Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-11
AMONG THE CREOLES.
- Cbareeterl.tIe Aneedotes.

Hen. Charles GaysrTe, the historian, Is |
writing some very interesting articles |
about the early history of louisiana.
The articles appear in the Times Demo- !
crGt. The following anecdotes are taken
from one Of the articles:
In 1740 GrOndel, who had come to
louisiana in 1882 as an osicer in the
kaTrer Regiment. who rose to the grade
Of general, who lived long enough to be
presented 70 BOnaparte, first consult in 1899,
Is the hero Of an anecdOte that is iIlustra-
tive Of the statement which / have iVst
made. 1t was night, ore Of those glorious
nights which are so peculiar TO the South
eTn latitude Of Louisiana; the sky seemed
an ocean OF soft liquid light through
which tAe full moon vas serenely EOatisp
when several officers, kept out of their
beds by the beauty and purity of the at
mOspkere, were prOmenading on the bank
of the Mississippi in front Of jhe public
square OF the city Of New Orleans. They
had exhausted all subjects Of conversa-
ton, and in spite Of the buOyancy Of their
spirits mad become intolerabIv dull. One
oi them exclaimed: "WAat a pity we
have no women at hand We would
dance. In the deYifs name, what shall
Uc DO 10 amuse ourselves in such fine
weather as tnjss' "In Gods name.5'
replied GrOudel, show can YOU be at a
loss, Let Us fight. Ii is the best way to
Kill time" No sooner said than done.
At il they went, each one paired with
another, and passes after passes were
exchanged IN the most jOcose and friend
ly manner Imaginable, until one Of them
received from GTOndel thrust which
inflicted slight flesh wound that put an
cad % this amicable entertertainment.
Sucn fitting, although resulting IN she'd
ding few ounces OF blood, was done in
all friendship between the parties, and
that friendship was even more strongly
cemented by 1t. But unfortunately this
was not always the case. The creOles
had inherited from their French ancestors
ylyacity Of temper and disposition 70
appeal 10 the sword which sometimes led
10 tragic consequences. For instance an
officer in the colonial troops, named
i =, one day received a slap in the
face from a brother officer, named =.
They fought, and + got from his
adversary 4 supeTbly skillful thrust in
the breast which put him to bed for some
months. When he recovered he inquired
auectiOnateiy about his antagonist IN the
late duel, for whom he had In vain looked
every where. apparently for the purpose
Of exchanging compliments according TO
the etiquette Of the high-fOWn courtesy
Of those days. He was informed that mis-
friend had gone to Philadelphia. then the
capital OF Pennsylvania, in the British
North American colonies. In hot haste he
repaired o. the Quake City. and calling at
the dwelling OF G. f. he stood before
/ hiu hat In hand and said with the utmost
susvtty Of manner: NV dear cir, you
I have given mc q slap on the cheek. !
still feel the l'8W. lou have. Ia addition,
ran M through The booty with cold s'rel.
and V.'y uH.,e3sGutly cGul!G.d m 10 my
room Z ~ @ i-u- time / need uot tell vcu.
/ 4 suppose. taal 1 have Ind bat very poor
satisfaction at yOur hands. Therefore i
/ have travelled 1.j0J miles 20 tax your
/ c0urtesr and beg that you kindly give me
/ q chance OF being eyeBWith YOU. have lost
I the first game. L ask for the second. accord
4 ing 70 tie rules established among fair
I players"
! i acknowledge the justice Of your re-
/ quest" replied the other with a low bow,
land * shall De granted" They met al a
designated place, and = a., continuing
/ 10 Doe in bad luck. had 10 digest six inches
/ OF his adyersSry's blade. in consequence
. OF This Untoward accident J. 3 was
compelled 90 honor the City az BrOtheriy
Love with a PROLONGED residence.
{ it seemed mat = - haa an iron con-
stituti0n. Tor ne recovered MS bealtl and
. strength within reasonable time. HIS
1 first inquiry was for the friend who had
/ 50 considerably given him two admirable
I lessons of fencing, and was told OF his
departure for the island of Martinique.
I Not iOUg after L was seated i'm q
/ verauda, inhalipg the air cooled by the
( evening sea breeze, and enjoying tie
( flavor Of Havana cigar. when L y % =
/ suddenly presented himself, with a more
/ amiabla countenance than ever, ard after
[ "a most cOurtiy bow. said IN a very placid
I tone Of voice: 'MOst worthy sir, you
! cannot have forgotten that YOU slapped
/ me in the face; that YOU have twice in
tiicted on me severe wounds which have
| endangered my lie, and that YOU have,
/ besides. made me lose great deal of
| most valuable time in a sick bed, without
counting the heavy fees which [ have
paid to surgeons. Hence, presume that
you viii not he astOnished when give
you my word of honor that ] am less
satisfied than ever. wherefore" Il
admit it, e replied, interrUpting his
| visitor, ''but L hope that you will permit
I me TO remark, with due difference. that
! the TOO frequent repetition of this pleas
| antry begins to be annoying. Therefore.
[ warn YOU that this time am deter
| mined 10 put an end to it." So. the next
! morning. tue two officers, escorted each
by two friends, met face 70 face at an APP
prunriate place. Soon their swords
clashed angrily. It was evident that the
cOmb8tants, from the fury OF their attack,
7 we're resolved 10 settle their difference
I Analiy. { r, throwing himself for
z ward, made such 4 desperate and
I thorough luuge that his sword went clean
| through his adyersarY's body, up to the
/ hilt. i remained erect, rs if sup
| ported by the sword and the firm hand
I which held it. But the rules of dueing
/ compelled q + 10 withdraw the sword
! and resume instantly his position. Before
/ he could DO so, 7 looked at him with
grim smile and quoted this verse from
/ French tragedy:
fla retraite, Se'gneUr, me parait difieil.''
! 1.-The retreat M Lord. seems to be difficult"
/ This was hut 800 true, for any one ac-
/ quainted with the art Of fencing knows
I that could not step back and pull
out his sword without leaving his breast
] fully exposed beyond the possibility &c
Z defense. When this was attempted 10 be
/ done, 7 4, as swift as thought,
plunged his weapon into the heart OF his
! adversary, who fell dead, as if struck by
I a tbUnderbOlt. Strange to say, Il ,,
/ nOtw -,hstanding = wound which was pro
I uOunced mortal, survived the dictum Of
\ the attending surgeon, returned to Lou
/ isiana, amassed a large fortune, and lived
/ to a very Old age. Thislman Of iron and CT
| inflexible will, who could not, it seems,
/ he killed by any mortal man except him.
! self, committed suicide when eighty-i0ur
| years old, under circumstances which
| need not be mentioned in these pages.