The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-08
HE LAW oE "THE CODE
Si oicc of Weapons-PracticinsW with Pts
tol>-The Duelist Dress.

tol>-1he Duelist Dress
THE code lays down methodically the law
as to what constitutes an aygresSor Ii in a
gu ariel brought about by a discussion an in
sui arrives the person insulted Is the
az srieved party; if, however, the insult is
re paid by blow positions are changed. A
M ere touch Is held 10 be blow.
There are grievances and grievances.
First, the grievance simply; next, grievance
W it'll insult; thirdly, grievance with blow or
wound. The position of the aggrieved per
So differs in the three cases. As simply az
or ieved he has the choice of weapons; az
grieved and insulted, he has the right to
CHI Dose the manner of duel as well as the
arms; aggrieved and struck, he chooses his
duel, his arms, his distances, and can deny to
his adversary the use of familiar weapons
The only recognized legal weapons at present
are held TO lie the sword, pistol and sabre.
Any other can lie accepted only upon mutual
ayr cement. Unless otherwise arranged by
the seconds. duel should always take place
within forty-eiSht hours. Once on the
ground the adverSaries must hold no commu-
nication with each other, all must be done
through the seconds. If one man falls
wounded he may still fire ON his adversary,
If he can do 50 within two minutes. After
that this privilege ceases TO exist.
Ii challenge has been made and accepted,
the parties generally put themselves under
immediate training. The best pistols are Sc
cured, and the combatants go out daily, each
with u few friends, practicing, generally tax
ing sapling as n mark. Whoever can hit
il easily IS considered good shot. The next
step is TO accustom the nerves to the shock of
firing. Many men fire quite well when they
are shooting alone, but the crack of gunshot
by another startleS them considerably, 50 as
to drive them wide OF the mark. To this
crack they must become thoroughly accuS-
toned. For that purpose cork balls are used
in the daily practice. Mock seconds are put
in proper places, and mock opponent is
placed opposite. The word IS given and they
fire. This is generally kept up for days but
as some waver still a little four five friends
so out with either of the combatants and then
place themselves round each, some before,
some back and some in front of their man.
As the word is given-are you ready-pre-
re-iire-they all blaze away, and gener-
ally before the bewildered man shoots. He
soon, however, learns to aim as well amid the
confusion and noise rs if he were alone The
practice Is generally wound up by having
heavily charged guns fired in the face of the
dueliSt 10 make his nerves perfectly steady.
There Is also great deal in the dress.
Every object, such as button or breaStpin,
or anything which makes a contrast, should be
carefully removed. Some are having a special
duelist dress made, consisting of large light
morning wrapper, made as near the color of
the earth as possible. This wrapper is
starchcd, 50 that an antagonist cannot fix his
sight upon particular spot, and rs it bags
out he may be liable to mistake the true posi-
ton of the body in it.-New York Star.