The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-23
Facts About BrOOkS-Bur-
lingame Trouble.
Latter Was on Ground Ready
to Fight With Rifles.
The Southern Challenger Did Not
Appear Rupert OF Debate.

There is . popular but erroneous Inn
preston that the Brooks-Burlingame
trout which occurred some yesrs before
the war of the Rebellion, resulted In
duel. AZ q matter of fact there was no
meeting between the parties, but that was
not the fault of Burlingame, who was on
the ground ready to fight. The origin OF
the trouble was an assault made by Pres
ton Brooks of South Carolina on Charles
Summer, as the latter sat at his desk In
the senate chamber on May 2, 1856. Anson
Burlingsme of Msssac husetts denounced
Brooks in the House and as . result was
challenged by the latter. Burlingame
surprised his friends, and very much sur
prisd Brooks by promptly accepting the
chalIsnge. He named rifles as the weapons,
and Navy Island, just above Niagara Falls,
% tho place of meeting. Burlingame
went to the place at the appointed time,
bot his bold adversary did not put in an
appearance. Brooks found peace to his
chivalrous soul In objectipg to the site
chosen, because to reach Canada he must
pass through the Northern states, which
ne named "ths eDemy's country" The
AFFAIR fell through in that way.
The "Rupert of debate" about whom
one reads occasionally was Edward
Geoffrey, fourteenth earl of Derby. 1t
was when he was plain Mr.. Stanley and
the opponent of the great O'Connell that
Lord Lyttou In his poetic novel, "Tbe
New Iimon," so characterized him. The
original Prince Rupert (or Robert OF
Bavsrja) was tho third son of Frederick
". Elector Palestine and titular King OF
Bohemia. His mother was the Princess
Elizabeth, daughter Of James Il; he was
born In 1919. and becoming an exile
through the misfortunes Of his father, he
offered his services to his uncle, Charles
], and had the commfni of q corps of
cavalry, at the head OF which he distin-
gniahad- himself At the -bstsie of HdgeuifT
in 1912 and at Chalgravs Field in 1643.
He soon after took Bristol and obliged
the enemy to raise the sieges of Newark
and of York. He displayed his courage
at Marston Moor ana at Nsseby, but his
impetuosity and imprudence contributed
to the disastrous results of those engage
ments. He possessed many Of the quail
ties Of great leader ana exhibited fiery
courage, but lacked caution and discre-
tion, SO that he was sometimes ~ dan
sero ~ to his friends as to his foes.
The ancient city of Babylon was not,
10 some imagine, destroyed hys con-
qucror. Its destruction was gradual, ex-
tending over a long period of time, but
1t the end IL was complete. The city of
Babylon was taken by Cyrus, in the year
53s before Christ, ana this is the date OF
its decline. In Sis 1t revolted and was
retaken by Darius, who dismantled it's
Ii went to decay with
every succeeding year. In 33l Is. L. it
was taken by Alexander the Great, who
made it his capital and died there In 1923
b. q. His successor, Seleucus Nicsnor, !
built q new capital. seleucia, on the
Tieris, which soon eclipsed the ancient |
metropolis. 1t gradually became deserted, |
and went 90 completely to ruin that it's
exact outlines cannot be ascertained to- |
day.
The following amusing story comes from
Lansing, Mich. Although he is ordinarily |
. mild-tempered man, Representative |
Goodel, of Wayne county, in ut of righ-
teous indignation, yesterday introduced |
In the Legislature q bill which, he be- |
hsvss, will protect home industries against |
foreign invasion. The industry he hopes |
to protect 10 the American language and
the invader 10 the French tongue, coupled |
suriousiy enough with Indigestion.
Mr.. Goodel went to Chicago recently
and incautiously went into French res
taurant on South CLARK street. AS he (
looked over the bill OF fare hi, eye was
caught by the phrase, "Pommes de
tsrres," underneath which were grouped
Q number of subdivisions as follows:
"Frites, EAU Natursl, "Ssutes, "Au
Grstin," sen Robe de Chsmbre He
called the waiter and ssi5:
"waiter, / will begin with some frites.
Have them on half shell. Then bring a
bowl OF su naturel. For an ongtrsy I will |
take little sautes, with some an grstin
on the side. As the last dish will par
take of some en- robe de chambre."
wbereupon. in the order named, fried
potatoes, boiled potatoes. ssutes potatoes,
potatoes gu gratin and potatoes boiled
but unpselsd came before Representative
Goodei. In order In sustain his alleged
knowieogs Of French nr. Goooel ate
thsm ell. His DOCTORS bill was large.
Yesterday no introduced In the Legisla-
turs bill requiring that ell menus be
printed IN English.