The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-09-14
ny JOHN BRoUGHAM.
Ancedote Of Barry YelHerto.n

The rules and regulations for the ar
ranging and carrying out OF affairs Of
hon0r-tRe daeI-durin9 the latter part
Of the last century, and the beginning OF
the present, were exhaustive and precise.
Certain infractions of social order were
held 70 be objectionable. A blow, for
instance, could not be overlooked; and
then there were certain acts set down as
equivalent to hloT-such as giving the
lie direct, and so on. In short--we
speak NOW particularly Of IFeland-when
nan has been guilty o4 offering insult
az any kind II WIS at onca determined,
on reference TO the rules, what the repair
Gtion must be. The sword and pistol
we're always In order, though the thirty
six articles of the Code, sometimes called
''Tha Roate Commandments" were
framed with special aim to protect the
quietly disposed and weakly citizens
from insult, as far as possible; and the
resort to arms. under this code, was
avoided WHARF it could be properly
Gone. IA. ~FSr ta@rflf s.--vg5r
Naturalization vii enable as better
to understand the pith of the following
story. which was told to me by o son OF
the sod.
among the gay and tasKYe of the fash
ionable society of Cork there was not
one more prominent than was Barry Vel
yertos, the wealthy and eccentric nephew
Of Lord hyonmore. In the uae of the
sword and pistol he was a. master. He
could shoot a finger from a glove in the
sir, at twenty PAGES, hit the bulls eye
nineteen times an twenty at thirty PAGES,
raising his pistol, and firing at the word;
while ut sWord-play he was deemed well
nigh fnvipcihle.
One night, at the Mayors ball, where
& large aud select company were gath
cred, Barry Allowed himself to drink to
p state Of Fzld intoxioation: and, while
in this unfortunate condition, he man.
aged to insult a number of orderly men.
Some he jostled violently; to others he
used grossly abusive language; and still
others he insulted by treading cruelty
or their toes. What more he might
have done, or what the closing scene of
the night might have been, had he been
suffered to keep on, there Is no telling;
but at length two Of his friends, assist
ing his valet, got him away from the
scene. yf
On the following morning, when he
was able to realize what he had done,
he wrote q note to each Of the men whom
he had insulted, appointing a meeting |
for that afternoon, at three o'clock, at |
the ridirg-room Of the regimental bar |
racks; and these notes were dispatched /
by trusty friends.
At The appointed hour three-and-
twenty men were assembled, each OF /
them having come in answer to regular
Hummns; and IN due time appeared
Barry YelvertoD, with swords and pis-
tolls horne by a servant, while III his own
hand he carried a blackthorn staff.
Upon referring to a paper which he
held, he found that to six of the gentle
lnen present he had given offence which. Il
the code made equivalent to q blow; so
to each of these, insturn, he offered his
blackthorn staff, bidding them to take
by striking him over the
hack, in retaliation, IS severely as their
useds Of revenge, or redress, might die
tate TO five others he had offered at
front which might be wiped away by |
simply craving pardon; and TO these he
handed each card, with the simple
sentence thereon written, Il ask your /
pardon!"',. 10 the remaining moiety he
turned and said, with polite bow:
'sT1O You, gentlemen, I can only offer
sBch satisfaction as you may demand |
Here are swords and pistols; acknewl- |
edge your right, and VIII give each his |
turn, rs he shall elect.
We need hardly add that the affair
sudcd in a hearty laugh and q Jolly time, |
'Fha wounded .honUTs were all healed, |
,.nd Barry had established himself firmly |
Ia tao good opinion of those whom he |
had offended ~ h