New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22
TOPICS IN PARIS.
DWELLING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

Paris. July ~.
DueIlIng bids fair 10 go out Of fashion here;
not because the people have become alive to the
ridcule excited by the comparatively lnnocuous
termination OF the majority Of conflicts OF this
kind in France but merely because II Is daily
becoming more difficult to find any place where
ones differences may be settled without Interrupt
ton. Thus last Sunday. the VComte de Breteull
whose elder brother. the Marquis. is married to
Miss Career. Of New-York. spent the major por-
ton OF the day In driving all round Paris with
his adversary. NJ d'Ancona. their four seconds
and the surgeon in search Of a secluded nook
where they could exchange some sword-play
They began by visiting that happy hunting
ground Of duellists. the lie De la Grande Jatte
But they found that the police had heard OF
their Intentions and were on the spot to prevent
them from fighting. From there they went to
Passy and thence 10 St Germain; bur everywhere
they drove they confronted by the police.
Finally they reached place called Bezons. and
had Just drawn their swords and begun 10
fight when one shouted There's the
Mayor That august functionary
merely taking his Sunday post-prandial
stroll Notwithstanding that he had left
his trcolor sash at home he rushed between the
combatants and ordered them in the name Of the
as the vicomte had at that moment his arm
pierced by the rapier Of his adversary. suppose
Il is only I'm France that could witness such
a spectacle as this two gentlemen in their shirt
sleeves fencing with rapiers hgh-road sur
rounded by large crowd OF spectators composed
partly OF the Inhabitants Of the locality and
party Of excursonists men, women and children,
from Paris, out for Sunday afternoons holiday.
After taking their names the Mayor permitted
the duellists TO CO. and they returned 10 Paris
20 partake Of that festive repast which marks
the conclusion of nearly every French duel.
Mention Of this duel recalls the fact that young
NJ Eugene Schneider, the and heir Of the
great ironmaster Of Creusot. who has just become
engaged to the daughter Of the late Marquis de
Saint Sauveur, Is nephew OF that NJ. Asselin
who some time ago killed his adversary. NJ. de
Saint Victor In the duel that had originated in
some paltry quarrel. NJ. Assen whose con-
duct on that occasion condemned alike by the
tribunals ard public opinion as brutal In the
extreme was punished by a sentence Of four
months imprisonment and by being forced to
pay $4,000 damages 10 the widow Of his victim
This sentence has done more TO diminish the
taste for duelling than perhaps anything else
since a man has before him the certainty Of being
mulcted In heavy damages for his adverSary's
family n he IA unlucky enough inadvertently
to XIII him. N. Eugene Schneider IS a godson
Of the Empress Eugene and the son Of N. Henri
SchneiJer's first marriage. The first Nine.
Schneider died suddenly. and within a year after
her demise the widower led to the altar her equally
beautiful sister. The father OF VI. Henri Schnei-
Der was that weazen-faced old man who sue
ccedod the Duo de Morny as president Of the
Corps Lcgislatif. and who IS graphically por-
traved In Alfonso Daulet's novel. lie Nabob."
According 90 legend current in the country
around Grenoble. the ancient wal, surrounding
the park Of NJ CasImir Perier's superb Chateau
de Willie in that district built by the devil.
No one knows exactly how old this wall Is. but
II is generally believed to date back TO the time
OF the first proprietor Of While. the High Con-
stable de Lesdiguleres. The latter was very
anxious 10 protect his grounds from trespassers.
but lacked the money requisite to inciose II.
on learning this the Evil one visited him and
offered to build the wall providing Lesdigueres
would assign to him his soul after death. How
long will II take 70 build7" he inquired. "Oh.
only two or three minutes" replied the Prince Of
Darkness. you can't do IT," retorted Lesd
gueres; and the devil asserting once more
his power 10 do It within that time. the Con-
stable made the following propositions Il will
saddle my mare Bradamante and will mount her
AT this point. ] Will then put the spurs 10 her.
and at the same moment You shall begin 10
build the wall n can escape horseback
before the property Is entirely walled in. re-
tain the right to dispose Of my soul as see fl.
Otherwise. It belongs TO YOU" Satan consented
10 this and on the following day the trial was
made. Iesdiguieres got on his horse. and at
the game moment two gangs OF imps began 10
raise the stone wall that surrounds the property.
They were in such hurry. however. that when
.t,,g,, -
they found that they had carried one end past
the other leaving a space Of about yard In be-
tween They had Just begun to repair this error
when Lcsdiguieres dashed through the opening
thus left. not fast. however but that the tail
Of his horse got stuck IN the masonry. With
out hesItatng a moment the rider drew his
sword and cut the tail off. leaving IT sticking In
the wall and there according TO tradition. II re-
mains to-day. it's place being marked by queer
and uraccountable patch Of plaster In the other |
wise solid bit Of masonry that Joins the two
ends OF the wall Icsdguieres accordingly got his
wall and saved his soul. AT the expense. 1t IS true
Of Bradamante's caudal appendaSe
Apropos ~ NJ CaslmirPerier. II may be added
that he speaks German as huently and as free |
from accent as II 1t We're his native tongue. hav-
irg been educated from his earliest boyhood by /
remarkably clever Iianoverian tutor named I
Struve. The President. thanks 10 him. possesses
not only really remarkable knowledge OF Ger /
man literature, politics and economies, but is
better prepared than any other OF his country /
men 10 recognize the good and strong points OF /
the Tcuton race. This is known at Berlin. where |
his advent 10 office has been hailed with satisfac-
ton. Much speculation prevails as 10 whether |
the President will retain his commission as cap |
tain Of the territorial. or reserve OF the army.
AS such he remains for the present subject 10 the
trlers OF his own Minister OF War. and also 10 |
thos. 81 General Saussier. the military governor |
OF Paris. lie is likewise called upon TO don his |
uniform on stated occasions. and to perform |
twenty-eght days Of regular military service dur
Inc rho coursa ~ on IN year II Is REGARDED by