Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-06-15
DueliinE.

In France 1t has until lately been
the rule that a gentleman to whom
an insulting epithet was applied by
another, who might be reasonably
supposed to be gentleman, must
challenge the insulter to fight duel.
Matters have now so far changed in
that country that when the President
Of the Chamber was lately called
liar and an 'infamOus wretch" in
open session OF the Chamber, he con-
tented himself with an official re-
buke, and did not afterward chal-
lenge the offender.
In the last generation no gentleman
regarded himself as free to decline an
Invitation to fight a duel. a singular
Incident shows at once how cheap
men held their lives, and how posi-
bic it is for one man to rebuke an
other in some more effective way
than by shooting at him.
NJ. de Girardin, the father of the
statesman and author, Emile de Gil
rardin, on one occasion entered place
where several men were firing at a
target. a gentleman present, whom
NJ. de Girardin did not know, hit the
bull's-eye at every shot.
Several by-standers expressed them
selves in very great admiration Of the
gentleman's precision.
"Ees," said De Girardin, she
shoots remarkably well, but it is quite
a different thing to hit a man in a
duel from hitting bit of pasteboard.
The most skillful marksman, who
could hit coin at twenty-five PAGES,
might easily miss a man at the same
distance"
The marksman overheard the re.
mark, and was offended.
Il think YOU are mistaken, sir" he
said to De GIrardin. Il assure you
that if l had you before me l shouldn't
miss you"
"NOu can have Inc when you like, :"
said De Girardin.
Let it be Immediately, then, " saif
the other.
AT once"
An attempt was made to patch the
| natter up, but neither man would
agree TO an amicable settlement. The
seconds were chosen, and the men
went to a locality favorable for 2
duel
1t was decided that the men should
! fire separately, and it was left to 2
| decision by lot which should fire first.
The lot fell to the mysterious marks
man. He fired at NJ de Girardin,
and missed him. De Girardin stood
still, making no sign as if to fire al
his antagonist
"Come. why don't you shoot2'
asked his seconds.
"Why should | shoOt?" asked De
! Glrardin. There is no reason why
| should kill this gentleman. | main.
tanned that even crack shot could
easily miss his man at twenty-five
PAGES. The gentleman maintained
the contrary. He must now be con.
vinced that he is wrong. | owe him
! no ill-will for having discovered that
\ better method of meeting duel.
ling challenge was, no doubt, one
which was employed on a certain oc-
casion by French statesman, now
| living, as against NJ. Victor NOir, aE
illiterate bully of the press in tho
time of the Second Empire.
The statesman received from Noir,
for no real reason whatever, a chal-
lenge to fight a duel. Noir was a
denselY ignorant man, and nearly
every word in the challenge was mis-
spelled.
The statesman responded with tb'
following letter:
Dear Sir:
"You have called me out without
any good reason.
Il have, therefore, the choice OF
weapons.
Il choose the spelling book.
"And you are dead man"
The duel was never fought.