Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-12-27
TERMS: $500 PER YEAR
DECLINE OF THE DUELLO.
Curious Creole Affair Of Honor I'm th @
Olden Days.


Not far from the grounds where the
magnificent buildings of the Worlds
Exposition glorify the landscape with
their assurances of peace and progress is
beautiful grove of half dozen live
oaks whose ereen-gray plumes of long
fantastic moss possess a strange funereal
suggestivenes'. Their story holds that
in early years of this fair state six gay
young creole gentlemen were strolling
| together to the plantation of mutual
friend. 1t was heavenly night. The
mocnbeams were weaving their soften
ing spell over a scene by nature soft and
languid to voluptuonsness. In breeze,
| fragrant with kisses from the blossoms
of an orange grove not far, the live-osks
gently shook their messy pendants and
made fantastic shadows on the velvet
sward. "What place for sword play p'
exclaimed one of the party. 81 echo
your sentiments" said the other lightly.
Then let us try it," said the first. "a
Il IT,
he drew his jeweled rapier. In a mo-
ment they were at it, and the weapons
were weaving in and out with a gayly
glitterng rapidity that made mockery
of the gentle moonbeams.
What pity for us to stand idly by 7"
observed another of the party. LET us
pair off, then," said number four, and
they all drew simultaneously 1t must
have been pretty sight-those three
pair of graceful and gallant fellows at
parry and thrust hard by those grand
old oaks that live to-day. But the play
waxed warm; presently the eyes of the
ombatants outflashed their swords, and
when the sun came up over the rim of
the level, lovely Louisiana plains with
the same semblance of suddenness that
one notes in his rise on the ocean, he
looked ON the six oaks not as usual, but
on six ghastly, upturned faces for which
those oaks now stand monumental. One
man fingered few hours over day to tell
the story of the night, and now as the
stranger steams up the muddy and moody
river the creole points to those oaks with
expression and expressions compound
of pity and pride. 1t is easy enough to
infer that with the descendants of such
men the duello, though dying, dies hard,
| especially in a clue where the blood
burns little faster than in the north or
in Europe.
Yes, the poor old duello is dying.
Public opinion has gathered head against
it, and it must 90. A case in point oc-
Cured the other day. The city editor of
a great paper took holiday and appoint
ed one of the reportorial corps his pro-
tenn. This promoted reporter requested
another IF tho cnrrs IN attend. tn a. GER
tain matter, which he refused, saying it
was the city editors business, not his.
| Words multiplied, blow was struck, a
scuffle ensued, and they were parted.
Next morning the temporary editor,
grandson of famous NapOleOnic general
sent his brother reporter what is tel med a
peremptory challenge, j. e., one that
leaves no room for apology, instead of
one that bears the provision of unless or
lif.
The challenged reporter, son of a ia
nous southern senator, was clearly in
the wrong from the start. His friends
felt so, and would have made him apollo
gize, but no chance for that was given.
| With as much secrecy as possible the
meeting took place under The Oaks"
as the old duellIng ground of the city is
called, and where many duel has been
fought The seconds were measuring off
the grounds when a letter, signed by
some of the most prominent citizens and
old soldiers of the town, was brought to
them, praying postponement for day
and submission of the matter to their
arbitration. The seconds decided to
grant it and place their principles under
arbitrament. The result was that the
committee ordered the senator's son to
apologize, which he did. The apology
was accepted and friendship Ieigned
again. So much for the progress of peace
| in southern society! The long night of
brilliant barbarism is passing away and
the day cometr in which all men may
Il