Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26

his left arm amputated at the elbow because 1t
had been almost severed in the fight, and that
modification had set in in a wound IN the
shoulder of the other. Burleigh remarked Sc
riously aside to me that modification had set III
with him. The spokesman, still refraining from
complaining because the article had caused
their arrest, refralnlng from complaining OF the
general ridicule of the story said they felt hurt
by the use of the word carve The spokes-
man talked English
You said the principals carved vigorously.
In this YOU put them, and indeed the rest OF us,
who are gentlemen and of delicate feelings IN
the category and light OF beasts. | have en-
countered the word in use in descriptions of the
serving of your national banquet bird, the tur-
KEY, and though you enjoy that fowl | cannot
find that you respect him. And it is the word
used in connection with that beast which the
Spaniards insisted typihed your national char
acter. the hog. Not that even by indirection
and innuendo would lnsinuate that the COM
parison is remotely justified. But if you, slrs,
would feel bad because had SO insinuated, you
can realize our chagrin at being spoken of by
term used for the culinary dissection of the hog.
Burleigh looked very unhappy. The Cubans
looked very unhappy. Suddenly Burleigh's
"Carvel Carve Why, it is a word used in
the highest flights of oratory. Carve! He
carved his way to freedom! High on the arch
of fame is carved the name etc He it was
who carved the palladium of the liberties of his
native land
Half dozen of them knew enough English
to catch what he was saying. His earnestness,
as he justified himself in this unpleasant Juno
ture, trying to convince himself as well as them,
convinced them. They went away Modified.
though not apologizing, and not assuring him
of their distinguished regard
81 might have had to fight duel, y said Bur
leigh later something utterly against my
principles but you could not make them be-
leve refusal was due to anything but coward
ice"
Forcing the Fight
TWO days later, two of Burleigh's visitors
called again. They exhibited piece of
sheet music, on the cover an execrable Gtho-
graph of impossible negroes, some with knives
and others pictured by the evil imagination of
the artist with raZZerS, surrounding baked
'possum. Carve dat Postum, was the title
In the song reference made not only to
carving this Wand, but to Johnsing carving
Johnsing with razzers.
The callers were dgnifed, gentle, unim-
passioned but they felt their self respect re-
quired duel. Burleigh the challenged
party, could name the weapons. They did not
suggest an apology, allowing him that recourse.
In fact, apology was tactiCally out of the
question. He had claimed that carve" did not
carry offensive associations. AS gentlemen,
they could not suggest that he, gentleman,
lying and so able to retract. With too
courteous consideration to insinuate that Bur
leigh was liar, they merely asked oppor-
receive some other of the anodynes that soothe
and comfort a Cuban gentleman's wounded
feelings
I'm in for it," said Burleigh, talking freely
as neither of the callers knew English I'm
no coward but l reprobate dueling, l don't
want my pen hand taken off and haven't one
hundred and twenty-five dollars for fine.
can't disgrace myself by running away. III
have to fight, and as l can't fence it will have
to be firearms"
So he said he would fight, and chose pistols
No, senior; it would be murder. My princi-
pal is a dead shot, perhaps the only Cuban who
is. Men of Spanish race poor marksmen
When cold steel the weapon, principal
weapon, Spain was the greatest nation in the
world; but, as firearms improved, Spain de-
clined. But my friend does not shut his eyes
when he fires, like the gunners of Cervera."
Broadswords be it, then"
The visitors named eight of the evening, two
weeks thence; place, an empty house in the
decaying town Of Guanabacoa, near Havana
In Charles Levers novels" said Burleigh
the Irish officer, unskied in fencing, who is
forced to fight the proficient French officer. al
ways whips him by making one quick swipe
that sends the Frenchman's sword flying. But
that is in a story. I'm goner If l can only
find some way to save my face in running
away"
Trying to Get Out of Ii