Arizona republican., 1893-11-29
FAMOUS FOR DUELS.
A Quiet Spot Where Frenchmen
 Settle Affairs of Honor.
The Island of La Grande latte and Its Singular Restaurant-The Scene of Battles Between
 Women.

been doing the proud honor business. They satisfied their outraged feelings by brandishing rapiers and firing of pistols at each other. The other day brace of noblemen had set-to with swords on the island of La Grande latte, and one of the furious lot got an ugly thrust. On the following day there were two encounters between journalists, during which pistols and swords were used with vicious inten- tion.
 A few days ago, writes Paris cor respondent, I, accompanied by friend, went to a famous restaurant in the island of La Grande latte, opposite Courbevoie, where most of the duels that take place near Paris are fought. was quick to take advantage of the walters surmise that the pair had come to arrange for tilt and in conse- quence the landlord was summoned. This proprietor is jovia1 individual and has just turned his fifty years. He welcomed us most genially, and ex- claimed:
 "Oh! so duel! We'll, there is the ground, behind the swings; twenty meters of splendid ground, quite smooth and hard. Beautiful trees and shrubs; plenty of shade; quite quiet and private, you see. Over there on the quay, bordering the narrow branch of the Seine, is where the carriages stop. M. Dehaynin and M. Jacques Lebaudy fought here only the other day. M. Lebaudy received three cen timeters of steel in the middle of the chest. Would you like more open ground? Here you have it.
 ''Last month there was an exciting affair on this very spot. A duel be- tween ladies, and smart ones, too, I can tell you. They were actresses. Love was the cause of the dispute and they fought like tigresses. Upon my word, you would have thought they were mad. The seconds were elderly gentlemen, both decorated and evi- dently rich The girls were naked to the waist and wore full riding brooches. One of them had her breast pierced three times before she would give in.
 Upon being asked if he witnessed these duels the urbane proprietor somewhat responsibility answered.:
 "Most absolute solitude reigns here on those occasions. All the doors are bolted and the walters are shut up in the cafe. I remain near at hand-be- hind one of the bushes, for example to give assistance if needed. My clients need bring nothing with them but their arms. supply everything, ex- cept the doctor and his instruments, of course. Two salad bowls full of car bolic acid and water to wash the wounds, bandages, lint, cottonwood in fact, all that is required for the first dressing. In word, you are just as comfortable as # you were at home.
 "The ground I have Just pointed out to you would not do on rainy day. In bad weather these affairs are settled in the ballroom, which has beautiful smooth, even foo ring, as you will see. Just like salle darmes. Itwas there that the Mores-Meyer duel was fought. M. Clemenceau, who is one of my best customers, will never fight anywhere else. He was here a few weeks ago to settle an affair with deputy, but the commissary of police arrived upon the scene. In such an eventuality, every thing is prepared. As the commissary entered by one door, my customers went out by another, and did the busi ness in Rothschild's park, where M. Clemenceau had all the time he re- quired to put two or three inches of steel into his adversary's ribs. When M. Clemenceau is not here, others are. I generally have two or three duels week.
 'As for the fee?-oh, mere nothing! "a couple of louis, service complete. If it were not for the refreshments, it would not repay one the trouble. When the affair does not terminate badly, the gentlemen often lunch here"
 Then, in answer to query, this ac- commodating host continued:
 "No, it is not now customary for the duelists to shake hands and lunch to- gether when the encounter is over
 ''One of the principals lunches with his two seconds and his doctor in one arbor, and the other with his friends in another, fifty meters apart. But the dejeuner that is the most curious and profitable is that which is given a day or two afterward. A duel natur- ally makes lions of the principals, who are talked about by their friends, and when it has not had an unhappy issue, one or other of them, sometimes both, but at different times, returns here with party of ladies and gentlemen and fights his battles OCT again'-in words.
 'The ground is inspected and every thing is minutely explained. The hero is applauded by the men and admired by the ladies, who give utterance to suppressed shrieks, and exclaim: 50 you wounded him, mon cheri, did you? We'll, it was very chic, anyhow Then they cuddle and kiss him, and you can easily imagine what set-out there is after that" Thereupon the landlord burst out into fit of laughter. When his hilarity had somewhat subsided, he exclaimed: And now, gentlemen, lets have a look at the culinary ar engagements"
 And the monarch of the swell king dom led the way from the garden into