Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-28
STORY OF A FRENCH DUEL
Nine. Cntullc Mendes Tells How Her
Husband Fought and Was
Seriously Hurt.

Copyright 1899 by Press Publishing Coz
PARIS May 27.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Specal Telegram mime. Catulle
Mcndes did not witness the duel between her
husband, the famous poet, and Vanor, the
dramatic critic, in which the former was
seriously wounded, so she told me at her
apartments in Rue Bosccadop today.
II was a witness of the quarref at the
theater OF Sarah Bernhard" she said be
tween Catulle and NJ. Vanor. 1t was a child
ish affair. During the performance Catulle,
great friend and admirer of Sarah, said to
Vanor enthusiastically. Is 1t not superb?'
Vanor replied, I think 1t ridiculous for a
fat man to be played by thin woman
"Catulle, who all his life has ardently
worshiped beauty and art, carried away by
Indignation at this sighting remark, re-
piled, L think you an imbecie for the sake
of antithesis to decry such splendid crea-
tion of art. There was great excitement
among the partisans for and against Sarah
and when leaving the theater Vanor gave
Catulle slight blow in the face. duel
then became unavoidable. am not fighter,
and exhausted myself trying to dissuade
Catulle, but vainly. He was stung to the
quick at the deliberate assault. A courageous
man could not and cannot tolerate such an
affront tamely and quietly, so l quietly re-
signed myself to the inevitable.
THE next morning without Catule's
knowledge l followed in a fiacre. Our good
friend, Fernand Desmouin. the artist, who
accompanied me, had told me the meeting
place. l was worn out with fatigue and
anxiety and suffered agones of suspense
and fright. / stopped the fiacre at Pont de
Jatte, close to Moulin Rouge, and stayed
there. l wished to go on the ground but
Fernand told me it would not stop the duel
and 1 might unhinge Catulle by placing him
at the mercy of Vanor who Is skilled
swordsman.
There | passed three-quarters Of an hour
Of awful horror, while Desmouins brought
me reports of how the fight was proceeding.
He tried to buoy me up and said finally
Catule had only been scratched, but min
ute later word came that he had tainted.
rushed to Moulin Rouge, where I saw my
Catulle lying pale and deathlike on a mat
tress. 1 thought him dead but he was
brought around, and my brave husbands
first remark to me was:
"'You here. dearest? You are too late.
You missed a beautiful scene and very
dramatic combat. Do not fear. l am not
much hurt. l did my best, 1t was no
make believe duel
Then he smiled. / carried him home
and since then he has been on the brink of
death, but the doctors now hold out hope.
| have passed through the sorrow and fear
of lifetime these last three or four days.
So saying Madame passed her hand wear
lily over her brow and sighed deeply Her
careworn, pale face told of the nervous
strain from two nights unrelaxed watching
at the bedside of her husband.
Catulle Mendes has been long known in
Paris as chief Of the decadent school OF
poets with no means and savory reputation
in that connection. But he fought pluckily
exposing himself frequently in the most
| foohardy manner to Vanor's sword. Vanor
| could have pinked him half a dozen times
and sought to end the encounter by dis
abling Catulle by a wound in The forearm
but the latter's impetuosity resulted in an
accidental wound in the stomach which al
one time seemed destined to prove fatal
| Sarah has been constant enquirer at the
Mendes apartment, but sympathy generally
| is with Vanor