The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-02-28
THE GAMBETTA DUEL.
How Mark Twain Distinguished Himself
~ n Statesmnn's second.

~ n statcsnlnn's second.
Mark Twain writes for the Februaly
number of the Atlantic Monthly an nc
count of his participation in the recent
duel between Gambetta and Fourtou
When he had heard Of the outbreak in
the assembly he says that he called on
Gambetta, whom he found "steeped in
u profound French calm" Mr.. Twain
after being embraced, began the conver
sation:
said l supposed he would wish me
to act as his second, and he said sol
course" said l must be allowed "a
act under French name, so that |
might be shielded from obloquy in my
country in case of fatal results. He
WINGED here, probably at the suggestion
that dueling was not regarded with re-
spect in America. However, he agreed
to my requirement.. This accounts for
the fact that in all the newspaper re.
ports NJ. Gambetta's second was appar.
emily Frenchman. First, we drew up
my principals will. l insisted upon
this and stuck to my point. l said
had never heard about u man in his
right mind going out TO fight duel
without first making his will. lie said
he had never heard Of Il man in his right
mind doing anythingof thekind. When
he had finished the will, he wished to
proceed to choice of his ''last words "
He wanted to know how the following
words, as dying exclamation, struck
me:
Il die for my God, for my country,
tor freedom of speech, for progress and
the universal brotherhood Of man.
objected that this would require too
lingering II death; is was u good speech
for a consumptive, but not suited to the
exigencies Of the field Of honor We
wrangled over good many ante-mor
TEN outbursts, but | finally got him to
cut his obituary down 10 this, which he
copied into his memorandum book, pur-
posing to get it by heart:
die that France may live.
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.
then wrote the following note and
carried it TO NJ. Fourtou's friend:
"Sm: NJ. Gambetta accepts NJ. Four
tou's challenge, and authorizes me to pro.
pose Plessis Piquot as the place OF meet.
Ing; tomorrow morning at daybreak as
the time, and axes assthc weapons. / am,
sir with
MARX TWAIN.
NJ. Fourtou's friend read this note,
and shuddered. Then he turned To me,
and said, with u suggestion Of severity
in his tones:
''Have you considered, sir, what
would be the inevitable result of such a
meeting as tbisi"
''Well, for instance, what would it
bel"
"Bloodshedr'
That's about the size Of it," said J.,
"Now, if it is fair question. what was
your side proposing to shedl"
had him there; he saw he had made
blunder, 50 he hastened to explain it
away. He said he had spoken jesting-
ly. Then he added that he and his
principal would enjoy axes, and indeed
prefer them, bat such weapons were
barred by the French code, and so
must change my proposal.
After proposing Gatling guns, rifles,
navy pistols, and brick bats, left the
choice of weapons to the other second,
who fshed out Of his vest pocket u
couple of little things which carried
to TIE light and discovered to be pis-
tolls. They were single barrelled and
silver mounted, and very dainty aud
pretty. was not able 70 speak for
emotion. | silently hung one Of them
on my watch chain and returned the
other. SIy companion in crime now
unrelled Il postage stamp containing SOW
eral cartridges and gave me one of
them. l asked if he meant to signify
by this that our men were to be allow
ed but one shot apiece. He replied
that the French code permitted no
more. / then begged him to go on and
suggest distance, for my mind was
growing weak and confused under the
strain which had been put upon it. He
named sixty-tive yards. nearly lost
my patience. l said:
"iSxty-fve yards with these instru-
mentsl Pop-guns would be deadlier at
fifty. Consider my friend, you and j
are banded together to destroy life, not
to make it eternal"
But with all my persuasions, all my
arguments 1 was only able to get him
to reduce the distance to thirty-five
yards; and even this concession he
msde with reluctance, and said With q
sigh:
81 wash my hands of this slaughter
on your head be it." #f
There was nothing for me but to go
home to my own lion heart and tell my
humiliating story When l entered M.
Gambetta was having his last lock OF
hair upon the altar He sprang to.
wards me exclaiming: r.
"The weapon, the weapon! Quick!
what Is the weapon"
"This" and displayed that silver.
mounted thing. He caught but one
glimpse Of it, then swooned ponderously
to the floor.
When he came to he said, mournful
ly:
"The unnatural calm to which ha1.
subjected myself has told upon my
nerves. But away with weakness! ]
will confront my fate like man and Z
Franobpooy,