Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-14

Will. He said he had never heard ofrh'
man in his right mind doing anything
of the kind. When he had finished the
will he wished to proceed to a choice of
his Tlast words" He wanted to know
how the following words, as a dying
exclamation, struck me:
81 die for my God, for my country,
for freedom of speech, for progress,
and the universal brotherhood CT manr'
l Objected that this would require
too lingering a death; it was a good
speech for a eonsumptive, but not
suited to the exigencies of the field of
honor. We wrangled over good
many ante-mortem outbursts, but
finally got him to cut his obituary
down to this, which he copied into his
memorsndum-bOok, purposing to get
it by heart:
DIE THAT FRANCE MAY LIvEp'
said that this remark seemed to
lack relevancy; but he said relevancy
was matter of no consequence in last
wOrds-what you wanted was thrill.
The next thing in order was the
choice of weapons. My principal said
he was not feeling well, and would
leave that and the other "details of the
proposed meeting to me. Therefore
wrote the following note and carried it
to M. Fourtou's friend:
SIR: NJ. Gambetta accepts NJ. Fourtou's chal-
lenge. and authorizes me to propose Plessis-
Piquet as the place of gmeetngi Tomorrow
morning at day-break as the time; and axes as
the weapons l am, sir, with great respect,
- MARK TWAIN.
M. Fourtou's friend read this note
and shuddered. Then he turned to me,
and said, with suggestion of severity
in his tone:
"Have you considered, sir, what
would be the inevitable result of such
a meeting as thisP''
"Wel, for instance, what I0Ostld it
beP''
Bloodshedr'
"That's about the size of it," I said.
Now, if it is fair question, what was
your side proposing to shedP"
had him there. He saw he had
made blunder, so he hastened to ex-
plain it away. He said he had spoken
jestingly. Then he added that he and
his principal would enjoy axes, and in-
deed preferred them, but such weapons
were barred by the French code, and
so must change my proposal
walked the floor, turning the thing
over in my mind. and finally it occurred
10 me that Gatling guns at fifteen PAGES
would be likely way to get verdict
on the field of honor. So framed this
idea into proposition.
But it was not accepted. The code
was in the way again. proposed
rifles; then, double barreled shot
guns; then, Colts navy reVolvers.
These being all rejected, l reflected a
while, and sarcastically suggested
brick-bats at three-quarters of q mile.
I always hate to fool away humorous
thing on a person who has no percep-
ton of humor; and it filed me with
bitterness when this man went soberly
away to submit the last proposition to
his principal.
He came back presently, and said his
principal was charmed with the idea
Of brick oats at three-quarters Of
mile, but must decline on account of
the danger to disinterested parties pass
ing between. Then / said:
Well, l am at the end of my string,
now. Perhaps goa would be good enough
to suggest weaponP Perhaps you
have even had one in your mind all the
time'''
His countenance frightened, and be
said with alacrity:
"Oh, without doubt, monsieurr'
So he fell to hunting in his pockets
pocket after pocket, and he had plenty
Of them-muttering all the while,
Now, what could have done with
themP"