Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-07
DISPUTES OVER CARDS.
ahe difference Between Such Quar-
rcis in New York and Germany.


ahe difference Between Such Quar-
rels in New York and Germany.
In the paylor of one Of the New York
clubs where high play at cards Is re-
ouent, a New Yorker was chatting the
other day with a foreigner TO whom ne
had offered the hospitality OF tue place
The visitor was a handsome man OF about
forty, who sat bolt upright in ms CHAIR as
If his spine was devoid OF Joints. HIS
soldierly bearing did not belle his real
quality. for he neid u comm ssiou oil cap
tain. signed by the King OF Prussia. Inc
German was loud in ms praise ui lhe
luxury OF tie club house auG tn" elegance
of all the app0iHtm nts. and asked Win
show OF great interest about HI the de-
tails OF New York club iHe, In room
adjacent to the parlor party was seated
over a game OF cards, and through the
partly opened door could occasionally be
heard the half-suppr EXPLANATIONS oil
the players.
Tell me" said the German, speaking
in English. though with strong accent,
Glow are disputes settled that arise IN me
card ROOM"
ION, | don't know" replied his friend.
They seem to settle themselves IN one
way OF hlbiUtls CbAiN IiltF AhN H'N' 'AN'
apologize: sometimes they dispute notify
ard don't speak for a month or 80 until
theirangar coOls of little and then they
make IT up. Sometimes one man throws
the cards at another, and then there is a
lively time for a few minutes; but the
other members generally manage TO
separate the beihgerents, and they are
sent to their respective homes IN cabs so
that they can't renew the battle on the
sidewalk. But there Is never any serious
harm done Such things, of course, occur
very rarely"
AS the New Yorker was giving this eX-
PLANTATION with all the innocence Of a
schooboy relating how the crack boxer
of the school had trounced his last
antagonist, the eyes OF the officer opened
wider and wider with establishment.
But do you really mean to tell me-"
he exclaimed, that disputes over cards
are ever allowed to 90 80 far IN the club
houseW
'Weil, it has been known to happen,
but nothing ever comes of it." replied bis
friend. "W by do you seem so much sur
prised3 Are there never any mlsunder-
standings IN the clubs Of BerllnY
"Oh, OF course replied the captain,
shut you know, what club lite there is IN
Berlin, is mostly confined to the officers,
and among us the knowledge that a dis
pute, if carried too far, must be settled
on the field Of honor, leads to certain
amount of selErestraint on the part ali.
/ knew that there was no dueing in
America, but supposed that was because
there was no call Tor it,
But is not dueling forbidden among
the officers of your army?' asked the
New Yorker. ION, yes, it's forbidden, as
/ believe it is forbidden in your navy for
whisky to be brought aboard a man-Of-
war except for medical purposes. Bat
the whisky, they tell me, comes aboard IN
soap boxes, and so the German officers
fight deuls-not in soap boxes, but with
almost project impunitY. Let ne tell you
what my experience was. W hen | was
several years younger than / am now,
was in garrison at Bonn. My regiment
was one Of the crack cavalry regiments OF
the service. The officers were mostly
young men from the nobility, who had
plenty of money and spent 1t freely. There
was a good deal of betting on horses and
still more on cards. Well, OF course, Oc-
caslonal quarres We're inevitable. one
day some not words passed between my
self and another lieutenant, for at that
, time | hadn't yet got my captaIncy. 1t
was thought by our friends that we ought
to fight, and fight we did. escaped with
out wound, but ny antagonist died OF
pistol shot after lingering for about
/ week. OF course, | was courlmartiaIed;
there was no doubt about my guilt, so
was found guilty and condemned to pass
toe rest OF my lie in fortress. | passed
just six months in the fortress, and then
came my pardon, restoring me TO my for
mer rank In the army"
"Wouldn't it have been better If each of
you had given the other a black eye, and
if you had shaken hands the next morn
ingy' asked the New Yorker, as his com.
ment on the story.
"Perhaps,' replied the German; ''but
every officer in our army has one motto:
'Noblesse Obligen That's why some
poor fellows have to deprive themselves
Of the necessaries Of life at home, 50 as to
keep up appearances in public. NO
wonder some ofthe poor devils get into debt
aud have 10 leave the service. 1t wasn't
long ago, in a hutelin Chicago, that man
who was formerly my superior officer
served me my dinner. The situation was
embarrassing, but had 10 so through
with it,"