The Lamar register., 1891-09-26
THE KAISER FAvoRs TT.
THE DUEL IS OF ANCIENT AND
HONORABLE ORIGIN.
something OF Its History-From Aehii..
and Hector to the Present Day
"A BioodIcss Dsel Caused
by Tn.


ed with Hector down to the present
epoch OF bloodless contests in the Bois
DO Boalogue, it is the old story OF n
resort to single combat as the only
means of repelling injuries and aveng-
ing wrongs.
| But the earliest record we have OF
iuelling being publicly recognized and
legally established is to be found in
The laws OF Guudebald, King of the
Bnrgundians, in the year SOL. The
King there set forth that being con-
WINGED that his subjects were for divers
reasons frequently guilty of perjury
In order TO suppress tho crime he or
dnined that whenever two Burgundians
were at variance 'if the defendant
.hnll swear that he owes not what is
demanded OF him. or that he is not
| guilty of the crime laid to his charge.
and the plaintiff. on the other hand.
not satisfied herewith. shall declare
that he Is ready to maintain. sword in
hand. the truth OF what be advances;
II the defendant does not then ac-
| iuiesco. IL shall be lawful for them TO
/ decide the controversy by dint Of
4 sword But there was loophole Of
escape for the challenged. Of which in
the present day. We fancy mnny would
10 elad 10 avail themselves II they had
l the chance.
Tho accused had the liberty to
choose n champion in his stead. but
tho accuser must appear in his own
/ person. and with equality OF weapons.
I Tho spectators of these public duels
were not allowed to mako the slightest
nolse or give any sign whatever dur
I ing the combat and by way OF making
I things complete n bier stood ready 10
carry away the body OF who should be
slain
This particular yicc never flourished
moro than itdid in the early part of the
eighteenth century, and It's headquar-
iers were undoubtedly established on
French soil On every conceivable
prgiouee trumpery or otherwise. re-
course was had to the sword. and II
was no unusual thing for duel TO be
decided on the Paris boulevards in
open day
I; IS related that two officers one
, morning having u dispute about an
Angola cat promptly adjourned to an
open space In front OF the Tuileries,
and then and there fought the matter
out Tho battle being under the very
nose oi royalty. the Duke d'Orleans
removed the eombaiants from their
corps. and sentenced them to u fort
nights imprisonment at the same
tine rcmuriring that the quarrel
should havo been settled with claws
.ns;end o. swords
Those were the days when the pro-
fcssionAl dueliist Hourished in all hts
glory. and was even mAdo a hero Of
one o. these gentry. named 81. Folk,
vas dining In a Paris cafe when he
exclaimed that gentleman opposite
him had GO, coniounded bad dinner.
OF course the stranger demanded sat
isfacti0n Tor tho insult which was
cordially granted. 81. Folk was severe
ly woundeii but turning to his antag-
onIsi ho cooily remarked. IN you had
killed me- sir still should have per
sisted In maintaining thai bayaroise
4 a confoundcd bad dinner.
Two Physicians having quarrelled
because one called the other a quRck.
on the ground that a medical question
should be settled incidentally. agreed
AAA-A EAAt HAAAAAA tAAaaAA ~ tAAAtN q asAs
drawn by los the one poisonous and
the other iunocuous-
on another occasion the Marquis dc
Tcntsaiac having misbehRyed himself
bshird the scenes Of theater. pro-
voced the audible anger OF the audi
dIencc Seeing this he stepped for
ward 10 the foouIghts and said: Lad
les and gcntlemen-With your per-
mission. piece will be performed to-
morrow called The Insolence OF the
Pit Chastised. iE Us many acts as may
be desired. by the Marquis de Tenten-
iac. In reckless age this imper-
tinent challenge was received with
shouts OF laughter and applause
A brnggart once met with a serious
punishment. says the Saturday Even
Ing Post A colonel OF the French
guards was relating his good fortune
in never having had 10 ight II duel, ms
he had not given offeuse, aud no one
had ever presumed to insult him,
when an officer present struck him in
the face. and said. Perhaps you will
consider that an insult?" The colonel
quietly left the room and sent the
usual challenge. When the combat
ants appeared on the Brounu inc
colonel had piece of court plaster
about the size Of crown piece on the
cheek which had received the blow.
After quickly wounding his antagonist
in his sword arm, he took of the
plaster. and cat an edge from IT with
a pair OF scissors at the same time in
timating that he would be ready 10
meet his opponent again when he had
recovered from his wound. He met
him frequently afterwards wounding
him each time. until the piece OF court
plaster was reduced TO the size of a
shilling. then he ran him through the
body. and calmly contemplating the
corpse. he observed, II now take of
my plaster"
OF the ludicrous aspects OF duel
there are examples without number.
One of the most comical is related of a
man who. after he had taken his po-
sitio. calmly walked up to his oppon-
ent. who was of enormous proportions.
and taking piece OF chalk from his
pocket sketched on him the outline OF
= fi. ,;-cd human being and then