The morning news., 1889-04-12

bosson Inflicted simller wound on Ray
mond Lagardette, who, he believed, was
responsible Tor s,me jokes at his expense
that had ap, cured III Chdriudri. Resultless
dueIs with pis OILS took place between Gond-
chaux and Gen. paraguay d'Hilliers; also
between Felix Pyot and Proudhon, the
philosopher, who said that he went out only
because the world was still too stupid un-
der tand if he refused. Gen. Clement
thomas fought with his colleague, NJ. de
CoetegCn of the Chamber, because of an
article by the latter in LIE CorSoire on the
petition of the members of the right for
legislative in place of a constitutante as
sembly. They fought with swords and
both were wounded
Ledru Rollin and Deujoy in the course of
a DEBATE on socialism became so abusive of
| each other that challenges were exchanged,
but the duel, fought with pistols, was with
out result. This was also the case with the
| meeting between M. Theirs and Bixio, al
though the excuse by the friends of the lat
ter for his failing to hit the famous states
man was that he aimed for man and not
| for a dwarf. For having eulogized the
Municipal Guard in the legislative assem-
bly, of 1S49, Segor d'Aguesseau had to fight
BerUhoon, and the same speech was also the
cause of a duel between Berard and Brives
| A duel with cavalry sabers between Corsln
and Testelin, in which the former was
wounded in ths head, grew out of debate
| on the law of transportation. Deputies
Vesu and Bouvet exchanged shos harm
lesslv in May, 1851, and in July Valentin
was badly wounded in the leg by Calry.
In August A. Dupont, brother of Paul Du-
pont, the deputy, was killed because of a
letter he wrote, which gave offense to
Chevoix.
During the reign of Napoleon Ill, there
were no legislative duels, but they recon-
~ hs-I
which has already seen ten or a dozen of
them the more notable ones being those
between Paul de Cassagnac and Perrin,
Laissant and de la Rochette, de Fourton
and Gambetta and Gen. Boulanger's three
with De rcinty, Jules Ferry and Floquet,
in one of which he got decidedly the worst
of the encounter.
Now. nearly all of these deputy duels
were for puerile and ridiculous causes. A
member, speaking in the Chamber, worry
ing through Interruptions that assail him
from all Sides has a word shot at him like
an arrow. He replies with heat, gives tit
for tat, and on descending from the tribune
receives couple Of seconds, who demand to
know his meaning. In the French parl1a-
ment an expression that in any other as
sembly would be considered satirical, be-
comes an injury, only to be wiped out by
blood that is if the words are used in the
tribune. Tne person addressed gets red
with rage, witnesses are called and 500
members are taken into the secret" that
there is going to be an dFotre dhonneWr
Now, why should deputy fight for such
q trife, or a journalist stand up TO be killed
by confrere for what was probably slip
of the pen? One of the most promising
Young novelists in France was thus mur-
dered by au insignificant person, because
the latter fancied himself insulted in two
lines, which all of us have long since for
gotten. AS for what is called the dignity"
of the affair it is scarcely we'll supported
by persons who have not the faintest notion
how to hold sword, or load and fire
pistol.
Still for all can say French journalists
will 20 on b eing just as ready t. fight duels
as are their Law making friends, the depu-
ties. Love of encouater seems to be a born
feeling in these people. 1t was Montaigne,
YOU know, who said: "Put three French
men in the Libyau desert, I'd they would
not be there month without fighting"
t'rhen why is it there are so many duels
which are dangerleSs!
We'll, | don't know, unless it is because at
sword play one man is more Sklllfu than
the other. An expert fencer can easily dis
arm his adversary, or infiict wound that
is enough to put an end to the conflict,
while two men who are equal can parry
and thrust with each other for half an hour
and avoid all serious peril r., With the pistol
it is much more awkward, sometimes.
There may be bad hit, aud homicide has
happened, but as rule the conditions Of a
duel forbid delay, taking aim being always
prohibited, and when the signal is given
the shot must be fired Fine marksmen
miss each other, and the reason, therefore,
is perhaps not difficult to find.
81 have hit the target this morning at
twenty PAGES six times running" said an
acquaintance the other day. We were in
CASTOR Renettes shooting gallery, in the
Avenue d'Antin, and the gentleman who
spoke was a newcomer from America.
'But the target had not another pistol
pointed at you," remarked, very quietly,
Chevaier Ira Paine, who was present
giving lesson to your correspondent.