The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-15
FEMALE DUELIsTs.
nn.,. In which Madame Ne Murat, the
Countess of Nesle and Others
TOOk Part.
WASHINGTON Capital

washington OhplthlsJ
The recent reports of duels and intended
duels recall some curious incidents sugges-
tive OF the manner In which the bloodthlrsty
may avoid the disagreeable consequences OF
responsibility to law. The duello is excused
on many grounds; but perhaps tne p, Des ~ y
consideration the fairness OF the thing, and
then all the parties present may be considered
guilty, as well as the principals. One OF the
strange flaws in the laws OF Europe 10 that
women are not mentioned, and thus many fair
but fierce danes have been enabled TO per-
petrate gentlemanly crime.
In 1898, in Ireland. two girls who loved the
same man agreed to prevent MISUNDERSTANDING
Ing BY fighting aae snobb snsy and
handle" One of The Amazons was killed and
the other tried for murder. 1t was ct the
Leicester assizes, and the Jury, taking into
consideration that the lair Killer was not inc
challenger but only the aeeeptress Of the
challenge, acquitted her; and she went from
the courtroom festooned with flowers and
looking for the man for whose heart she had
fought.
repairing to the field Of honor with their
seconds, when the police caught and took
them before magistrate. The younger lady
very coolly informed the official that she had
right to fight as the lay did not for, forbid I'D
at the law, and had to let the prisoners loose,
who at once proceeded with their business, de-
claring a dividend OF one broken arm and q
shattered cheek. The broken armed girl took
the man, OF course, with the only regret that
she had not two arms to bestow.
A few years ago two beautiful young girls
employed In the royal tobacco factory OF
Seville, the front OF which furnishes one OF
the scenes for Carmen, fought o desperate
duel near the city. They went out as coolly
as the most elegant Ceballero could do, and
cut each other to pieces in the presence OF
their seconds They were both beautiful, and
the affair caused much sympathy and much
sentimental talk, especially on account Of the
sweethearts and had two funerals to attend.
Richelieu at one time had SO many affairs
of the heart on hand that he had to turn over
the amatory correspondence TO secretary,
who managed 1t along with the diplomatic
letters. One morning this secretary read the
Cardinal two rose-tinted notes, one from the
Countess de Polignae, the other from the
Marquise de Nesle. Both the ladies declared
lency. The Cardinal directed the secretary to
appoint an interview for each for the next
day, one at IL o'clock, the other at 1 ne
didn't care which should have the precedence.
the affairs of the kingdom and other trifies to
pay proper attention to such weighty mat
ter, and he appointed the same hour for both
ladies'.
The result was scene worthy Of the drama
which Richelieu wrote about that time. The
Cardinal just got away with whole skin ; and
while he went for his secretary the ladies
went for each other. They met with long
horse pistols in the Bots de Boulogne, and at
the first fire Nine. de Polignac's bullet took {.
large piece out Of the pink ear Of her rival,
after which they embraced and proceeded to q
tavern to take some wine together.
About the same time the widow OF o dis
tinguished officer was courted In somewhat
obstreperous manner by the Count de Beau
walls; and as he took her coyness to be CO.
uuetry he pushed his suit until the lady, who
was fine specimen Of Amazon, challenged
him, ran him through the body and wept over
his corpse, declaring wildly that she loved
him. After which she retired to a convent,
gave her estate to the church and wrote three
religious tragedies, the perusa1 OF which made
many readers wish that she and not Der lover
antagonist had fallen.
The duel between Nine. Chateau Gay de
Murat and her lover, the Chevalier de Cordi-
eres, ended in happy reconciliation: but the
lady was not content until she had horse
whipped her rival. The chivalrouis encounter
between the two actresses, Beaupre and
D'Urles, resulted In q sabre cut for one Of the
enchantresses and the young man who was
the cause fled.