New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19

toward Prince Bismarck, received leave Of alb
sence from his post of German Minister Pleni-
potentiary at Copenhagen In order to undergo
the term Of Imprisonment in the fortress Of
Ehrenbreitstein to which he had been sentenced
for fighting the duel. He was liberated by de-
cree Of the Emperor after only FIVE days Of con-
1nement, during which time the German Gov
eminent paid for the cost Of his being repre-
scented at the Court OF Copenhagen by a Charge
d'Affares, 80 that he cannot even be held to have
suffered pecunlarily.
BOYS FORCED TO MURDER
At Funfkirchen. In Hungary. a few months ago
two young sub-eutenants Of Dragons. who had
Just received their commissions and who were
nothing but boys. were skylarking together In the
barrack yarde. They pretended to be boxing.
one touching the other on the cheek. the other
tapping his friend on tho shoulder. Unfortunately
two senior officers happened to be watching the
Innocent amusement from a window, and with
out delay brought to the notice Of the colonel
and to the court Of honor Of the regiment that
the two young fellows had struck one another.
1t was In vain that the two lads declared that
they had never dreamed Of insulting or Offend
Ing the susceptibiltits Of each other. that they
were old ana fast friends. and that they had
merely been Joking The court Of honor took
a MORE tragioal view Of the blows which they
had struck In mere fun. and under the penalty
Of FORGETTING their commissions they were CON-
PEELED to fight duel with sabres in the barrack
yard, the one receiving a serious cut on the
neck. while the other had his lung pierced sue
cumb!ng TO the wound a couple of days later
One could cite dozens more Of instances such
as these which have occurred during the last
few years in Austria. Germany. Russia and
Italy These two will possibly suffice to show
that the so-called courts Of honor proposed by
the Congress of Mobiles at Berlin not only
utterly useless preventive to duels. but are.
on the contrary, calculated to increase their fire.
quency, If that indeed Is possible.
1t is difficult to suggest any remedy for this
evil which the laws Of the land appear wholly
unable to check or to arrest There has been
scarcely a single monsr ch pontff Of former
days who has not Issued DEGREES prohibiting the
duelo. under the most severe penalties; but SO
strong has been the pressure Of public opin-
lon, so deep-rooted the custom. that all these
laws and DEGREES have remained to every in
tent and purpose dead letter. Even In Eng
land where the duello is ridiculed by the press
and condemned from platform and pulpit, and
where the articles Of war prescribe the penalty
Of being cashiered for every officer involved IN
a duel either as principal or as second the
man who declines challenge and who at
tempts to shield himself behind the army regu-
latlons Is compelled 10 leave the service
case in point is that OF Colonel the HON;
Frederick Wellesley, brother OF the late Earl
of Cowley and uncle Of the present peer or that
title. Colonel Wellesley. while acting as Charge
dAffaircs Of Great Britain at Vienna. because
involved In a dispute there with an Engllsh
brother officer Of the Guards. Captain Johh
Delacour. who resented TO such an extent ms
behavior ae well his remarks that he struck
him with his glove across the face and chal-
lengcd him to fight.
Wellesley however refused to accept the
challenge on the ground that by so doing he
would render himself liable to dismissal from
the servic, on Delacours return to London,
whittier he WAS followed by the coioneI. re-
called at the suggestion Of the Niennese Court
which did not relish the idea Of being com
PEELED to accord diplomatic honors TO man
who had thus shown the white feather. 'he
captain pasted up a big poster on the walls OF
ire Guards barracks In Hyde Park. stigmatizing
Colonel Wellesley as coward. The Ola DUKE
of Cambridge then generalissimo OF the l'ritish
Army riding by. saw II and asked wnat ~
meant He then sent for Colonel Wehesley
and asked him II 1t We're true tnat ne 'd ~
taken shelter behind the army regulations IN
a quarrel about an actress. Wellesley. o, COURSE
was obliged 10 acknowledge that he had
Then" said the Duke. you had better ieaVe
the army -. ,o,o,e,
"But what am 70 do If do leave the army :.
Turn dancing master and be damned 70 you.
renl,ed the bury old ommander-in-chcf. swing
ing on his heel and ordering ms aide-ueca'hp
in waiting to show the colonel the door.
few days later II was announced that
Colonel Wellesley had been "gracionsly per-
mittcd" 10 resign his commission In the army
end although ne did not turn dancing master.
vet he NAV be said to have followed the Dukes
Recommendation after a fashion by marrying
Kate Vaughan of the Gaicty Theatre. IN Lon
DON who is known 10 fame az the originator OF
the art Of srt-dancing. EX-ATTACHE.