Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-11-28
FAMOUS FOR DUELS.
A Quiet Spot Where Frenchmen
Settle Affairs of Honor.
The Island of La Grande Jatte and Its
Singular Restaurant-The Scene
of Battles Between
Women.

Several Frenchmen have recently
been doing the proud honor business.
They satisfied their outraged feelings
by brandishing rapiers and firing off
pistols at each other. The other day a
brace of noblemen had a set-to with
swords on the island of La Grande
Jatte, 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-
ton.
A few days ago, writes Paris cor
respondent, l, accompanied by friend,
went to a famous restaurant in the
island of La Grande Jatte, opposite
that take place near Paris are fought.
I 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 jovial individual
and has just turned his fifty years. He
welcomed us most genially, and ex-
claimed
"Oh! so a duel! Well, 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. NJ. 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 evil
IDENTIFY rich. The girls were naked to
the waist and wore full riding breeches.
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 reproachfully answered:
''Most absolute solitude reigns here
on those occasions. All the doors are
bolted and the walters are shut up in
the cafe. l 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. 1 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
comforta hlo nc 'f Won were at home.
THE ground I have just pointed out
to you would not do on a 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 a sale d'armes. TWAS there
that the Mores-Meyer duel was fought
M. Clemenceau, who is one of nv best
customers, will never fight anywhere
else. He was here few weeks ago to
settle an affair with a 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 bust
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.
l generally have two or three duels a
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 a query, this &C
commodating host continued:
mo, 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 a party of ladies and gentlemen
and fights his battles DER again'-in
words.
''The ground is inspected and every
thing is infinitely explained. The hero
is applauded by the men and admired
by the ladies, who give utterance to
suppressed shriels, and exclaim: so
you wounded him, mon cheri, did you?
Well, 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 subsidized.
he eXclair' ~ now gentlemen
lets have look at the culinary ar
rangements."
L