New-York tribune., 1897-08-17

largely into the scene Care was taken TO rem
der the sword blades antseptlc before using
Them, Tho danger Of thr,IS, through the
yitals was 70 bc incurred without hcs,atioh
hut not the danger Of inoculaton with bacteria.
So the weaDons were not only measured. but
rendered chemically clean and disinfectihs
apparatus Is henceforth 10 be a part OF the
equipment OF every wcli-regulatcd duclling held
That is n fine tribute 10 Pastcur and Lister. b'''
II is also painfully suggestive OF opera bonhe.
Moreover, after each assault: the combatan's
were carefully examined by attending surgeons
and tbc cxten, of their wounds considered. When
n scratch was found TO penetrate merely to the
subcntaneous cellular tissue the seconds decided
that honor was no, satisfied. and the fight n's'
yo on Rut rs soon as one was inflicted which
went deeper than the subcutaneous cciiuiar
tissue honor was satisfied, and the fight had 10
STOP Just as physical beauty, then. Is proven
bjally declared 10 be only skin deep. 50 we
must henccforth reckon that honor extends only
os far as the s,ibcuaneous cellular tissue
Pierce THAI and honor is satisfied calumny Is
obllteratcd and the valor of n nation Is CON
frmed,
1t is a sorry business from beginning to end'
an impiOus trifing with the sacredness OF hu-
man life 10 meet the demands Of discredlted
ana WORKOUT code of absurdites 1t is not
however. unprecedented: certainly not in the
Horse of Bourbon. 1t Is still fresh in memory
that the Duke Of Montpenser fought a duel
with the Duke Of Seville and killed him. III
1.1S the Count of ArtOis and the Duke or bour-
bon had hostile meeting. but the moment their
swords crossed the latter withdrew, declaring
his honor TO have been satisfied by the mere
touch of the Counts blade upon his own. Inc
Duke of Nemours was killed by the Duke or
Beaufort In 1862 Henry ". while merely King
of Navarro. challenged the Duke OF Mayenne
but the duel was forbidden, and after he be-
came KIM of France he on several occasions
seryed as q second TO some friend in an AFFAIR
Of honor" Some princely challenges have been
declined. rs Otho III of Germany did that OF the
Count of Aniou. and Henry Of France that or
Henry III Of Germany. and Prince Napoleon
that of the Duke of Aumalc. Henry III of
France. while yet merely Duke OF Anjou' ac-
cepted the challenge of an untitled gentleman
whereupon the latter prudently backed our. Inc
great Conde did differently. He lnsulted the
Count Of Rieux and then not only reiuseu 10
give the latter satisfaction because he was OF
inferior rank. but sent him to the Bastile Tor
presumng to demand IT, On the othcr manu.
Condos grandson. a1ter lnsui'inS '"c '''
of Agout, fought duel with him ana go'
wounded, and then. admitting that he had bceh
at fault. became the friend of his adversary ana
secured for him promotion in the army. 30
there are all sorts Of precedents in the case eN
cepting perhaps. for the antiseptic treatment oi
the sword blades and the careful measurement
of the depth of the subcutaneous cellular tissue
But the gist Of the whole matter the question
whether or not the Italian Army Is cowaroIy
and dishonest, the question whether or not
Prince Henry slandered 1taly-these issues
which were of an Importance far transcendihg
the value of human life, what light does sun
days business throw upon them: Are they one
whit nearer an honorable and satisfactory dc-
termination? No: not for all the carDoIc acd
in Rome or all the su6cutaneous cellular tissue
in the House Of Bourbon.