The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-30

my case. the encounter takes place in
Australia. where hands are more steady
ana aim surer, and duels consequently
less bloodless than they are ia France.
II is great mistake also 70 imagine
that casualties are the exception in Euro
pean meetings on the field Of honor On
the contrary they constitute the rule,
their average amounting 70 as high as 50
per cent, of the duels fought in Germany
Austria, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Holland
and Spain, while in France the average is
only about 40 per cent. There were 1000
duels fought during the year 1890, in
which 200 men were killed outright, 600
sustained dangerous wounds, which in
many cases resulted fatally, while no less
than $500 Of remaining cOmbatants re-
celved minor injuries. That is TO say,
out of 5000 principals in 1000 duels only
! 400 escaped without harm. The aver
age is nearly identical in other countries
above named, these figures being based on
official records. From this il will be
seen, except perhaps in France, the
chances of escaping scathless from a
duel are relatively very small.
Another disagreeable consideration of
the affair OF honor is the knowledge
that instead of getting hurt or killed
yourself, you may have the misfortune to
1nf1lct mortal wound upon your adver-
Sary, IN which case the tribunals of the
country will generally sentence you to a
term of several months Imprisonment
and to pay heavy damages to the rela-
ulves OF the dead man. Thus, in a re-
cent encounter in France between a NJ.
Asselin and NJ. de Saint Victor, which
resulted fatally to the latter, the sur
vivor was condemned to pay the widow
of M. de Saint Victor pecuniary damages
to the extent of $40, 600 and to four
months Imprisonment.
From this 1t may be seen that a man in
Europe has every inducement to abstain
from becoming involved as principal in a
duel, seeing that he exposes himself to
ridicule, if il results without loss of blood
to the danger of injury or death, If de-
feated, and to the likelihood of imprison-
ment and pecuniary damages if he is I'M
fortunate enough to kill or fatally wound
his adversary. 1t will therefore be read
lily understood that the majority of men
on the continent of Europe are careful to
order their conversation and their con-
duct so as to avoid giving the
slightest pretext for demand for satisfac-
zion. This may be regarded as one of the
redeeming points of an institution which
Americans and Englishmen, with some
right, consider relic of barbarism. Men
in Europe, especially in Germany and
Austria, are far more courteous and con
siderate in their manner to one another
than either here or in Great Britain If
OllC DtISOli IOSUleS duOGucI WITHOUT dlOIO-
giving he knows what to expect, and there
is no need there to consult social arbiters
as to what course to pursue in case ones
veracity and honor are impunged, or when
one has been subjected to the indignityo of
a blow
1t can not be denied that the duel as a
social institution constitutes a protection
TO women, inasmuch as 1t forms an induce
ment to man to maintain a discreet silence
where woman's fair name is concerned.
Here and in London, unfortunately there
is no such restraining influence at work to
guard the weaker sex from malevolent
gossip and, conscious of the fact that they
will never be called to account at the
muzzle of pistol or in a court of law for
any slanderous stories they may circulate
about feminine members of society. men
often allow their tongues to wag I'M
bridled, with the most distressing re-
suits. On the continent of Europe, how
ever, the knowledge that they are liable
to be held to strict reckoning for every
sneering smile or sneering remark, leads
men to exercise great discretion in their
discussion of womankind, to the advant-
age of the latter. Alive as l am to the
Objectionable features of the duel as a
social institution, l cannot help some
times regretting, for the sake of our
wives and sisters, that 1t should have
gone out of fashion in the United States
and England.