Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-01
THE CODE.
MRS. sPooPENDYKEs IDEAS OF THE RE-
CENT DUEL IN NEW ORLEANS.
MIR. sroorESpYKE's LUCID EXPLANATIONS.
Brooklyn Eagle. !
ran, Chicago

brooklyn Eagle.
"My dear, said Mrs. Spoopendyke,
examining the baby's feet, critically to
see if they were both alike, my dear, |
see that one of the strikers, or capital,
has been hurt; do YOU know the facts
about t,'
How hurt what did it say asked
Mr.. Spoopendyke, turning from the glass
and strapping his razor.
II don't remember exactly, but he
went down to slaughter r-house to get
something for his family, and somebody
shot him in the legs"
That's the way it happened, was it =
demanded Mr.. Spoopendyke, grinnins
through his lather. :" He didn't 60 to
his family for pair of legs and some
body shot him in the slaughter house,
did he: Nor he didn't go down to his
his legs for a slaughter house, and some
body shot him in the family: That was
not the way it read, was it :"
"No-o-o, think not replied Mrs.
Spoopendyke, obviously, I'm sure it
was something about slaughter house
and legs. DO you know how it hap
pened :
eyes, | know how it happened y
Knocked Mr.. Spoopendyke. pegging away
at his visage with the razor. {" If | had
not found out away from home Id al
ways been puzzled about it, though.
Two gentlemen fought duel, and one
got shot. That's all there is in il"
Il knew ,here'd be some trouble as
soon as read about those strikes con-
fidently continued Mrs. Spoopendyke.
What's the strike to do with it =
vociierated Mr.. Spoopendyke. Think
he struck for another shot: Got a no.
ton he struck for more legs, haven't ye:
1t wouldn't have been bad idea, that -
soliloquised Mr.. Spoopendyke. rather i'm
pressed with the combined originality
and utility of that class Of strikes.
"Did he get shot in both legs" Mrs.
Spoopendyke queried. 1t must have
been cannon ball. or else he held his
legs in front of each other"
That's the way he did it," moaned
Mr.. Spoopendyke. They always do
that. When they are fighting duel
they sit down like tailor or a Turk.
What dye think they fight with, forts
Got some sort of vague idea that they
fight with line Of battle shipsf Who said
anything about cannon balls: Pistols, /
tell ye They fought with pistols, and
one of them hit the other. Roll that in
formation around in your ten acre intelli.
gence!'
Certainly" faltered Mrs, Spoopen-
dyke. " But tell me, dear, why should a
man shoot another for going to the slaugh-
ter-house :"
"Holy herring" calculated Mr.. Spoop-
endyke. He went there to get shot.
1t was agreed upon. The man who shot
him had reflected upon his honor and he
went there to satisfy it."
"And did it satisfy his honor to shoot
him in the legs asked Mrs. Spoopen'
dyke.
THAT was as near as he could get tc
it. | tell you that when a man fights
duel he wipes out an insult, whether he
gets shot in the legs or ear. 1t makes nc
difference" ...
II should think it would" murmuret
Mrs. Spoopendyke. 1t would to me
So his honor is all right now, is it :"
'.Of course it is" replied Mr.. Spoop
endyke, wiping his face. Suppose yor
can reason on the subject without an!
further information from me :"
q guess so" ruminated Ms. Spoop-
endyke. "As understand it, if man
honor is hurt, all he has got to do is tt
get shot in the legs, though / don't SCI
why he didn't shoot himself, unless i
! was that he couldn't reach around"