The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-31


! tellane and Fernand de Ro lays, fought IL
the Pare des Princes in Paris on Sltnr-
day, March l6 in which the famous edi-
| tor of Figaro was wounded. recalls a
tragic duel which occurred at Nantes ia
! 1858, and is graphically described by
Maurice Mauris
Olivier Fontaine, lieutenant in a ligat
Infantry regiment stationed there, be-
| longed to an old Toulouse family. HIS
mother, to whom ne was devoted had
educated him in the most orthodox FASH
ion. He fulfilled his religious duties in
the regiment as regularly as though he
had been tied to her apron string The
bishop of Nantes, who in his youth had
been cavalry officer, used to say that
Lieut.. Fontaine would have made a bet
Ter bishop than himself. He was good
and amiable companion, 40 Wen as a 10y
al, active and dut full soldier He was
idolized by all his fellow officers except
ing one, Lieut.. Trouillefou VINO owed his
commission to the Revelation of 1913
Irouillefou was perfect type of vul-
garity and ignorance and a declared enc
my of all that was noble, delicate and
refined. He continually bcasted of
slight wound received in a fight at the
barbados. In his eyes there was no
glory beyond that gained in revolutionary
wars. Like most ignorant men, Trouble
,ou wanted to pass as Il learned man. His
historical blunders were without parallel
One day, while the gore of the French
army before the Revolution of 1889 were
being discussed By group of officers
seated at a table of a cafe, the name
Of Marshal Sake was mentioned.
What do you talk ahout?' interrupted
Trouillefou. Marshal Sake was not be-
fore the revolution" The officers looked
at each other in aston shment Don't
you know that he was killed at Maren-
go?"
True" Fontaine replied; but at Mar
engo the name of De SAKE was pro-
Gounced DesaiX.'
From that day Treuillefous hatred for
Fcntaine increased He never missed
occasion to insult the religious feelings
of his comrade. He called him a canting
priest a nun, and similar names. Fo1-
tame for time bore good-naturedly
these idiosyncrac;es but at last request
&c Trouillefou to stop them. Trouiief0I
complied with the request. and Fontaine,
forgetful of his unpleasant remarks,
treated him with cordially. Two months
later, several officers We're gathered
around a table in the same cafe One,
recently returned from a trip to SWitZer-
land. was speaking of Thorwaldsen's
monument to the martyrs OF the Swiss
Revolution of 1712.
THE poor Swiss!' exclaimed one OF
bad luck. Even in our revolutions they
generally received our frs blows
1T is true added Fontaine. 1T was
also against them that, in 1858, the Par
isians, under the Due de G1ise, con-
structed their first barr 'cades.''
Lieut.. Fontaine had hardly uttered the
word ''barricades" when Trouillefou, who
was smoking at the next table, and APP
parently perusing a newspaper, arose
from his seat and struck the speaker in
the face. There was great excitement
TTouiIlefOu was asked why he had struck
his comrade. With flushed face, blood
shot eyes, and foaming lips, he said:
He has spoken disrespectfully of bar
ricades, for the purpose of again insult
ing me. No one shall insult me without
a blow
Iontaine was as white as sheet He
trenbled. Two large tears stole down
his cheeks. He kept his eyes on Trouil-
letou, at his nonsensical remark he
wiped them, covered his head with his
military cap, hurled at Trouilefou the
words, You are an ass and a coward
and left the coffee house. Comrades Of
fered to accompany him, but he declined
their offer He walked straight to the
Chapel of the Virgin, fell upon his knees
and buried himself in prayer. There he
l remained two hours. When he left the
church he was as calm as though nothing
had happened Nearly all the officers Of
the regiment offered their services rs
seconds. He thanked them, but declared
that ne had sought advice from one
whose wisdom and love had. never &c
ceived MIN" and that he had irrevocably
determined not to challenge Trouilefou
The officers were aStounded. Some re-
marked that military honor required that
he should fight. He replied that Chris
tian honor forbade it; that Jesus had set
an example of forgiveness that no
Christian ought to disregard Warned by
others that lie would be suspected of
cowardice he answered that he believed
he could offer letter evidence of his cour-
age by obeying God than by yielding to
human prejudice. If the army and the
world misjudged his motives, he did not
care. for God read his heart.
Although esteemed ard loved by all
his comrades, Lieut.. FCntaine could not
convince them of the correctness of his
views His refusal to fight created sucn
a commotion in the regiment that the
colonel deemed it prodent to interfere.
He summoned the officer to his presence
rs it true he asked. that you have
been slapped in the face by Lieut.. Trout
! lefCu?''
Yes, colonel" he replied
Have YOU asked for satisfaction"
mo, colonel .
'.Yom must ask for it without further
q shah not, for three reasons was
| the reply.
! Because dueling is opposed to human
! law, to divine law, and to common
! sense"
Is that alp" the celonel inquired.
Yes. colonel.
We'll Monsieur Fontaine, if. before the
end Of the week YOU do not challenge
Trouillefuo 10 q duel ! will expel YOU
! from the regiment
Fontaine remarked that only soldiers
guilty OF some crime deserved expulsion
| The colonel rejOined that to stain the
uniform of regiment with cowardice
| was a crime and repeated his threat
! Fontaine left without finching in his
! determination.
loved the officer dearly. he entreated
him to fight. for the honor Of his regi-
ment. The lieutenant firmly replied:
Order me to give up my life in behalf
any noble cause. and will willingly en-
counter death. But ask me not to dis
obey the gospel"
Fontaine. however. could not resfet tho
/ treatment of his comrades ard subordin-
| ates: He rendered his resignation. The
| minister of war replied that it could not
+, be accepted under the circumstances TTc
could only be dismissed in disgrace That
again walked into Cafe Cambronne.
! where his comrades were assembled.
Gentlemen, said he you were wit
nesSes of the insult received from Lieut.
| Trou1llefou. ] irtended to forgive it. be-
! cause my religion teaches me to forgive
! You will have it otherwise and 7 obev
you God has witnessed the struggle
OF my heart, and will al!ot to each his
| snare OF responsibility for what may
! happen. You force me to fight 7 will
| fight make two conditions. First
mat al VINO were present at the out
rage ShaH witness the reparation: sec.
ond, that the latter he proportionate ia
the oHense 7 want duel to the death
with pistols. and only one of them load