The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-19
FOREIGN DELUSI0NS
ABOUT AMERICANS
Odd Impressions Created by Yankee
Tourists In Europe.
AND NOT ALL TO OUR CREDIT
Curious DucIs Fought by United
states Citizens, and the Reputation
They Have Made for the Average
American on the Continent--A
Base bail Episode--The Pistol as
Peacemaker.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York sun .
There are countless misunderstand-
jngs and false traditions on the Euro
pean continent regarding the duelling
practices of Americans. one common
idea is that the one truly American
duel is fought by lot. The principals
are supposed to put a black ball and
n white ball i'm hat, shake them to-
rether. and then draw. The one get
ting the black ball browns or shoots
himself. and the other goes on his way
rejoicing. That is the American duel,
as il is known to the Swiss, German
and Austrian. and no amount of argu-
ment or denial will convince native
of one of these countries that ii is net.
Whenever two morbid students or love
sick rivals decide their quarrel in TINS
way the continental newspapers al
WAYS place over the report Of the trag-
cdy the stcreotyped caption: An
American Dtel."
AS TO rho addiction Of Americans t.
the ordinary pistol or sword duels OF
the old World. opinions varE good
deal among Continental people. Amer!-
cans abroad do so many wild and ran
tastic things, show their puEnacity IN
such unconventional ways, resent so
often the injuries they are not eX-
uected to resent. and leave unresented
so frequently the insults that are sup
posed to mean unavoidable bloodshed,
that they have produced chaotic
uncertainty in the European minc as
to American views of honor and dis
honor i'm the light Of the code. In
Vienna. for instance, the writer found
the students firmly convinced that an
American would not fight in any way
or under any circumstances. That was
because q fey years ago three Ameri-
cans allowed themselves to be hectOred
and bullicd by several Austrians,
whose animosity they had aroused,
without once backing an eye or send
ing a Challange. 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
students in the Austrian capital still
cherish the conviction that an Ameri-
can man is about the meanest-spirited
creature on the face of the earth.
THE LEIPSIC IDEA.
In LeinsC. on the other hand. Local
history has worked Just the other way
There the average German regards an
American as kind Of whit" Indian
who would rather go out ami pick q
row than eat or sleeD. The Leipsi9ei
is stepped in his belief that an Ameri'
can youth fights indifferentlv With his
feet. fists head, brass knuckles. cane
Shillelah, swords or pistols. Anythin!
that comes handy is supposed to be th'
American weapon: he isn't particular
about means, all he wants is trouble
That is not nice reputation for {
nationality. hut for personal comfort !
has its advantages for the United
States citizens who live under its pro
tecting shadow.
There is a variety uf concrete rea
sons for the Leipsic idea. one wa
given by a Southernor--l kentuckial
of a famous famly--UhO hurried of T.
the Rosenthal With an officer, VIII
treated him discourteously, went at j
with salTes, and disabled his antag
onist in seventy seconds. The meet
ing took place twelve wears ago bu
the memory of it is still green.
Then a musical RostOnan, whose am
bitions outstrippe1 his purse resente
an insult from = student i'm the sal
lery of the old Thoater about thre
years later He vas poorly dressed an
was in the top gallery. and consequent
ly was mistaken by the German for
person who might I've iOked With i'm
punity. The musician slapped the stu
dents face, knCcl.cd him down the mex
moment. anl the next dav sent him
challenge to light with nistuls. Th
German Objected to the American
naming the weapons, and, after III
proper amount Of siua billing to cleans
honCr's stain, the duel was declare
off.
4 YALE MANS NERVE.
A little later there was born in LeiI
sic the duelling story of the America
base ball pitcher. How it originate
whether in an ingenious Yankee brai
or in some semblance of fact, the mo-
persistent inquiry has failed to d.
Nelop. The story itself, however,