The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-03-25
Ancedote Of Barry YeiycrtO.n

The rules afid regulations for the ar
ranging ana carrying out Of affairs of
honor-the duel-during the latter part
of the last century. and the beginning of
the present, ere exhaustive ard precise.
Certain infraetions of social order were
held to be objectionable. a blow, for
instances could not be overlooked: and
then there were certain acts set down as
equivalent TO a blow-such as giving the
lie direct, and so on In short-we
speak now particularly of Ireland-when
n man has been guilty Of Offering insult
of any kind, it was at once determined,
on reference to the rules, what the repair
alton must be. The sword and pistol
we're always in order, though the thirty
six articles of the Code, sometimes called
The Polite Commandments, were
framed With special aim to protect the
qnietlF- disposed and weakly citizens
from insult as far IS possible; aud the
fe-rrrt -ttts zSfTns, under this ccsie, was
avoided wherc it could be properly
done
This introduction will enable ushetter
to understand the pith of the following
story. which was told to me by a son 6
the sod.
Among the gay and festive of the fash
iouable society of Cork there was not
one more prominent than was Barry Yel-
vertOn, the wealthy and eccentric nephew
Of Lord Avonmore. In the use of the
sword and pistol he was n master. He
could shoot a finger from a glove in the
air. at twenty PAGES, hit the bulls eye
nineteen times in twenty at thirty PAGES,
raising his pistol, and firing at the word;
while at sword-plaY he was deemed we'll
nigh invincible
One night, at the Mayors ball, where
n large and select company were gath
cred. Barry allowed himself to drink to
a state of wild intoxication: and, while
in TINS unfortunate condition, he man
AGED to Insult a number of orderly men,
Some he iostled violently; TO others he
used grossly abusive language; and still
others he insulted by treading cruelty
ON 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.
On the following morning, when he
was able to realize what he had done,
he wrote n note to each Of the men whom
he had insulted, appointing a meeting
for that afternoon, at three o'clock, at
the riding-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
summons; and III due time appeared
Barry Yelverton, with swords and pis-
tolls borne by a servant, while IN his own
hand he carried blackthorn staff.
Upon referring to a paper which he
held he found that TO six of the gentle
men present he had given offence which
the code made equivalent to a blow; so
to each of these, in turn, he offered his
blackthoENst.ff, bidding them to take
satisSSa - striking him over the
bacon ~ eea, a. saverely as their
needs"ohoarders.s or redress, might die
tate. To ts55 5thers he had offered af-
front which might be wiped away by
simply craving pardon; and to these he
handed each a card, with the simple
sentence thereon wTitten,-'I ask your
pardon," To the remaining moiety he
turned and said, with polite bow:
TO you, gentlemen, l can only offer
such satisfaction as you may demand.
Here are swords and pistols; l acEnowl-
edge your right, and | viii give each his
turn, as he shall elect. "
We need hardly add that the affair
ended in hearty laugh and Jolly time
The wounded honors were all healed,
and Barry had established himself firmly
in the good opinion of those whom he
had offended