Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-06-03
the COMO DUEL IN FRANCE.
Itow Mark Twain Made Fun Of One aud
Came TO GrleG

How Mark Twain Made Fun of One aud
Came TO Grief
The great duel that caused so much
emotion in France turned out to be
the most comic performance OF the
season, writes Murat Halstead. First.
the arrangements between Clemene
ceau and Deroulede were too murder
Gus. Honor did not demand and civ
ilization prohibited the bloody sacri-
flee. Still. each man was to have six
shots. Clemenceau is a journalist
The great dread of the journals other
than La Justice, was that the fight
ing editor, Clemenceau, would give
his paper scoop. Hence elaborate
arrangements. Each of the alleged
duelists parted quite frantically with
his dear friends. One distributed
locks OF hair, and took care to have u
kodak along, that his magnificent
form might be pictured posing with a
pistol. There were kisses and tears.
France palpitated; Europe was full of
hysteria. The world had woe in the
universal expression. Every body said:
''At last there is to be duel TO the
DEATH Alas, this is murderi The
shedding of blood is dreadful. These
combatants are terrors. There is
doom in the air. = Clemenceau seems
to have had q CLEAN Of sense, and we
almost suspect him Of a spark OF hui
NOR, He told the weeping and vail
ing boys that he had been to tho
field OF honor so often they might be
assured there was no danger And
the sorrow Of il Is that II was so. Each
combatant was allowed six shots.
When two had been discharged one
of the spectators rushed In and bog
gcd the bloodthirsty principals 20
desist. declaring and swearing that
honor was satisfied. But the en-
ragged gentlemen insisted upon an
other exchange Of shots. That was
also harmless, and then. as thore
were assurances extended that both
were heroes, they desisted. The tes-
timony that they were brave was CON
elusive. Honor was white as snow.
There was no stain Of blood. All the
journals were full Of heroism The
world reels with the giddy load OF
glory The salvation OF France Is So
cure. The duel will remind the popn-
lace Of that in which Gambetta was
principal Shots were exchanged AZ
thirty yards and no one was harmed.
Mark Twain made this affair the sub
ject OF one OF his funniest essays. He
poured out more wit and humOr than
usual, aud he is famous for amusing
himself The pen portrait no drew
OF Gambetta was the most grOtesquo.
The horrors OF French dueliug were
set forth wonderfully. Some time
years passed. SAMUEL /. Clemens
was in Paris Herbert Hit, secro-
tary Of legation, was showing the
literary celebrity the lions OF
France, aud in the elegant and polite
French he commands was presenting
the distinguished. Hit pronounced
CarnOt kurrnDtt; and being asked
why he does IL says. .WcI. my
countrymen call him Karrnott, and
they know much better how to pro-
nounce French than / do. | shall
call tho French as my constituents
AHAA h4AttAis ~ AAAbb WIS TAXING AtElue Z
ems about they struck a series ~
apartments and a swarthy
and portly gentleman came forward
and Mr.. Hit had the honor Of pre-
seuting the celebrated Mark Twain
to the gifted and illustrious Gambct.
To. Something there struck the rec
objection of Mark. and he pulled Hit
saying, "tOr Gods sake, let me get
out Of here But Hit could not
comprehend, and told the French
statesman how immortal Mark Twain
was in America. AHA, yes, said
There Is, assure you.
no name more familiar; none, none,
and still Mark pleaded to Robert,
''For Gods sake let's 90 homes" and
Hit at last sympathizing with an
unknown sorrow, turned away-and I
had an explanation. It has never /
been determined whether Gambetta
meant anything by what he said. /
There arc hopes that he did and fears /
that he did not, but Mark Twain Il
neither hopeful nor fearful Sin that
form.