The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-11-06

~ all cities on the American con-
tinent none perhaps possesses the
elusive prose-pQetry OF romance
that attaches to New Orleans: It's early
history has all the charm Of q story of
Dumas. Love, adventure and intrigue
were In It's atmosphere from the hardy
pioneer days of BienviAe In the first
quarter of the 18th century to the
tyrannical rule of Silver Spoons. But
Ter in the reconstruction period follow
ing the Civil War. Anglo-S Saxon and
Latin fought there again renewals, of
the battles their fathers had waged
across the Atlantic. But: to. New Or
leans OF all cities in the new country
to which both France and Spain laid
claim. and which was successfully
ruled by both was transferred the no
blesse oblise courtliness and gal1antry
Of the Old World. It's society had the
blood and manners Of the ancient regi-
me Of Versailles and Valladolid Ara
mis- had his counterpart there, well
as D'Artagnan. And what more deeply
romantic story Is there in the whole
worlds history of faithful love than
that Of Manon Lescaut and her Laun-
celot-like Chevalier dos .Grieux-play-
things alike of youth, love and unsee-
Ing fate. Tradition long showed in the
environs Of the city the graves of the
pair over whom a Louisiantan Haw-
thorne might have written an earlier
scarlet Letter."
AS might nave been expected from
such a hot-headed and hot -blooded,
self-exlled. arrogantly impetuous arts
tocracy. the duello flourished in New
Orleans with all the exotic exuberance
Of transplanted custom, long. after it
was interdicted both in Europe and
the Carolinas and V1rginias. The duel
Ing oaks in old City Park became world
famous. They are pictured above as
they rose in all their luxuriantly foli-
aged grandeur in the time Of Cameo
Kirby" the Dustin Farnum play which
has given prosaic folks Of the present
year Of grace such tantalizing gIimpses
OF the old Creole %.tys baby days in
the Union. No wonder these stately
spreading oaks rise so richly with the
wealth Of warm red blood that seeped
through the bosoming earth to their
tiniest nursing roots. History has it
that one certain Sunday in 1899, no less
unprotected shade. And in the old
cemeteries. strictly en- reggie and &C
cording to the code, KILLED ON the
field Of honor" was too frequent to call
for comment.
The duelling spirit was more ram
pant then than is that OF stock gam
bling now. Men literally fought at
either the dropping Of q hat, or lady,s
handkerchief Every Imaginable :dif:
ference was settled under these sturdy
oaks-love. politics, etiquette. personal
affairs and national matters. The ia
vorite weapon, as in the story lived in
Cameo Kirby" was the pistol. Then
came the rapier and sword. And there
are instances on record where shot
guns and rifles were insisted upon. One
chronicle: gives this account of an at
faire: de'honneur between young Creole
and French cavalry officer.
1T was handsome sight, The adver-
saries. stripped to the waist, were mount
ed on spirited horses. They rode up,
nerved for the combat: the Frenchman.
heavy, somewhat unganly. but with mus
cles like whipcords and broad, hairy
chest which gave every evidence of
strength and endurance; the Creole, light
er In weight, admirably proportioned,
counterbalanced with youthful suppleness
his adversary's rigid strength. A clashing
Of steel and''-ornitting the detai1s-"the
Creole by rapid half circle, and by a
coup de pointe a 'droite,' plunged his
blade through the body of the French
Officer
AID there is yet another tale of duel
under those Druid wise oaks Of a quarrel
In a ballroom over a great belle and