The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20
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OUR BAD MEN IN EUROPE.
Impressions Left by Pugnacious and
Meek Americana.
From the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
There are countless misunderstanding
and false traditions on the European con-
tinent regarding the duellng practices of
Americans. One common idea Is that the
truly American duel is fought by lot. The
principals are supposed to put black ball
and a white ball In a hat shake them to-
gether and then draw. The one getting
the black ball browns or shoots himself,
and the other goes on his way rejoicing.
That is the American duel as 1t Is
known to the Swiss German and Aus
TRAN, and no amount of argument or de-
NAL will convince native of one Of these
countries that is is not. Whenever two
morbid students or lovesick rivals decide
their quarrel in this way the continental
newspapers always place over the report
OF the tragedy the stereotyped caption:
An American Duel" AS to the addition
OF Americans to the ordinary pistol or
sword duels of the Old World, opinions
vary good deal among continental peo-
pie. Americans abroad do so many wild
and fantastic things, show their pugnacity
IN such unconventional ways, resent 80 Of
ten the injuries they are not expected to
resent, and leave unresented so frequently
the insults that are supposed to mean I'M
avoidable bloodshed that they have pro-
pean mind as to American views of honor
and dishonor in the light of the code In
Vienna, for instance, the writer found the
students firmly convinced that an Ameri-
can would not fight in any way or under
any circumstances That was because a
Few years ago three Americans allowed
themselves to be hectored and bullied by
several Austrians, whose animosity they
mad aroused, without once backing an
eye or sending challenge. When those
three Americans sneaked out of Vienna
to escape the necessity of defending them
selves, they did untold damage to the
American, reputation for courage; the stu
dents in the Austrian capital stin cherish
the conviction that an American man Is
about the meanest-spirited creature on the
face of the earth.
In Lelpsic, on the other hand. local his
tory has worked just the other way. There
the average German regards an American
as a kind of white Indian. who would
rather go out and pick a row than eat or
sleep. The Deipsiger is STEPPED in his be-
lief that an American youth fights indif-
ferently with his feet, fists, head, brass
knuckles, cane, shilleah, swords or pis-
tolls. Anything that comes handy is sup
posed to be the American weapon; he isn't
particular about means. all he wants is
trouble. That Is not a nice reputation for
a nationality, but for personal comfort
II has Its advantages for the United States
citizens who live under It's protecting
shadow.
There Is a variety of concrete reasons
for the Leipsic idea. One was given by
a southerner-a Kentuckian of a famous
family-who hurried off to the Rosenthal
with an officer, who treated him discour-
teously, went at 1t with sabers, and dis
abled his antagonist in seventy seconds.
The meeting took place twelve years ago,
but the memory of it is still green
tons outstripped his purse, resented an
Insult from student I'm the gallery of the
Old Theater about three years later. He
was poorly dressed and was in the top gal
lery, and consequently was mistaken by
the German for person who might be
joked with impunity. The musician slap
ped the students face, knocked him down
the next moment, and the next day sent
him a challenge to fight with pistols The
German objected to the Americans nam
ing the weapons, and after the proper
amount Of squabbling TO cleanse honor's
stain, the duel was declared of.
little later there was born in Leipslc
the duelling story Of the American base
ban pitcher. How Il originated, whether
in an ingenious Yankee brain or IN some
semblance Of fact, the most persistent in
quiry has failed 10 develop The story IL
self. however, Is worth telling A Yale
graduate of massive proportions appear
| Windscherdt He had some squabble with
a German student IN the Cafe Francois.
1t was about a newspaper that both wish
ed 10 read at once or something equally
trivial. Cards were exchanged.
The Yale man was challenged. He knew
nothing about weapons Of the ordinary
kind, but he had pitched in the Yale base
bah nine. So, TO set his fun out Of the
affair, he named base balls as the weap-
Ons-baso balls az ten PAGES were the
conditions, so tradition says. The German
had never heard OF base ball, and none
could be got In Leipsic 10 illustrate TO him
their deadly qualities. Eventually the Yalo
man said ordinary hardwood base balls.
three inches In diameter, would do him,
as these. too, were IN common use west OF
the Rockies for dueling purposes Both
principals accordingly were supplied with
hardwood base balls, and AZ o'clock IN
| the morning the procession moved out to
| the Rosenthal with surgeons. seconds and
| friendly advisers. The rest OF tho story h
brief and painful. though bloodless At
| the first exchange the Yale man sent an
| in-curve into tho natives jaw, Just TO the
/ left Of the mouth, and broke a. The ma
| lives second declared that honor had
been satisfied ana the procession moved
hack to the town for hreakfast-all except
| the victim Of the in-curve who was taken
/ 60 q private clinic TO be repaired.
| This may sound a trne improbable, but
not more so than the American duel stories
| that are put forth monthly. improbable or
| not. Il ia part Of the local history In which
| Americans figure az quarrelsome. bad men
/ who are best lee alone by civilized Euro
/ peans.
Finally the reputation Of Americans for