The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
A DUEL IN THE SNOW.
The story That Is Back of Gerome's
Famous Pisture,
From the Westminster Gazette. -

From the Westminster Gazette.
Every one has seen the engraving of &c
tome's beautiful but sadly effective pic
ture, "a Duel in the Snow" Through the
mist of early morning one antagonist is
lying on his back on the sward, while his
adversary, leaning on a friends arm, is
slowly walking away from the scene of
the encounter. Both are wearing the
masquerading costume of a Pierrot. In
O thicket a carriage waits to drive off
with the successful opponent.
There is every reason to believe, from
recently disclosed information by NJ. AL
fred Darimon, that in portraying on can
vas that impressive episode. the artist was
not influenced by solely imaginative ca
price, but that he has reproduced a scene
in real life.
The facts are as follows: The duelists
We're Nj. Jules Brame, a former minister
of public instruction, under the Second
empire, and NJ. d. D., a Wel-known
journalist on the staff of one of the most
influential papers in the north of France.
When the duel occurred both were study
ing for the bar. One ShroVe Tuesday
they, in company with friends, had repair
ed to a restaurant on the Boulevard, with
a view of enjoying a good dinner, and aft
erward of going to the masquerade ball
at the opera. They all agreed 10 go as
Pierrots. AS they all wore masks, some
one suggested that they should adopt
some distinctive sign by which they could
recognize one another in the crowd. D.
D suggested that they should pin a
label bearing a number to their backs
. The idea was unanimously adopted and
d. D prepared the label accordingly
While so doing diabolical idea came into
his head. 1t was carnival time; why
should he not have his little joke? When
il was Jules Brames turn to have a ticket
pinned to his back, his friend d. D,
had written in large letters beneath the
number: Il am Jules Brame." One can
easily imagine what was the result No
sooner had Brame set foot in the main
passage to the premiere galerie than he
was followed by a lady wearing a mask
who, on his preparing to enter q private
box, cried out: 81 wish you success,
Jules Brame' Later on on re-enterng
the passage, he was surrounded by a
group of masqueraders, who with one
voice shouted out: "Good-day, my dear
Brame." That proved to him that he was
known to every one, although ne was puz-
zled to understand how it could be.
Passing in front of a box-opener the
girl burst out laughing. He inquired an
girly what she was laughing at. Why"
she replied, 81 am laughing a the funny
idea which led you to pin a label on your
back with your name on it," And, suiting
the action to the word she unpinned the
label and handed 1t to him.
Jules Brame considered that the Joke not
only in bad taste, but insulting. He
sought out his comrade, and, finding him
in the saloon. he reproached him angriy
i'm the hearing of the crowd insisting
that he should apologize openly then and
there. d. D, resenting his friends at
ttude toward him. declined to apologize,
a duel, therefore, in accordance with
French habits and customs, was inevita-
Bile. Seconds were at once chosen; short
swords were procured and in their Pier
rots costumes the antagonists started for
the Bots de Boulogne. Fortunately, the
duel did not end fatally, as seems to he
the case in Gerome'5 picture for, al
though Brame ran his sword right through
d. DIS body, no vital organ was touched
He recovered very quickly, and the two
nnfauOpiSts became fast friends again