The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-02-24

Gus, but the expression is SO Identical
with accident, violence and personal
combat that it particularly attracts
individual interest.
The fact that one dies with his
..boots on'' implies unnatural causes,
and we are shocked because of the
uppermost desire in the heart of man
IN live. and the law of self-preserVa-
tion is so dominant, that we wonder
what strange forces are involved IN
the taking of human life.
The desperate alternative of homl-
eide has its palliatives, and the Sc
cretiyeness of suicide seems to sanctl-
fy the deed; for love and sympathy
is aroused for one so Indifferent to
the laws of existence, and in charity
we fear to impugn the motive.
These occurrences are daily, and
vii, continue to be so as long as hui
man passions prevail. But for that
order of custom known as the 'duel"
one can but feel indignation and disre-
garding all other stations shall only
write of those wherein a man hghts
to yindicate his honor, resort to
teach good manners and punish SLAM
der. and society has never determln-
cd that such law was indispensable,
or more honored in the breach than
observance.
Men are not always wrong who
ouarrel, and there are offenses 1or
which there can be no forgiveness;
bnt the alternative OF wiping out the
stain with human blood is, doubtless,
horrible. but such was the tyranny OF
custom that actually in the long ago
a code of laws for the regulation OF
personal encounter or arbltratIon'
xrore cononiIed. which were studied
and practiced as necessity. DueiiinS
was not modern eXpedient. The
ancient classics tell of many desper-
ate encounters in single combat, but
these were generally trials sinew and
muscle. and, though seemingly more
brutal. the natural forces brought III
totest seemed to paIliate and equal
ize conditions-so with the sword,
battle axe, spear and other instru-
ments of warfare. But the more
modern pistol, how much more quick
and undertaking in its fearful work
The Vendetta is said to be OF Nala-
rec origin, but it was the Knights OF
Tara in the Lex Pugnandi of thirty
six commandments, who made the life
OF a human being as nothing in the
settlement of personal difficulties,
arsinst which civil law is not entire
" adequate, for the most noble
hearted and strong minded, and
whose courage is above suspicion,
yield to this arbitrary rule of salts
faction, as vide the course and sacri-
flee of the great and gifted Hamilton.
So it has been, and may be again,
that society may be shocked and
startled by other duels?
Very early in life was familiarized
with the facts of several personal
encounters.
Florida was newly Americanized.
but its people were representatives OF
older localities, whence they had
come with new plans in life but bring,
ing with them old prejudices, pro and
con.
Commerce had little to do with
these pastures new in choice-bu1
the impetus was rush from crowds
or severe climate, or that ambition &c
''grow up'' politically with the coun
try.
These people denounced the bowie
knife of the rOughS as vulgar, the
rapier of the French as frivolous
but the pistol was advocated as the
best means of control to society, an(
the man that referred to the law fol-
protection was stamped as a poltroon
To demand satisfaction made a hero
to refuse, a coward. and this was ST