The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-18
DUELLING
In FRANCE.
Cluseret's Proposition to Abolish
the Code DuelIO.
Provisions Of the Hill he Advoeates-n It
Becomes Law How Will the Frenchman
Avenge His Injured Feelingsl
Special Paris Letter to THE CALL.

HrARIS, April %, 1890. - Parliament
Fey will assemble May 9th, and one of
1S*S the first questions discussed will be
that referring to duels in France. The
question Of duelling in this country returns
with every season. but, as this time, the
Parliamentary Committee has voted against
the bill for the suppression of duelling,
it has very little chance of success.
Last year Mgr. Freppel, Bishop Of An
gers. representing his parishioners in the
Chamber of Deputies. proposed to Parlia-
ment the adoption of a severe law with
reference to duels and duellists. The law
was not passed-in fact, received but few
votes-and this year the ex-Communist
Cluseret initiates his colleague Freppel
and submits a proposition that will GER
tainly have the fate Of its predecessor. 1t
would be sarcasm on the part of an AS
sembly over which presides NJ. Charles
Fluquet to pass a law prohibiting duels. 1t
will be remembered that when NJ. FloQuet
was Prime Minister he measured swords
with General Boulanger.
NJ. Cluseret is radical in everything, and
in his explanation Of motives" denounces
the
"NIQUITY OF THE DUEL"
Rdicules the adversaries "who exchange
little balls that are pleased to hiss at Them"
and adds TO fight is stupid and proves
nothing" OF course he is right and many
Frenchmen are OF his opinion, but the day
that one of the same Frenchmen has diff
ference with his neighbor his first exclama-
ton will be, "a duel is the only means Of
satisfying my honor"
NJ. Cluseret is very emphatic in his de-
nunciations of the duel, the history of
which he has thoroughly studied. In one
of his speeches he said: at is not possible
that republican France, daughter of the
people and Of the rights of man, will con-
tinue TO tolerate practice odious as it is
ridiculous. 1t is not possible that France
intends to return to barbarism, and l be-
heve that sensible Deputies will vote for
the passage of my bill. In this, l propose
that he who challenges shall be imprisoned
for from two to six months, that the sec
onds shall suffer the same punishment, and
that he who ridicules in public person
unwilling to fight duel shall pay a fine of
from Ii TO 200 francs. He who wounds his
adversary shall be imprisoned from two to
three years and he who kills his opponent
shall not only pay damages to the family of
his victim but shall be imprisoned for from
six to twelve years. Any newspaper that
publishes
AN ACCOUNT OF A DUEL
snail be nned from 10 TO 800 francs, and the
editor thereof shall De imprisoned for from
six days to three months"
The French people consider the duel an
old tradition, difficult to uproot, a bizarre
custom, perpetuated only i'll special social
spheres. The practice is, indeed heritage
OF the middle ages, and even the revou-
tlOnlsts OF the last century, who prOfesSed
to hate aristocratic traditions, respected
this relic of chivalry In this day French
Republicans are Just as willing to fight
duels as are Royalsts. But it is a tradition
belonging only 10 favored class in society
No one ever hears OF wOrkmen or small
shopkeepers lighting duels. Their encoun-
tiers are called lights" and il surprised by
the police they are hned, perhaps impris-
onec. But gendarmes never show their
three-cornered hats before duellists have
SEeathed their swords and are preparing to
soothe their wounded feelings In a restaur-
ant near by. 1t is well known that when
the tloQuet-Boulange duel took place DO
lice agents walked up and down quietly
waiting until the little misunderstanding
where men are not authorized to settle their
disputes by means of duels.
l do not see how Freuchmen could do
without some outlet for their feelings.
IT WAS MONTAGUE
Who said "Put three Frenchmen in a
desert and they will not be a month to-
gether without tearing and scratching at
one another"
The study of dueling In France is very
curious. Henry ~ encouraged it as much
as Louis XIV tried to discourage il. Dur
ing Henry's reign more than 1900 gentle
men fell in duel, for in those days seconds
were apt to tight as principals. Then the
duel continued until one adversary at
least was dead, and the murderer retained
his place and prestige in the social world.
Louis XIV was in the habit of launching
edicts against duelllsts. but his edicts never
da ha 1in
Monarque was rather inconsistent, for
while issuing edicts he wished it distinctly
understood that all army officers must set
tie their quarrels according to the rules of
honor or lose their rank.
Louis Philippe tried to enforce a law
against duelllng, and his law is the one sup
posed to be In force at the present day.
For there is
THEORETICAL LAW IN FRANCE,
A law that is seldom put in practice A
man kills his adversary in duel, but is
punished only If he has violated the rec0g-
nized rules. But" say the French, If
the laws do not protect us we must protect
ourselves, and to this point we shall return,
even if duelling be abolished. With what
would NJ. Cluseret replace the duel? We
must have some means of avenging our in
jured feelings-our outraged honor. Shall
come pugilists? In England duelling is
punished with extreme severity. but in no
other country are pugilistic scenes SO fire.
Quent Is that progress?"
At the present time there is Compare
lively little loss of life from duelling in
France and this may be attributed TO the
skill of combatants in the use of the sword.
Only the inexperienced swordsman is likely
to kill his antagonist, consequently. the
way to reduce the evil resulting from duel
ling is to encourage fencing. 1t is said that
NJ FloQuet could never have wounded Gem
eral Boulanger had he been the Generals
equal in fencing.
But, from the number of fencing hools
scattered throughout France, it would seem
that there is little necessity to encourage
the taste for this amusement.