Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-03-16
THE COMIC DUEL IN FRANCE.
How Mark Twain Made G.'1 NJ One and
CamN to Grlal.


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 Clemen-
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 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 Il
kodak along, that his magnificent
form might be pictured posing with
pistol. There were kisses and tears
France palpitated; Europe was full of
hysteria. The world had woe in the
universal expression. Everybody said:
"At last there is to be duel to the
death! Alas. this is murder. The
shedding of blood is dreadful. These
combatants are terrors. There is
doom in the air." Clemenceau seems
to have had Il CLEAN of sense, and we
almost suspect him of spark of hui
NOR. He told the weeping and wall
ing boys that he had been to the
field of honor so often they might be
assured there was no danger. And
the sorrow of it is that it was so. Each
cOmbatant was allowed six shots.
When two had been discharged one
of the spectators rushed in and beg
ged the bloodthirsty principals to
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 there
were assurances extended that beth
were heroes, they dcsisted. The tes-
timony that they were brave was con-
elusive. Honor was white as snow
There was no stain Of blood. All the
journals We're full of heroism. The
world reels with the giddy load of
glory. The salvation OF France is Sc
cure. The duel willremind the popu-
lace of that in which Gambetta was q
principal. Shots were exchanged at
thirty yards and no one was harmed.
Mark Twain made this affair the sub
iect of one of his funniest essays. He
poured out moro wit and humOr than
usual, and he is famous for amusing
himself. Tho pen portrait he drew
of Gambetta was the most grotesque.
The horrors of French dueling wcro
set forth wonderfully. Some time
years-passed. Samuel l.. Clemens
was in Paris. Herbert Hit, sccre-
tary of legation, was showing the
literary celebrity the lions of
France, and in the elegant and polite
French he commands was presenting
the distinguished. Hit pronounced
Carnot Karrnott; and being asked
why he does it says, well, my
countrymen call him Karrnott, and
they know much better how to pro-
nouncc French than | do | shall |
call the French as my constituents |
call them. As Hit was taking Glenn
ems about they struck series of !
apartments and Swarthy |
and portly gentleman came forward !
and Mr.. Hit had the honor of pre-
senting the celebrated Mark Twain !
to the gifted and illustrious Gambet- |
TIA. Something there struck the rec /
objection of Mark, and he pulled Hit
saying, For 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 |
Gambetta. There is, | assure YOU. /
no name more familiar; none, none"
and still Mark pleaded to Robert, ;
For Gods sake let's go homc;n and |
Hit at last sympathizing with an
sorrow, turned away-and |
had an explanation. 1t has never
been determined whether Gambatta
meant anything by what he said
There are hopes that he did and fears |
that he did not, but Mark Twain is |
neither hopeful nor fearful in that ..
form,