The record-union., 1898-01-02
A Duel in the Snow

Every one has seen the engraving Of
Gerome's beautiful but sadly effective
picture, "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 wear
ing the masquerading costume of a
Pierrot. In a thicket a carriage waits
to drive off with the successful oppo-
nent
There is every reason to believe, from
recently disclosed information by NJ AL
fred Darimon, that in portraying on
canvas that impressive episode, the ar
tist was not Influenced by solely imagi-
native caprice, but that he has repro
duced scene in real life.
The facts are as follows: The duelists
were NJ. Jules Brame, a former Minis
ter of Public instruction, under the sec
ond Empire, and NJ. D. D.. a we'll
known journalist on the staff of one of
the most influential newspapers in the
north of France. When the duel occur
red, both were studying for the bar
One Shrove Tuesday they. ir company
with friends, had repaired to a reStau
rant on the boulevard. with a view of
enjoying good dinner, and afterward
of going to the masquerade ball at the
opera. They all agred to go as Pier
rots. AS they all wore masks, some one
suggested that they should adopt some
distinctive sign by which they could rec
ognize one another in the crowd. ID.
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 accord
rgly. While so doing a diabolical idea
came into his head. 1t was carnival
time; why should he not have his little
joke? When it was Jules Brame's turn
to have a ticket pinned to his back, his
friend d. D had written in large
letters beneath the number, II am Jules
Brame." One can easily imag gine what
was the result. No sooner had Brame
set foot in the main passage to the pre-
miere gallerie than he was followed by
a lady wearing mask, who, on his pre-
pairing to enter a private box, cried out,
Il wish you success. Jules Brame. ;"
Later on. on re-entering the passage. he
was surrounded by group of fnasquer-
aders. who with one voice shouted out,
Good d-day, my dear Brame,' That
proved to him that he was known to
every one, although he was puzzled 10
understand how it could be-
Passing in front of box-opener. the
girl burst out laughing. He inquired
argrily what she was laughing at.
Why" she replied, II am laughing at
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 it
to him.
Jules Brame considered the joke not
only in bad taste. but insulting He
sought out his comrade. and. finding
him in the saloon, he reproached him an
grily in the hearing of the crowd, insist
ing that he should apologize openly then
and there. d. D resenting his
friends attitude toward him. declined
to apologize; duel, therefore. in ac-
cordance with French habits and Gus
toms, was inevitable Seconds were at
once chosen. short swords were pro-
cured. and in their Pierrot's costumes
the antagonists started for the Bois de
Boulogne. Fortunately the duel did not
end fatally as seems to be the case in
Gerome's picture for, although Brame
ran his sword right through D. d. s
body. no vital organ was touched. lie
recovered very quickly, and the two an
tagonists became fast friends again
Westminster Gazette.