The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-05-02
FAMOUS DUELlNG GROUND.

Picturesque Portion OF the New Orr
leans Park KNOWN m Tho Oaks.
One Of the most picturesque and
beautiful spots in New Orleans anu re-
pletc with historical incidents is the
Oaks. the Chenes ballard. as they
were called Of old. They are now a
part of the City park and a favorite
resort for the children Of the creole
quarters. dozens of swings being at
tached to the massive live oaks. which
shade several acres Of ground.
The land was formerly the plantation
Of Louis Allard, very learned French
man of early New Orleans. 1t was
bought by the great philanthropist,
John McDonough, and finally passed
into the hands OF the city and was
dedicated as park. Its most eventful
history was In advance Of Its park
days. when it was practically waste
land. Lying Us 1t did on the shell road
to Bayou st. John and Lake Pontchar-
train. within easy distance Of the city,
yet deserted and uninhabited. 1t afford
ed the very spot for the duels 30 fire.
quent among the fiery creoles and 10
less fiery Americans of New Orleans
in antebellum days. Here, under the
shade Of primeval forest of gigantic
oaks. either with pistol or rapier, more
especially che latter. the difficulties be-
tween gentlemen" were fought out
under the strictest rules Of the code Of
honor.
At these times New Orleans. nl-
though to large degree cosmopolitan,
was essentially creole city and bound
by the creole habits and ideas, and one
Of these ideas was that slight or af-
front could be wiped out only by blood
shed in duel. The result was to pro.
duce the greatest punctilio among men,
blow was strictly forbidden aud suf-
ficient to debar the striker from the
privileges Of the duello. A gentleman
who would so far forget himself as to
strike another was exposed to the ig-
nominy Of being refused q meeting on
the field of honor.
Most Of the duels had their origin In
the ballroom, where to brush rudely
against man was often deemed suffi-
Client cause for exchanging cards. Some
were political, some the result of
breaches Of pollteness or etiquette.
Chevalicr Tomasi fought duel with
native creole over the proposition that
there were larger rivers In Europe
than the Mississippi, each man being
willing to risk his life for his home
river. Several duels are reported from
mere excess Of spirit, because the night
was SO good for an assault d'armes. In
the winter Of 1878 the opera pro.
duced an epidemic Of duels. The two
prima donnas then In vogue had each
her army Of supporters, nnd to hiss his
fayorIte was supposed to justify any
creole In handing his card to the Of
fender and demand q meeting at the
Oaks.
Most Of these meetings were secret,
known only to the friends of the prin-
cipals. It was only when some one
was killed or seriously hurt-and not
always then-that the facts Of the duel
became known. The duello continued
In Louisiana as more or less custom
Of the country until about 20 years
ago. An occasional meeting is held
even today. but they are growing
scarcer. for the police now interfere
and arrest duellsts, whereas Of old
they Eert cut OF the way. The oaks
are among the finest In the United
States, some Of them shading nearly
an acre Of ground. and each oak has
q dozen traditions or stories Of the
duello attached to it, romantic and
blOody.-Leslle's Weekly.