Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-12-15
WOMEN puELIsrs.
chronicles OF Earlier Days when Ladies'
rfaod the 70 Il.

NNNN AuN ANAat
While dueling continues 70 be ono Of
the foremost questions Of the day, says
n Paris letter, IL may interest you read
ers 10 learn that in times gone by
French ladies as we'll as gentlemen
went out sur le terrain to defend their
honor or their love. Perhaps the most
celebrated OF these female encounters
was that which took place between the
Marquise de Nosle and the Comtesso dc
Polignac. Both fell In love with the
Marcchal de Richelieu and disputed his
favors-at least so the old chroniclers
tell us The marshal, however, does
not appear to have been equal 10 the
occasion, and made great mistake in
dealing with his admirers lie gave n
rendezvous to both, but forgot 10 name
the date and hour, the consequence OF
which was that the two rivals found
themselves unexpectedly face 10 face in
his salon. A quarrel ensued, and IL
was agreed to fight 1t out with pistols.
The meeting was fixed for Q o'clock in
the morning in the Bois de Boulogne.
you can fire first II you like, said Nine.
do Polignac coolly TO her adversary.
Mime. de Nesle accepted the generous
offer and fired, but TO no effect Rage
has made your hand tremble," re-
sponded the countess with n sarcastic
smile, and firing in her turn, she split
the right ear Of tho marquise, who fell
TO the ground rs II she had been killed.
Another lady Of whose exploits ths
chroniclers are full was Nine. d'Au-
bigny, better known as Milo. dc Maui
pin. She was born in the lstter half OF
the seventeenth century. Daughter Of
ono Of the secretaries Of the Comto d.
Armagnac, she was married 10 young
but soon left him 10 lead
life Of adventure. She frat made the
acquaintance OF fepcing master
named Serane, with whom she fell in
love as no was giving her lessons. They
ran away together TO Marsoilles, where,
having exhausted their resources, they
joined company Of strolling players.
On her return TO Paris she was engaged
at the opera. IL was at this period that
she distinguished herself by her eccen-
tricities She was fond Of donning NAL
attire, and going out at night in search
of amusement. One night, while ex-
ploring the Quarter des VICTORIES, she
came across the actor Dumesnil, on
whom she resolved to play a Joke.
Drawing her rapier she attacked him,
made him go on his knees. and deliver
up his purse and jewels The next day
he related TO his brother actors how he
had been assailed by band Of brigands,
against whom he fought for some time,
killing two Of them, but finally had to
succumb 10 numbers. Mile. de Maupin,
who was present at the story, burst out
and confounded the braggart
by returning the purse and jewels she
had stolen from him on the previous
night
Among other anecdotes told of her is
the following: A ball was given at the
Palais Royal to which she managed TO
obtain entrance in her masculine dress.
During the evening she spotted
grande dame, followed her about, and
INDUCED in such improper proposal.
that three friends of tho offended lady
demanded reparation on the spot She
wished for nothing better, and straight
way the party went out into the gar
den, where, It Is said, she killed her
three opponents, and then resumed
dancing as II nothing had happened.
Such was tho favor she enjoyed that
nobody thought of prosecuting her, not
withstanding the rigorous laws against
duelling then in force.
A few days after this adventure
Mile. Perignon, one of La Maupin's
at the opera, was insulted by
a Gascon named Servar. Our heroine,
again disguised as a man, took up the
smacked Gascon's face, and, in
the duel which ensued, wounded him
seriously in the arm. This was the last
time she was heard Of in the dueling
world, the police having threatened to
arrest her. She suddenly left Paris for
Brussels, where she turned all the
heads Of the gilded youth by her sweet
singing and captivating beauty. Count
Albert, of Bavaria, made her his mis-
tress, but the union did not last long.
The count got enamoured OF another
siren, and sent La Maupin 40, 900 francs
as a parting gift; but she returned the
and was on the point of attack
ing her rival when she was ordered TO
leave Brussels Immediately. She then
went TO Spain, where she became the
femme de chambre of a Countess Ma
rino. Ultimately she returned 10 Paris
and sang again at the opera; but she
was no longer the pct Of the audience,
and tried in vain to please it. Sick and
tired of her adventurous life, she left
the opera, and, it is believed, ended her
days In a convent
Coming later down the court chroni-
clers introduced us TO several other
lady duelists One OF them talks OF "a
lady who went out on horseback, with |
top boots, a sword by her side and pis-
tolls in her holsters" She had numer- |
ous encounters, notably one with a
Comte de Cordiere, who was guilty OF |
her favors. The count, like |
a gallant man, did not seek 10 do her
my harm, but merely 10 tire her out.
IN which he succeeded so well that she
fell TO the ground exhausted, and was
forced to demand pardon. This lesson,
however, did not cure her OF her pug
lacity, and in her next duel she was
Silled outright Her sister was a virago
If the same stamp; she complained Of
ler husbands infdelity and attacked
him with rapier, but she got the worst
4 1t, being wounded in the arm and
Journal
Tho Guest-'Say, there's a fiy in
his shortcake." The Pretty Waiter
iirl-"Poor thingl-Chicago Nexv.