The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-09-21
AnaIrs or Honor.

One OF The most remarkable things abou
duelling was the ~antagonism it created be
tween theory and practice in quarters til,
most respectable. All men Of sense were o
accord in condemning it yet men illustriou.
for sense continually found themselves il
such q predicament that they had no alterna
tive, If they would retain the good opinion O
the world, but to do the very thing they hat
reprobated and denounced. In other words
it was only by pursuing a course avowedly
disreputable that they could hope to pr eserve
their reputation. Indeed, the concurrence Of
all virtuous citizens in the theory of an Italian
moralist, that q duel never did good to any
one except a doctor or an undertaken, is only
less remarkable than the unanimity with
which a precept so sound and salutaly was
for centuries disregarded.
But of all tyrants, fashion is the most
despotic. In vain did poets sing, and divines
preach, and moralists inveigh against q
s practice which ''Society" not only tolerated,
but approved. 1t mnst be admitted that
military men in particular had a hard card to
play. When Pharamond upbraided one OF
his officers with having disobeYed the law by
4 fighting a duel, the offender replied, "Whal
4 was to do? How could l possible have
Y observed it? You punish only with death
those who vloalte the law you punish with
infamy those who obey it," Sometimes,
indeed, it happened that king forbade affairs
OF honor under penalties the most rigorous.
In Sweden, in the reign of Gustavus H.,
duels were of frequent recurrence. notwith.
standing his strenuous efforts to suppress
them. One day he learned that two officers
of his army had resolved to fight with
swords. He arrived at the appointed place
long before them. When at last they came,
they were amazed at the sight of him, and of
the awful spectacle that had been prepared
for them,-a gallows! Snow gentlemen, -
\ said the King, ''you may begin, if you please,
only, l give you fair warning, that as soon as
the duel is over, the survivor will be hanged
upon that scafiold." The officers shook
hands. In Malta formerly, duelling was only
v permitted i'll one street. There are many
crosses painted on the walls attest to this dav
the deaths of the cOmbattants. But not all
duellists fought to the bitter end. The
moment that a woman, a priest, or a knight
Ecalled upon the adverSaries to desist, the con-
filct was over. The foes were bound to lay
adOwn their arms, and to depart in peace.
Not even in times of Wanted civilization
were there any such restrictions upon duel
ling in the British Isles. In England duels
were never more frequent than duringl the
reign of George LII. In the list of those who
were concerned in such ABSURD conflicts
were to be found the names of Charles James
Fox, Sheridan, Pitt, Canning, Castlereagh,
the Duke of York, the Duke of Richmond,
Sir Francis Burdett, and Lord Cameford, the
last-named the greatest dueliSt of his time.
AS for Irrland, there was hardly a man of
ldistinctlon there, in the second half of the
last century, who had not been .sout,' as the
saying was. Grattan, Curran, Lord Glare,
Flood, Burrows, Darlington, Toler, and a host
of others had ali smelt powder. In the days
of Whitley the player. there were thirteen
families in Connaught who resented every
supposed aflront withthe death of the offender.
Miss Edgeworth tells us that in her time the
county of Galway was famous for such fight
ing men as '.Blue Blazers,' "Devil Bob
'Nineteen-Due Dick, "Hair-Trlggtr Pat, "
and "Feather-Spring Ned" About the year
1117," says Sir Jonah Bal rington, The Fire
ieaters were in great repute in Ireland. Nc
young fellow could finish his education till
lie had exchanged shots with sOme of his &C
l~uaintances. a duel was indeed Il necessary
piece of a young mans education, but by no
means a ground for future animosity with his
Opponent. The first two questions always
7 asked DIS to a young mans responsibility,
particularly, when he proposed for a wife,
were, "What family is he Off" and, 'Did he
ever blaze ?" So far from being frightened by
ais blazing propensities, the lady of the
period was only the more disposed to lend a
willing ear to the sutton who could adduce
such proofs OF his ferocity. 1t never seems to
nave occurred to her that.
"Who wickedly is wise, ormadly brave,
Is but the more a fool, the more a knave."
indeed, the lady on whose account a duel
vas fought seemed to have acquired social
prestige in consequence. That, no doubt,
was the reason why reckless young sparks"
pr "scamps," as they would now be called,
we're never so quarrelsOme as when in female
ociety. Hamilton records many such cases,
put one will suffice by way of illustration
Where Talbot street now stands was once
marlborough Green, a sort of tea-drinking
place, with singers, a band of music, ETC., and
was greatly frequented. One evening a young
5lobleman was descending the steps which led
o the long room, and a gentleman, with a
s,arty OF ladies, was going up, The latter in
Full dress. the former in boots and spurs.
ED-n YOU boots y SAID the companion CT the
adde's. and proceeded with his party to the
ooms. He had not been seated more than
Two minutes when Lord - hastily entered
End struck him across the shoulders with his
attain, saying: Follow me, SIR Mr.. -
ttarted up. They both rushed down the
tteps which were outside the room, upon the
green, where a number of persons were walk
ing and conversing. Lord - drew a small
WORD; MIR. - drew his, and in a pass or
Two Lord - was run through the body, and
lived but a few hours afterwards"
/ The irrepresslble comedy of the GallIc
character is nowhere more laughably displayed
Than Oh the so-called field of honor. The
unny anecdotes told of duelists in France
you'd exceed belief, but that their anthem
sicity is avouched beyond dispute. Some of
lhese stories are very pleasant reading. Take,
hor example, the following, translated from
French authors of the highest credit NJ. de
Il ,apDaria and nj do Mnpfanlra hath ayoooJ
lngly ugly, had a quarrel which led to a chal-
.senge. When they were on the ground and
5all the customary preparations had been COM
bieted, De Langerie suddenly addressed his
antagonist thus: 81 can not fight with you,
8ir. 1t is ont of the question. l had rather