The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-27

ted and blamed. says Brsntomme, for
that he thus neglected the good fortune
which put his enemy al his mercy
In 1856 dueling was made punishable
by death. but this severity only gave to
the practice the sweetness Of forbidden
fruit Duels were fought on the slightest
pfetsxts. and often on none. In less than
twenty years SEQ pardOns had been
granted 10 gentlemen who had killed
their adversaries. Two duelists, crossing
the Seine for the purpose Of fighting, saw
others hunting about for boats in which
TO follow and prevent the combat They
fastened their boatmen. and scarce on
shore they cried out in chorus: Quick.
quick! They are coming 10 separate usF
After a few passes both fell dead De
Gensac persisted in fighting two men at
once and, Of course, was quickly slain
Two men got into a hogshead and there
hacked each other to pieces. Two others,
on a simple question Of precedence. clasped
their left hands and poinarded each other.
In the reign Of King Henry ". lived La
garde Nalon, who, by his exploits, had
awakened the envy Of another cut-thrOat
named Bazanez, who sent TO his rival
hat, threatening to come and take it and
the new wearer's life at the same time.
Lagarde wore the hat. and went about
seeking Bazanez. whom he did not know
by sight Finding one another at last,
the two braves went to work A ire
mendous blow fell on top of Bazanez's
head, but in vain The skull was so hard
the sword glanced Of The second blow
had no more effect There's for the
hat said Lagarde. and there for the
feather, and here for the hand
Bazanez was fast losing blood. but
was not done yet. He rushed on his man,
and by main force knocked him down.
Beg for your life he cried, as one
after another he dealt Lagarde fourteen
M -
no. cried Lagarde al each stroke. and by
a desperate effort he bit off half the
chin OF Bazanez and knocked in the back
of his head with the pommel of his
sword. Both survived, however, one to
die some years later in an ambuscade,
the other to become the terror of the
country into which he withdrew.
Il can give you hundreds of correspond
ing instances, showing the rage for
slaughter which obtains in dueling
country and age, but will mention the
case of only one more person, a woman
duelist, who acquired remarkable fame
as an expert with the sword. Her name
was La Maupin, and she was celebrated
as an opera singer. She had been lightly
spoken of by Dumesnil, a fellow-perform-
er, and her eccentricities of manner
really afforded wide scope for comment
Determined to have satisfaction without
waste of words, she dressed herself in
male apparel and waited for Dumesnil
as he left the theater. AS soon as he
appeared she touched him with her
sword and babe him draw. DumesnI,
who was not in a dueling humor, tried
to sheer off, when La Alaupin produced
a stick and laid it Justify abolt his Shout
ders, finishing by taking from him his
watch. and gold SNUFF box. Next day at
rehearsal the actor complained of having
been set upon by a band of robbers who
ill-treated and despoiled him of all his
valuable possessions, including a pocket
ful of gold.
You lie, shouted La Maupin. 1t was
my doing, alone and unaided. / thrashed
you because you hadn't the heart to ac-
cept my challenge, you coward. II you
want proof, look here at your watch and
snuff box. You had no money
"On another occasion she was at a ball
in male costume and managed to provoke
three gentlemen. They all went out to
fight and the actress killed the three, one
after the other.
Women sduelists were plentiful in
France as well as in Germany, Italy.
Spain and Portugal, and they did a thou
sand rash and foolhardy things which
were falsely named courageous acts.
Would we like to have the women of our
own country ambitious to excel in such
vile pursuit? The influence Of example is
widespread and potent and although we
say the manners of every age are made
by women, this is simply in compliment to
the sex. Public opinion is shaped by
public men; the laws of society are made
by men of social standing leading exam
pie everywhere is the output Of the mascu-
line head, and woman follows the pre-
vailing opinion, social law and leading
example in fun faith that they are right.
And in. every respect men should be as
peaceful, gentle and forgiving as women,
and as watchful of their acts"
The duel was Immediately declared off,
and, better than all, the threatening bel
ligerents have become reconciled.