The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29
THE oREAr Esr LIvINe puELrsE

Al chhrnctor IL the most Important quhllty
Of n man. Paul Granier dc Cassagnac, despite
all his oddities. Is undoubtedly entitled to high
recognition. No American can syIn pathlze with
the principle for which he nghts. but we cannot
forbear admiring the obstinacy and chlvalric
bravery with which he defends the hopeless
cause OF tho Empire. circumstances seem to
have shaped HIS destiny; and to these. more
than to his natural inclinaiions. may be at
tributed all the excesses In which he has reck-
leesly INDUCED. His mania for duelling, rs
we'll rs the violence OF his style as a journalist
are both an Inheritance from his ancestors and
the offspring OF the fiery polemlcs that charao-
terize French journalism.
Monsieur Adolphe 0ranIer do Cassagnac wns
sent by the Government OF Louis Philippe to
study the slavery question In the French colo
nIes Of the West Indies. There he married
Mile. do Beauvalon. She was. in every way. a
woman OF tho tropics. The girl's father an old
superior officer OF the fret empire. was one OF
those energetic. stubborn characters that may
be broken. but not bent Ono day. while he was
directing the nyan@uvres OF the French troops
at Guadeloupe. the landing OF an English ba-
tallion was announced. He started on the mo-
ment with handful OF cavaliers. and Ia said TO
have driven the English back to their hips
by blows OF his riding whip. He was afterward
captured. and detained tor a long time in
fort at Plymouth. He swore that no would
avenEe his humlintions on the first two
EnRlshmon he might meet after regain
ing his freedom. Ho kept his oath. On the
very evening Of his landing at Havro he
met two Englishmen ut the theatre and chal
lenged them. On the following morning he
fought two duels. killing both his opponents.
He then peacefully returned TO Guadeloupe. as
though his conscience had been rs pure as a
n~o ~. a 90
riago an article appeared In the Paris ChariUari
In which the bride was called mulatto. Mons.
de Beauvallon took the first vessel that sailed
for France and asked the three editors OF the
Chdrirdri for satisfaction. The two lovers had
to wait his return. six months. before they
could obtain his final consent TO their marriage.
He refused to give away his daughter before
the insult was washed away.
THR FIRsT CHALLENGE.
Paul do Cassagnac was the fruit OF this mar
riage. He was born on Dec. 2. 1S43. His train
ing foreshadowed his imperialism. He entered
the Bonaparte College at Paris on Dec. 2. 1851.
and made all his studies with his uncle. the
Abb6 Cassagnac. then principal OF that school.
Paul was very bright pupil and carried OF all
the prizes but that for discipline. He was SO
noisy and disorderly that his comrades distorted
the family name into that Of Cdsse-tete thead-
breakerl or Casse-dssiettes tplatc- breakerl. The
nicknames are still remembered. He studied law
at the Universities OF Toulouse and Paris. but.
despite his fathers entreates. could never be In
duced 10 take up the profession. He was not 20
years old when no embraced journalism. With
CASTOR de Saint-Valery and Paul de Saulnieres
he founded the Independence Pdrisienne. in
1862. In 1863 he was an editor OF the Nation, a
paper OF which his father was chief editor
NJ. Granier de Cassagnac hoped 10 disgust his
son with newspaper writing by combining him
10 the tedious sphere OF photographed work :
but Paul was more than match for his
father. Keeping within the bounds assigned to
him. he mingled politics with literature, and
did 1t 80 we'll that his articles attracted atten-
ton. and we're violently attacked by Jules
Claretie. Charles Batalle. Dervlle and Victor
Koning in the then famous paper. DioOene
The attack was so furious that Il is doubtful
whether meeker man than Cassagnac could
have calmly borne It.
Messieurs." duered Cassagnac. which OF
you am l to challenger" The question was put
in a tone that bespoke determination. without
insolence The distinction OF his manners and
his classic countenance won at once the sympa-
thies OF his opponents.
Bring some beer and cigars" answered
Jules Clarctie. the great art critic. addressing
the ofllce boy The deucel Take the trouble
TO be seated Monsieur de Cassngnac. Before
cutting one anothers throat. let us have a talk. :"
Most willingly" replied the young book re-
viewer; and the Ave smoked drank, and dis
cussed the point In the most friendly manner
Cassagnac made his complaint so gracefully
humorously. and eloquently that his four oppo-
nents acknowledged their error. After eight
bottles OF beer and dozen cigars Paul do Cas-
sagnac was uproariously elected editor In chief
OF the Dio0cne
THE DUEL WITH AURELIAN scHoLL.
He fulfilled his new duties with the energy
and FIRE inherited from his parents. Intolerant
OF discipline. he granted full sway to his war
like spirit. and slashed away like a cavalier in
literature His quarrel with Aurelian School,
editor OF the Main jaime. dates at this epoch
and the incidents are still retalled in Paris
where everything falls into oblivion within
twenty-four hours. The journalistic discus
sion over the affairs Of the Marquis du Hailay-
Coetquer attained such pitch that a duel was
unavoidable. No insult was spared. On the
same day. at the same hour. challenges were
Issued from both parties. As the police by
special order OF the Emperor were keeping
strict watch TO prevent the duel the
seconds sent the journalists into Belgium
But the Belgian police had also been warned.
and the men we're obliged TO return 10 Paris
without crossing their swords. Attempts to
throw the hounds OF the law of the scent were
made. simulated reconciliation silenced
their baying. The editors met In broad mid
day in the vicinity Of Epinay -sur-Seine. and
fought on the public road. fearing that delay
would again bring the police on their track. At
least twenty people saw the combat. Eugene
de Mirecourt relates that gray bearded peas
ant evidently veteran of the empire. took of
his hat. and respectfully addressed the crowd
as follows:
Take off your hats messleurs. In France
duels must be witnessed with uncovered heads
and woe 10 him who shall give tokens Of par
TALLY"
Tho veteran was moro than obeyed. for tho
spectators became breathless. Aurean Schol
had fought several dues. and had the reputa-
ton of a swordsmAn. Henri Rochefort was one
OF his seconds. The combat lasted fifteen min
utes without intermission. Scho then received
a severe wound in his right side For many
days he lay Al the point OF death. Six months
later ho met his enemy on the Boulevard and
held out his hand. Cassagnac warmly grasped
it, and "A lifelong reconciliation followed,
CAssagnac's connection with the DiOgene and
his campaign against Scholl greatly displensed
Monsieur Granier de CassagnAc and the mem
bers OF his family. A quarrel ensued. The
young journalist abandoned the paternal roof
and lived eighteen months in the island OF