Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-01-02

The great attraction OF Brittany Is the
peaSantry," and no wonder, for they are
quite sui geHerjs, quite different from all 9th
er populations. They combine the sombre,
taciturn nature of the Spaniard with the droll,
wild life of the Irish. 1t is difficult to under
stand how the same people can be silent and
noisy-reseryed and running over with jolli-
ty. Yet so it is. There must be strain of
tiger in a population which could Rmuse it.
self as lately us lS47 in cutting the life out of
friends with a whip made after this fashion
Lash Is feet long, swelling at a little dis
tance from the handle TO the thickness of a
mans arm, from whence it tapered to twist
ed and strongly -knotted end, made more like
knife by the help of q mixture of glue.
This plaything was fixed upon a strong, stiff
stick, aud often not only cut a man into
steaks, but sometimes cut out the life Of him
at a single stroke. Yet local historian gives
an account Of fcte which he attended in
ls47, at which the chief attraction was a con-
test between II men, . on a side, with these
deadly weapons. The smack of these whips
made, he says, much more noise than gun
shot; they could be heard at the distance of
two and half miles, and when several smack
their whips in concert the noise is so terrible
that one must either run away or stop up
ones ears. These II men were ranged OPP
posite one another ut a distance almost cor
responding to the length of the lashes of
their whips. They stood up, having for pro-
lection in the shape of dress only short felt
breeches, and shirts made of stout sail cloth.
Like all Breton peasants 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 blue Boy"
They wore no hats or head covering. The
left arm was 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 and the other red. These men
thus standing face to face were there to be
wounded almost to death for the glory there
of, 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 them
selves into the attitude of defiance, the whip
raised while the lash was held in the left
hand. Strike" said the same voice, and
the II cables were let loose in an instant but
no smack was heard as they met, twisted,
and struggled in mid-air. Those most re-
nowned quickly dsengaged their lashes, and
dealt the second and dreadful blow upon the
persons of their 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
y
the other light; one all flesh, the other, al
though only five feet high, all nerves and
sinews An outsider would have backed the
giant, but the boys of Pipriac knew too well
the prowess of the dwarf to risk their money
against him. The combat now ragged with
fury; men disdained to parry, they were on
ly eager to strike. The sound was that OF a
volley of musketry. The lAshes soften into
tow, but harden again and glue themselves
h.r xrtth blood
er human the long hair hangs down in 'front.'
bathed in perspiration and blood. But not
one blow has fallen on either champion.
They have reserved themselves they have
psrried, knowing that upon them the issue
of the fight did depend. But now the tall
man has hit home. A long, blue spiral
mark, which here and there squirts blood,
twists round the left arm of the little Joseph,
and makes him stagger with pain. He re-
covers himself lanches his whip at his foe,
and but six inches intervened between its
deadly point and the face of Joseph the great.
Animated by his first success, Kaer stepped
forward and bent his whole strength TO the
blow which he aimed at Josille. The little
man never parried the blow but pirouetted
as il were while, without any effort, he
threw out his lash softly. The blow of Kaer
missed but when Josille sharply drew back
his lash, the whole face of Kaer was cut in
mara glBahuo Bhp opened up the very
bones. These two stood alone in the lists
the rest had made truce, and were engaged |
in attending to their grievous wounds Kaer,
blinded by the shock, put his amulet of |
leather before his face and paused. Josille, |
so far from profting by the occasion and |
pressing his advantage, coOlly took out his |
pocket handkerchief and loudly blew his |
nose, TO the great amusement of his hackers, |
who thought it an excellent joke. The |
laughter made Kaer mad, threw him out of |
his sung. .fFOid, and made him wild. He |
struck, stamped, and made wonderful points |
but Joslle was calm; and at the end of 10 |
minutes the giant, covered with wounds, his |
shirt cut into ribbons, his mouth foaming, |
his eyes blinded fell heavily upon his knees. |
Don't give in I" cried some voices still; but |
the effort to rise was vain. Josille, appar-
entity incapable of pity, like true Breton |
peasant, again blew his nose, and prepared |
to give the falling man his coup de grace. A |
shiver ran through the crowd; but Josille |
was better than he seemed, for, instead of |
cutting the poor flesh, he deIterously drew
the whip out of the hands of the victim, and |
folded his arms upon his breast Kaer shut |
his eyes and laid his burning head upon the |
sand. The whites were proclaimed the vic |