The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-08
DUELINC in
BAD REPUTE
Reform Against the Practice
Starts in Europe.
NOW BEING DlSAPPROVED
Manning issFrowned Down by In
telligent Germans, Frcnchmen
and Men Of Other
NationaIities.

There are few customs with regard to
which theory and practice are more at
variance than that of duellng in CONT
mental countries. The average intelligent
German, Frenchman, Austrian or Italian
strongly disaproves OF the duel and re-
CARDS 1t as an anquated and undesira-
bic institution. and yet this same man
would, If challenged, undoubtedly fight.
and in certain circumstances would him
self challenge person who had insuted
him. 1t is not fair to accuse him Of
moral cowardIce or even OF Inconsistency.
Public opinion on this subject in contl-
mental countries Is such that a man who
refuses q challenge or fails to challenge
when the code Of honor would render
Euch course necessary will be socially
ostracized and in many cases VIII have
TO give UP any government position which
he may hald. The state OF affairs is not
81 bad to-day as 1t was fifty or even
twenty-five years ago. but number OF
dueis are fought every year all over the
continent. sometimes with fatal results.
1t Is curious fact that practice which
is so closely bound up with feudal tradl-
tons and medieval supersitions should
have survived at all in democratic and
largely free-thinking states like France
or italy. On the contrary. the insttu-
lions created by modern democracy-the
parliamentary system and the press-act-
uaIy fostered the growth OF dueling by
adding to the causes for which dnels are
fought, and. by breaking down social dis
tinctons. enabled larger number OF peo-
pie 10 indulge in them than under the old
regime
sNoB DUELIsTS.
Members Of the bourgeoise Ike to fight
huels out snobbery to prove themselves
the equals Of the nobility; another et aea a,
4 dueling Is the inadequate protection az
forded to personal honor by the laws OF
most oon'nnMntal countries bn mne mpss
heavy fines and even imprisonment may
circumstances It is not surprising ttnt
private individuals should on occasion
however clumsy and insufficient, Of OBJ
tanning redress, and that the anti-duelng
laws should remain almost dead letter.
Is now proceeding actually all over the
continent and an International associa,-
ton has, been formed with view to abol.
ishIng this medieval survival. The event
from which the crusade occurred was the
case OF the Marquis Tacoli. an Austrian
officer. who was expelled from the army
Some years ago for refusing on religious
grounds 10 challenge a brother officer By
whom. according, to military opinion. he
had been lnsulted. He also had to relin-
and was boycotted by Vennese society.
Another officer. Court Ledochowski was
similarly punished for having given ad-
vice which was deemed contrary to the
laws Of chivalry, But the TWO unfortunate
officers found an !, n m champion
an open letter to the Marquis Tacoli ex
pressing his detestation Of dueling and
proposing to form an association to do
noble ENEMY OF. THE CODE.
No more suitabIe leader for the cru
ya Ia himself an officer of distinction,
having fought on many a stricken field
In Spain and elsewhere: he Is a descend
Europe, one Of his ancestors being. ST:
Louis. of France. who was the first
monarch, to suppress the system Of &. or E..
are practical and sensible. He suggests
no heroic remedies and does not even
exact from the adherents Of the asso-
citation a pledge of total abstinence from
duelinS: had he done so many people
who are sincerely opposed to the prac-
tice would have been unable TO 5 oin1, T.
INK the duel. but wishes to promote
adequate legislation for Furnishing, Of
lenses against personal hoHor reiy1 he
the association TO arbitrate in cases where
honor is concerned and to protect persons
' branch societies have been formed in
France, Germany and Italy, and among
fns me aome Of the noblest names II
Europe, as we'll as .representatives Of all
b ba1 have risen from a, few hundred in
1900 to 5000 in January, 1893, It Is there:
however. that 1t is likely TO encounter
Inc flercest resistance. General Won
I, Austro- Hungarian war minister.
has Issued a circular list forbi,d1 la, Off,
GERS. whether on the active nss oi,t {oe
reserve. from Joining 1t; the ASSOCIATION
has taken up the challenge and refuted
the the minister's statements. 4 tug ,ofsw ar
between the opponents Of dnelling n ana rs
me- developments may be expected. X
the crusade wins the battle IN austria
amelling is doomed throughout the cohli-
nent.-Pall Mall Gazette,