds do
not put in the bullets; this COM
forted 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. 81 am to give the signal
said the Prussian; 81 shall count
one, two, three, and then at the
word fire, you will both fire. Gen.
tlemen, are you ready% We botE
nodded. Gone, two, three, fire ?
and both our pistols went off.
No harm had been done. fell
considerably relieved, when to my
horror the Frenchman stepped W
to me and said: 81 think that
ought to demand a second shot fol
you, but mind, if nothing occurs
again l shall not allow thirC
shot" "Ye-es," said; so we hat
a second shot with the same result
Knowing that my Frenchman was
man Of his word, / felt now tina
/ might at no risk to myself dis
play my valor, so demanded {
third shot. The seconds consulted
together; for a moment fearet
they were going to grant my re
quest, and / was greatly relieved
when they informed me that the,
considered that tive shots were am
ply sufficient. ] was delighted, bu
/ pretended to be most unhappy
and reigiously kept ND the farce 0