The Southern herald., 1898-02-25
A DUEL IN THE SNOW.
The story That Ia Back OF GerOme's
Famous Picture.


Everyone has seen the engraving Of
Gerome's beautiful but sadly effective
picture, "a Duel In the Snow" Through
the mist of early morning one antago-
mist is lying on his back on the sward,
while his adversary, leaning on
friends arm, is slowly walking from the
scene of the encounter. Both are wear
ing the masqueradlng costume OF Pier
rot. In a thicket a carriage waits to
drive of 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 imagina-
tive caprice, but that he has reproduced
a scene in real life.
The facts are as follows: The duel
lists were NJ. Jules Brame, a former
minister of public instruction, under
the second empire, and NJ. de D.,
well-known journalist on the staff OF
one OF the most influential newspapers
in the north of France. When the duel
occurred both were studying for the
bar. One Shrove Tuesday they, In com.
pany with friends, had repaired 10 a
restaurant on the boulevard, with a
view Of enjoying a good dinner, and
afterward of going to the masquerade
ball at the opera. They all agreed to go
as Plerrots. 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 label bearing a number to
their backs. The idea was unanimously
adopted, and D. D-prepared the label
accordingly. While SO doing diaboli-
cal idea came into his head. 1t was
carnival time; why should he lot have
his little joke? When it was Jules
Brame's turn to have ticket pinned to
his back, his friend D. D. had writ
ten in letters beneath the number: ~
am Jules Brame." One can easily
imagine what was the result. No soon
er had Brame set foot in the main pas
sage to the premiere gallerie than he was
followed by lady wearing Il mask,
who, on his preparing TO enter pri-
vate box, cried out: II wish you sue
cess, Jules Brame." Later on, on re-
entering the passage, he was surround
ed 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 everyone, al
though he was puzzled to understand
how it could be.
Passing in front of box opener, the
girl burst out laughing. He inquired,
angrily what she was laughing at,
"Why," she replied, 81 am laughing at
the funny idea which led you to pin
label on your back with your name on
it," And, suiting the action to the
word, she unpinned the label and hand
ed 1t 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
angrily in the hearing of the crowd, in
sisting that he should apologize openly
then and there. De D., resenting his
friends attitude toward him, declined
to apologize; a 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 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
De D-'s body, no vital organ was
touched. He recovered very quickly,
and the two antagonists became fast
friends again.-Westminster Gazette.