The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-01

a smile Scarcely an opera night passes
/ that cards are not exchanged. and many
brides have been won 8t the point of me
sword one young society man laying lo"
as many as seven 90 his rivals NO at
tempt Is made 20 keep a duel secret on
the contrary. 30 g. usually attended oy al
the friends Of the comhatants.
one Of the most famous characters ln
cuba Is Augustin Cervantcs aptly called
the Modern Cyano" and in appearance
he s. the typical chevaher Of fiction. Ger
ynutes b about 81 years OLD. slim and
graceful. he has "a hand ~ iron nnd %
wrist Of steel dark hair, restless black
eyes ana a small mustachc. il Is stated
that ne g. utterly impcrvioua 60 emotion.
and has never been seen Go smile. id-
NOR went lu circulation not mauy years
ago that n young Cuban beauty and heir
ers had committed suicide because she
had become infatuated with Ccrvantcs and
failed % gain hes love- but he is rarely
seen "a social functions. prefcrring thc
gaming tables and the demi-monde TO a
tanner. IL more respectable. existence.
Don Aueusun has tnifty-uVc ducls 20
his credit nud has been wounded "ny
twice when PINT. the celebrated Frencn
foncer. was in Havana. ne was defeated
twice By Ccrvaufcs. whom be- declared 90
De more expert with the rapier than any
other man against whom be- had tiled mis-
skill
Cervartcs principal pastimc is looking
for trouble. aud b is usually very success
FOL in this line. No one ever knows az
what be viii take offcnse This makes MIN
a dangerous companion. and consequently
he has few intimates. To diner from him
La opinion means . meeting behind the
Qualifications OF Cabauas. To accidentally
iostre him ln n crowd b likely TO termi-
nate the awkward unfortunlte's existe-
nee. Although he openly declares his dis
belief in woman's virtues hc T. ever ready
60 defend % when questioned by another.
and the faircr sex can safely place the
righting Of their wrongs In his efficient
hands
one story that ls told Of him y that one
night. when escortiuE a fair dnnseuse from
the stage door Of the thenter 60 her car
rage. a Spanish officer standing near
made some remark about the lady's
personal charms Accustomed 20 such mo-
ticc. the dancer paid no attention 20 the
speaker Cervantcs put his companion Ia
her carriage. chattcd a moment az the
door. and then returned 20 where the
spaniard was talking with his friend and
without a word handed him his card.
But an actress" demonstrated the chal-
isHEsd man. enjoys being complimented.
I had no intention OF irsuiting her"
suit OF compliment has nothing 10 do with
a. The lady was with me"
Compelled to Fight.
To refuse the challenge would have been
snoered az by all a. an act Of cowardice.
Tho two repaired instantly TO conven-
tent place after procuring the weapons
At the nearest club. and Cervantes ran
the spaniard through the body. told the
dead mans friends to dispose Of him as
they Ikei and spent the remainder a.
the night NJ a supper party The ahair
was published By an the newspapers the
following day. but no further steps were
taken ln the matter
II ia hard 70 conjecture what this mod
ern hero Of romance or this lawhreaker.
whichever YOU choose. vii. DO with Cuha
under TIE laws Of the United States, but
probably when bis favuriie occupation
IS some ne viii either seek new fields in
which 10 rNerc se his rrcWcss or feke
himself ont 81 this uninteresting life in
some peculiar and pictur sque way, which
will efftctually and characterisucally
close his career. There Is practical and
material side To Ceramics career lie
has written a book on his duels The first
part was published six or seven years
ago and the second rart. containing an
account Of the ia Is fought by him since
1884 is about to appear with valor and
skin Ccrvantcs combines GOODNESS and
ser, nifty. which makes him a formidable
opponent.
Alread} Con. T. coke has called upon
the courts q more strictly enforce the
law. which was much too lenient under
Spanish dominion. even when one OF The
contestants was killtd Lawyers are
among the chief Offenders In Havana.
Instead Of Appealing TO the courts. an
appeal 10 arms Is frequently made and
even the president OF the supreme court.
senior Gonzales de Mendoza. a man Of
dispassiouatc temper ana cirenmspect
conduct Is "a du.ilst OF some reuowu