The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-09
Miscellaneous.
A WHIPPING MATCH.
BLOODY SPORT WHICH THE PEAsANTRY OF
BRITTANY ARE SAID TO INDULGE IN.


populations. They combine the sombre taci-
turn nature of the Spaniard with the droll,
wild life of the Irish. 1t is difficult to un-
derstaud how the same people can be silent
aud noisy-reserved and running over with
jollity. Yet 50 it is There must be strain
Of tiger in a population which could amuse
itself rs lately as 1917 cutting the fe out of
friends with whip made after this fashion !:
Lash, Is feet long, swelling at little dis
tauce from the handle to the thickness of
mans arm, from whence it tapered to
twisted and strongly-knotted end, made
more like knife by the help of mixture of
glue. This plaything was fixed upon a strong
stiff stick, and often not only cut a man into
steaks, but some times cut out the life of him
at a single stroke. Yet local historian
gives an account Of fete which he attended
in lS47, at which the chief attraction was a
contest between twelve men, six on a side,
with these deadly weapons. The smack of
these whips made, he says, much more noise
than gunshot they could be heard at the
distance Of two and half miles, aud when
several smack their whips in concert the
noise is so terrible that one must either run
away or stop up ones ears. These twelve
men were ranged opposite one another at a
distance almost corresponding to the length
of the lashes OF their whips. They stood
up, having for protection in the shape ot
dress only short felt breeches and shirts made
of stout sail CLOTH Like all Breton peas
ants of the old style, their hair hung down
their backs in long tresses, but was cut
straight across the forehead after the fashion
of Gainsborough's "Bue Boy" They wore
no hats or head covering. the left arm wa:
naked, but the right arm, which held the
whip, was protected from the fist to the neck
by an armlet or shield of thick leather The
sides were distinguished by the color of the
tufts of their whips, the one being white the
other red These men thus standing face to
face were there to be wounded almost to
death for the glory thereof, and also for the
prize, which consisted of half dozen striped
pocket handkerchiefs and pound of tobacco
The signal given by an old peasant, the
combatants put themselves in the attitude OF
'efiance, the whip raised, while the lash was
held in the left hand. ''Strlke," said the
same voice, and the twelve cables were lei
loose in an instant, but no smack was heard
as they met, twisted and struggled in mid
air. Those most renowned quickly dis
engaged their lashes, and dealt the secoDd
and dreadful blow upon the persons of theil
antagonists, opening up long seams of livid
or bleeding flesh on the third stroke all the
faces except two were scanned and flowing
with blood. These two were the leaders
one tall, the other short one heavy, the
other light, one all flesh, the other, al
though only five feet high, all nerves anc
sinews. An outsider would have backed the
giant but the boys of Pipriac knew too wei
the process of the dwarf to risk their money
against him. The combat now ragged with
fury, men disdained to parry, they were only
Eager to strike. The sound was that Of {
'.lley of musketry. The lashes softer
s'to tow, but harden again and glue them
n,lves together with blood. The faces arr
40 longer human; the long hair hangs dowr
i front, bathed in perspiration and blood
But not one blow has fallen on either cham
pion. rhey have reserved themselves; they
have guarded and parred, knowing that up
on them the issue of the fight did depend
But not the the tall man has hit home. 4
long, blue, spiral mark, which here and Their
squirts blood, twists round the left arm o
the little Joseph, and makes him stagge
with pain. He RECEIVERS himself; launche:
his whip at his foe, and but six inches inter
vened between its deadly point and the fac
of Joseph the great. Animated by his frs
success, Kaer stepped forward and bent hi
whole strength to the blow which he aime
at Joslle. The little man never parried tn
blow, but pirouetted, as it were, while, with
ut any rifort he threw out his lash softly
The blow of Kaer missed but when Josill
sharply drew back his lash the whole face Q
Kaer was cut in two-a gigantic gap opene
up the very bones. These two stood alone i
the lists the rest had made truce and wer
engaged in attending to their grievou
wounds. Kaer, blinded at the shock, pu
his armlet of leather before his face AN
paused Josille, so far from profting b
the occasion and pressing his advantage
coolly took out his pocket t-handkerchie an
loudly blew his nose, to the great amust
ment of his hackers, who thought it an e2
celent joke. The laughter made Kaer MAJ
threw him out of his sang froid, and mad
him wild He struck, stamped, and mad
wonderful points but Joslle was calm, an
at the end of ten minutes the giant, covere
with wounds, his shirt cut into ribbons, hi
mouth fOaming, his eyes blinded, fell heav
ly upon his knees. Don't give in !" erie
some voices sull; but the effort to raise wi
vain Josille, apparently incapable of pit
like true Breton peasant, again blew h
nose, and prepared to give the falling ma
mis- coup de grace. A shiver ran throug
the crowd but Josille was better than
seemed, for instead of cutting the poor fle'
he dextrously drew the whip out of Il
hands of the victim, and folded his arms u
on his breast Kaer shut his eyes, and la
his burning head upon the sand, The whit
were proclaimed the victors. Eacn subalteI
had a pockethandkerchief worth Cd, al
Josile the pound of tobacco. know n
whether any of these scenes are enactt
now, but this account is so recent that
throws light upon the Breton peasant as
fnd him ConJW Magazine.
Try it,for it never disappoints Dr. Bul
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