The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-06

{ me capable % SD base s. trsacherv-
Tut, tut, What vs., rds are the.
my dear friend Hsve / wounded You
Al, forgive me- I su overlooking you
with labor. Therefore, 20 IN with the
other "details. and d on this one from
your list. The bloody minded FourtOu
will be sure to attend to it. Or / myself
--yes, 10 make certsin, viii drop anote
10 my journalistic friend NJ. NOR
On, come to think, you may save
yourseli the trouble that other second
has informed NJ. Noir. F"
HIM / might have known it. Tt is
just ike thar Fourtou, who ALWAYS
wants to make q display"
At half-pss nine in the morning the
| procession approached the field OF Pjessis-
Piquet in the following order: First
our csrriage-nobOdy in it but NJ. Four
tou and his second then a carriage con-
| tanning two poet-orstOrs who did not
| believe in God, and these had Ms, funeral
oratiOns projecting from their breast
pockets; and then carriage containing
the head Surgeons and their cases of in
struments; then eight private carriages
containing consulting surgeons; then q
hack containing the coroner; then the
two hearses; then a carriage containing
the mead untertSkers; then a train of as
sistants and mutes on loot; and after
these came plCdding through the fog
long procession OF camp-tOliOwers, police
and citizens generally. 1t was a noble
turnout, and would have made a fine
display If we had had thinner weather.
The police noticed that the public had
massed themselves together on the right
and left OF the field they therefore beg
ged delay, while they should put these
poor people in place of safety. The
request was granted. The police having
ordered the two multitudes to take po>
sitiOns behind the duelists, we were once
more ready. The weather growing still
more opaque, it was agreed between
myself and the other second that before
giving the fatal signal we should each
deliver loud whOop to enable the COM
batants to ascertain each others wnere>
abOuts
| now returned to my principal, and
was distressed to observe that he had lost
a good deal of his spirit. tried my best
to hearten him. | said: Indeed, sir,
things are not as bad as they seem.
Considering the character OF the weapons,
the limited number OF shots allowed, the |
generous distance, the impenetrable |
sOlidity of the fog, and the added fact |
that one of the combatants is one-eyed |
and the other crOssreyed and near
sighted, it seems to me tat the conflict |
need not necessarily be fatal. There are
chances that both of you may survive.
Therefore, cheer up; do not be down.
hearted"
This speech had so good an effect that
my principal Immediately stretched forth
his hand and said: Z" am myself again
give me the weapon"
laid it, ali lonely and forlorn, in the
center of the vast solitude OF his palm.
He gaz5d at il and shuddered. And
still mOurntully contemplating it, he
murmured in a broken voice:
Alas 1t is not death dread, but
I heartened him once more, and with
such success that he pres entity said
Il Let the tragedy begin. Stand at my
back: do not desert me in this solemn
hour, my friend"
gave him my promise. I now g.
sisted him 70 point his pistol toward the
spot where l judged his adversary to be
standing, and cautioned him 70 listen
we'll and further guide himself by my
whoop. Then | prUpped
myself against NJ Gambetta's back, and
raised q rOusing WhOOpee ~ This was
ron out the tar distance OF s
he fog, and | Immediately shouted:
Observation-Disclosures
Two little sounds ike spit spit broke 7
Upon my ear, and in the same instant | I
vas crushed to the earth under noun !
ain Of flesh. Buried as l was, l was 8
Kill able 70 catch faint accent from ]
IbOve, to this effect: {
81 die fOr-for-perditiOn take it, what I
s il l die for? Oh, yes-France | I
lie that France may liven :
The surgeons swarmed around with
heir probes in their hands, and applied I
heir micre scopes TO the whole area OF
i. Gambetts's person, with the happy
esult OF finding nothing in the nature of c
wound. Then a scene ensued which
Tss in every way gratifying and in
printing.
The two glsdistOrs fell upon each
theirs necks, with foods OF proud and Z
Apply tears that other second embraced .
lie ; the surgeons, the orators, the under I
akers, the police, every body embraced, I
very body congratulated, every body
red, and the whole atmosphere WAS 0
lied with praise and with joy unsF eak- U
lie. 1t seemed to me then that | would r
ather be the hero of French duel than
crowned and sceptred monarch, e