The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-07-16
An Admirable
x Crichton
forigtnal.I

]
Crichton means that he has many ac-
compliments in which his skill Is re
marketable. The original Crfchton spoke
twelve languages could dispute in Lat
In on any subject. was master of
fencing and all manner of sports, be-
sides being an excellent actor.
l once knew an Admirable Crichton.
He possessed a genius for everything
except money making. Els name was
Lawrence Dudley. AS the real erich
ton was in the service Of the Duke OF
| Afantua. a tutor to the dukes son, SO
Dudley. after taxing every honor in
the universities he attended, went south
and ttitored In the family OF a wealthy
planter named In Fourche. He taught
Marie La Fourche music and prepared
young Ben In Fourche for college
| This was in the autumn and winter of
1S6o-6I, ana the spirit of civil war was
red hot In the south. Dudley had SO
Fascinated many of the planter fnmt-
lies that the fact of his being a Yankee
| did not change their enthusiasm for
him. However, it finally came to
his ears that La Fourche had been adj
vised to send him north to save him
from rough treatment. Dudley asked
Ia Fourche II his presence in the house
hold was compromising.
..By no MEANS" replied the planter.
..Everybodr knows my loyalty to the
south. Moreover, If you leave, Ben
will not be ready for college, and am
anxious to have him enter next June"
Then you are quite willing that
should maintain my positionP
'Act your own pleasure"
The next day a printed circular was
received by each and every man in the
place whom Dudley knew. challenging
all corners to argue the question brew
ing between the states with knife, pis-
toll, small sword, cutlass, lance, Jave-
lin, halberd, any kind of weapon that
had ever been used by contentious
man. In any other part Of the world
such q circular would have excited
laughter. In the south, where the tour
ney OF old has often sprung up like a
flower from a root dormant for centu-
rfes, the case was different. The young
planters of high degree met informally
| for consultation rs to what should be
done. They decided to send polite
note to Dudley accepting the challenge,
the test to come or In tourney. The
| day was set, though Dudley averred
chat the meeting should be no gloved
affair and none but the necessary men
witnesses should be present.
The parties met in secluded spot
hedged in by trees. There were three
men present. each of whom had re-
ceIyed circular, as well as several
strangers who had got wind or the ar
| fair and come unlimited. The hrst
man pltted against Dudley was Stew
| nrt Anderson, who had studied defense
with foils in Paris and had fought sew
eral duels with the rapier. The two
men faced each other in shirt and trou-
sers and began to fence. Within
minute Anderson's sword went flying
over a tree. With true southern fire
ho called on Dudley to finish him. Dud-
lev nut his hand on his heart, bowed
low and said he would not deprive the
south of SO worthy gentleman.
The next affair was with pistols, and
Dudley ended It with quick fire, shoot
ing the knuckle on his opponent. This
was followed by an engagement with
cutIasses, Dudley's opponent having
been especially trained with this weap-
on while at sea. Dudley parrted the
mans thrusts for awhile and then gave
him a blow with the fat OF his cutlass
that stunned him.
This finished the contests SO far az
the regular entries were concerned, but
Ms the men were putting on their coats
the strangers stepped forward and de
r.anded G chance Mt the Yankee. They
were of a very different texture from
| the young planters, who had fought
honorabIy and abided by the result,
and evidently meant by hook OF by
crook to kill Dudley. The planters at
tempted to interfere, but Dudley OBJ
tectcd, Offering to give all corners q
| chance at his life.
The gang put forward desperate
whose skill with the bowie knife was
celebrated. There was a change in
dudley the moment he set eyes on the
man. There can be no fooling with
bowie knives, ana Dudley knew that he
must kill or be killed. The onlookers
gathered about, expecting to see des-
I perate struggle. They were dlsap-
pointed. The signal to begin was CIV
! en- by pistol shot Almost before the
shot ceased to reverberate Dudley's
knife was buried in his opponents
| heart.
There was IN awed silence for mo-
| ment. Then the strangers made rush
| for Dudley. The opponents he had
yanouIshed sought to protect him, but
before they could do SO he had killed
| two more of the gang, when the others
took to flight.
dudley invited his opponents to the
In Fourche plantation, where, stand
ing by sldeboard with a glass in his
hand, ha recited an improvised humor-
GUS account of the affair in verse.
How much longer Dudley maintained
| his position in the south never learn
| ed or whether he entered the Union
army. In the seventies visited Italy,
| and while chatting with a friend VINO
| lived there he remarked: