The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-09
DUELING IN FRANCE.
Every Frenchman, with But Few
Exceptions, Must Fight.
Paris Letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.

Paris Letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
There are nine ways of stopping
sword. The ninth is to stop it with the
body. 1t is the only bad way" In
France it is important to know how TO
stop a sword. Not everyone must fight
man past 90 may refuse. More may
not be challenged. A one-eyed man may
not be asked to fight at pistol duel. A
cripple may be challenged only on condi-
ton that he is able to 80 out. A debtor
may not ask his creditor to ftght-Or ii
would be too easy a way of settling &C
counts Ap unsuccessful litigant may not
challenge his successful adversary, and
a minor may not be challenged, though
he may challenge. These are exceptions.
Every other Frenchman, if he wishes to
keep clean his honor must be ready TO
fight duels.
In France the word duel" does not
figure in the code. Many attempts to
introduce il have been made, under the
Restoration, under the Second Empire and
under the present republic. All have
been without effect, the general senti-
ment of people and legislators not differ
ing essentially from the decision Of the
council of state of Napoleon /: There
are a multitude of offenses which the
law does not punish. Among these are
delicate that the injured party would
blush TO bring them into daylight and
demand public justice. In these circum-
stances il is impossible for q man to OBJ
tain his rights except by duel"
1t thus comes about that every French
man having a social position 10 uphold
about the handling of the duelling sword.
The army training has already made great
numbers expert, and the innumerable
SALES d Armes" scattered throughout
Paris and every city of France exist for
the purpose of keeping up ones pract ice
Sometimes these SALES d'Armes are fitted
up with the greatest magnificence and
comfort, even becoming real clubs diff
cult TO enter. The real clubs, among them
notably LUnion Artistique, have fenc-
ing halls surprising all imagination, par
Nyhp oil nd
beauty are invited to sit judges over skill
and strength. On those DAYS there are
great crowds. Two fencers make their
appearance, appropriately costumed. They
make their bows ito the assembly, allow
their masks to be put on them, salute and
stand on guard. There is a breathless
hush. Then quick as lightning the bright
blades flash and almost disapper, as in
haze, in the quick motion which the in
experienced eye can scarcely follow 1t
| Is quicker than boxing and yet gives a
sensation of greater tranquility and grace
In the Sale dArmes the security af-
torded by the button on the end of the foil
permits the tencer to seek for elegance
| grace and perfection in the execution of
the movements, The coups count only
| against the bust, convention which has
! for its object to render the game more
marrow, TO enforce precision, and to aug
ment the tineness of the combinations. on
/ the dueling ground there is change. All
| touches count, of necessity. And 1t is the
/ nrst touch that counts the highest This
1 gives the experienced duelist an adVant-
age over the inexperienced fencer.
Men who have practically no KNOWLEDGE
/ of the sword are permitted 10 q cceNt s,,, C
! duels IL they insist. In such a case thew
/ give up all other business pending the
/ hour or encounter, spending their whole
! time with maitre d'armes. The latter
will not teach such pupil the guard posi-
/ ton, but Will permit him to place himself
/ as he pleases-on condition always that
] his teet shall stand sufficiently far apart
+ the right before the left and in the diroc-
/ tion of his adversary. The second nosi-
I uon,' or simple guard is then taught to
! him, with a general idea of two or thref.
parades and the easiest and most brIItal
attacks which follow them. These TO-
gether with the practice of regaining the
/ guard, must be sufficient.
4 Many an experienced man has had the
/ GOODNESS and the good luck to get the bet
/ ter of a nervous antagonist, habituated
/ to fencing. in the first assault But many
more have had sWord-thrust through
! the leg or shoulder. For It is considered
4 indicate for an experienced fencer to
/ deliberately kill an adversary who ap-
pears 70 be obviously below his own
class. The experienced fencer is there
! fore in painful position. His own prac-
/ tiee has been in school of finesse, limi-
\ ted by conventional rules and habits IL
/ he simply seeks to give a clever flesh
wound, his interest may be aroused in
studying exactly how it shall be done
and TO such a degree that a chance rush
] and flourish on the part of his enemy
j quite outside of ordinary WAYS and Ia h
its. may surprise him and put him to such
a disadvantage that he has nothing left
/ but TO strike seriously in order thatNhe
may not be run through himself
1t may be imagined that all this gives
its influence to public intercourse in
I France. During years of residence in the
gay capital / have never seen a blow
given between gentlemen. The BULLYING
I and open insolence of the American ia r.
| room will be looked for in vain in French
cafes. And even street rowing, excent
among the workingmen OF the suburbs
Is almost unknown.