The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-03-17
THE COMIC DUEL IN FRANCE.
How Mark Twain Made Fun Of One and
Came to Grief


How mark Twain Made Fun Of One ana
Came to Grief
The great duel that caused so mucn
emotion in France turned out to be
the most comic performance Of the
season, writes Mnrat Halstead. First,
the arrangements between Clemen-
ceau and Deroulede were too murder
GUS. Honor did not demand and civ
ilization prohibited the bloody sacri-
fee. Still, each man was to have six
shots. Clemenceau is Q 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 q
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:
cat 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 a CLEAN of sense, and we
almost suspect him of a 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 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 Sc
cure. The duel will remind the popu-
lace of that in which Gambetta was
principal. Shots were exchanged at
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, and he is famous for amusing
himself. The pen portrait he drew
of Gambetta was the most grotesque.
The horrors of French dueling were
set forth wonderfully. Some time
years-passed. Samuel L. Clemens
was in Paris. Herbert Hit, secre-
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-
nounce French than I do. l shall
call the French as my constituents
call them. As Hit was taking Glenn
ems about they struck q series of
magnificent 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-
ia. 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 home;" and
Hit at last sympathizing with an
unknown sorrow, turned away-and
had an explanation. It has never
been determined whether Gam BETA
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.