Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-24
A MEXICAN DuEllsE
Hoa he Astozishsd sad Fauishea
Ereneb nan.

IPrfs Cor. y Q. Pieayunel
Al the Pres Club the other nj ght party
OF journalists ssfe talking about doshns,
VIXEN IspeA siss. Of tbs Eeko Gs Parls
told some funa5 stories. You havs al
beard, . said he, :. OF the encounter between
the well known Mexican banker aud eer-
tain famous duelist The banker was
very popular man ia the m0ade aa l'os
s'alauss, for whenever be came 10 Paris,
which hs did at frequent intervals. be
spent his money in ri sht royal manner.
During one Of these visits be was one day
turning over "a photograph album IA
friends salon, when his eye eau ht the
portrait, en- deshab ne of a pretty Palais
ROYAL actress. What capital likeness
said the Mexican. That's her every inch
of il. What eyes. What a neck And
he went on, with the air OF person who
knew all about the plas ic attractions of the
lady from personal inspection. 10 enter
into the most glowing description of her
charms. There were several other gentle
men in the room besides the banker and
his friend, and one of them took the Mexi-
can up so sharply that be not only res
tracted all he had said but made the most
profuse apology. He even went so far as
TO say that he must have been mistaken,
misled by An accidental resemblance, and
that the lady whose perfections he had
been describing was rot the artistic whose
photograph was before him. Mutual
friends interposed, but the gentleman re-
fused 70 be pacifed, and left declaring
that two of his friends would shortly wait
on the Mexican in his behalf. The Sec
onds met and did their best To arrange
matters amicably, but the defender of the
actress insisted on retraction in writing.
He was skillful swordsman and had
fought many duels; the Mexican was a
big fat gentleman, no longer young, and
apparently ignorant of the art of fencing.
On the advice of his seconds the latter at
last consented to write polite note to his
adversary, in which he repeated his
apology over a mistake into which
he had been led by a supposed re-
semblance. In reply he received
q single line: 'Sir-I give you twenty
four hours to leave France The Mexican
had come to Europe to attend TO importan;
business matters and to amuse himself,
and, as neither his business nor his pleas
ure were completed he determined not to
allow himself to be drivSn away. A meet
/ ing was fixed, the result Of which seemed
certain. Every one expected that the for
eigner would be wounded at the first pass.
AS soon as the seconds gave the word the
Frenchman, who is a little fellow, made
two fe.nts and was gathering himself for a.
lunge when he suddenly stopped and raised
the point of his sword. The Mexican had
disengaged his blade, and by merely
Strengthening out his arm, a maneuver
which he executed like a flash, had pricked
his adversary's nose. Surprised and en-
ragged, the Frenchman wiped away the drop
of blood which the prick-it was almost as
| slight as though done with a pin-had
brought and fell into guard again. Imme
diately the Mexican executed the same
maneuver, and again the point of the
sword pricked his adversary in exactly the
same spot. The drop of blood was little
larger, the prick little more visible, and
the Frenchman's nose began to swell with
again. almost instantaneously, the point of
the Mexican's sword and the tip of the
| Frenchman's nose met. After seven as
saults the seconds put an eud to the duel.
! The Frenchman's mustache and chin were
dripping with blood and his nose was as
red as beet. The. Mexican remained in
| France, and it was three months before his
adversary was able to show himself at his
/ cluh