Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1882-02-23


|econds. In this it Is stated that
after combat of such and such
enc OF the antagonists re-
,sived scratch on the hand, and
the seconds, " considering that the
wound rendered the chances un-
equal, felt themselves called upon
to terminate the encounter, and
declare honor to be satisfied"
Nevertheless, the frequency of
dusls, from whatever motives, has
had the effect of causing large
part Of the population of France to
frequent the fencing rooms, for the
set by Paris is followed in
the provinces, and the provincial
journals also have their standing
b headline, Duels," like their
Partisan models. A new journal,
called u Escrixae, has been found
ed under high patronage to meet
this new want of French society,
and there exists q splendid volume,
called 1.-THE Men of the Swerd,n in
which Partisan expert In matters
of fencisg, the Baron de Vaux, has
analysed the style, the form, and
the performance of the most FAM
GUS contemporary swordsmen. In
short, every man who respects
himself, every young fellow who
pretends to be at all stylish, must
pass an hour or two every day in
the fencing rooms under the Or
ders of his trainer. The fencing
room is fashionable, and public
opinion, or rather the opinion of
society under the third republic, is
that the duel preserves honor, rep.
utation and dignity.
The fencing rooms of Paris are
to be counted by the score, and the
profession of fencing master is
held in high honor. The most eel
ebrated of the guild is Vigeant,
the gentleman master, as he is
called by the Anglo-maniacs. vi.
geant is q handsome young fellow
who affects the airs of Achilles in
his sulkIng moods. He is very
touchy, reserved and eapricious.
Some say he poses. He lives In a
handsome apartment in the second
stery at 81 Rue de Rennes. You
ring and the door is opened by a
fine, muscular man, whom you at
ence recognize as provost OF the
profession. He introduces you
into the cabinet of the master. On
the chimney piece is seventeenth
century wood engraving represent
ing Saint Michael, the patron
saint of fencers. By the side Of
| this picture Is another of Dor
Quixote, sword in hand, gravely
studying in some book of chivalry
thrusts that are no longer secret
In the corners are rapiers of al
kiads; on the walls engravings o
fencing scenes; full-leDgth por
trait of the master, by Carolu
Duran; right and left two book
cases containing unique collec
tien Of everything that has beer
written on fencing for the las,
three hundred years; in the mid.
die a table covered with books, al
inkstand, pen, and a rapier. II
is here that Vigeant gives consult.
ations on his art.
Next in reputation to Vigeant is
Merignac, who rarely exhibits his
skill in public. Then after these
two stars follow the lesser celebri.
ties, Mimiague, Rouleau, the
brothers Robert, Cain, and Gate
chair Tor Spoilfssh), two predes-
tined names, Pellerin, Lantieri,
and others. Furthermore, the
miIlionaires have their private
fencing rooms.
Some of the famous French duel.
lists have appeared SO often in the
arena that their names are as ia.
miliar, as doughty champions OF
the sword and pistol, in the United
States as in France. OF these are
the famous journalists, Paul de
CassagDac and Rochefort. DR.,
Clemenceau is ALEC terror to his
foes, as he is dead shot with the
pistol and no mean swordsman
For anybody to meet Paul de Gas
sagnac is a sure passport to the
hospital or the grave, pretty much
as this leonine newspaper man
chooses to be mereiless or lenient,
Rochefort also is a very effective
duellist, although he once showed
mis- fear OF the Imperialist bully
Casssgnsc by declining to accept
his challenge except with the I'M
derstanding that they should fight
with loaded pistols, breast TO
breast, a proposition which partook
of the profession of the butcher
rathsr than of the journalist, and
which Paul very properly de-
ciinsd.
It is curious to find the duellQ SO
absolutely tabooed in England,
while on crossing the channel it is
found to be flourishing in such
perfection. Yet, less than ore
hundred years ago, the duellists of
England and ireland, and especial