The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-09-25
Rise Of the
Duel.
CONDITIONS THAT
CALLED 1T INTO BEING.

Ih0t combat IN france which TOOL
place recently between two more ~
less eminent politicians AT Just abou
the time when most OF us thought
duelling had fallen into innocuou'
desuetude goes to show at any rate
how long a custom may survive any
use for Il. For the duel did have its
use, and like nearly all other customs
rose out OF the necessities OF the case
In a primitive society where there
was no government OF at least where
the government was so weak that II
was as good as none. the duel was a
logical and almost legal concession
made to superior strength. II was
an equitable form under the circum
stances OF settling a quarrel where
each OF the two persons involved IN
1t thought himself in the right. II
was moreover an advance over mere
act OF vengeance, requiring no cour-
age and giving the object OF IL neither
warning nor chance OF self-defense. II
was an advance again over more bru-
tai forms OF revenge, in that the con-
sequences OF the Q,Srrel fell upon
only those Immediately concerned In
II instead OF spreading until II caught
I'm it's meshes the offending and the
lnoffensive alike and involved whole
families.
Comparatively speaking, It was a
harmless manner OF settling Difficult.
ties Besides, since the duel imposed
terms OF combat equal for both sides
II may be pointed out that il showed
an awakening demand for fair play on
the part OF the community as a whole
and therefore goes to prove that
crude sort of public opinion was astir
Westermarck, the sociologist, shows
that many savage tribes settled feuds
arising among clans and families bI
duels between chosen champions. one
from each side. From ancient writer's
he CLEANS the fact that among Ro'
mans, Greeks and Teutons combats
likewise we're agreed upon TO take
place between definite number OF
warriors for the sake Of ending war.
The Germans, according to Tacitus.
were accustomed TO decide the for
tune OF battle by sending a captive
from the enemy and a hero of their
own army TO meet in duel. The de-
sire for peace in the speedlest and
least harmful way would seem TO have
given rise to the duel in all these
cases.
Among the pagan Norsemen, TO
speak of the duel between individuals
as such. any person who had sufH-
cient confidence In his skill and his
weapons could come into the posses
sion Of property by merely challeng'
ne the owner of the land either to
surrender or fight for IT, The com.
BAT was regulated by hard and fast
rules. The one challenged was given
he privilege OF stirling first. and he
who retreated or lost his weapon was
vanquished. while he WIN
vas wounded first or most seriously
vas compelled TO pay a certain sum
II money TO escape with his life.
other examples without end, varying !
My in detail. might be selected from
'ther peoples.
Again I'm Europe all through the |
fiddle Ages and even among savage |
ribes recourse TO duelling was had
n order TO discover the truth as an |
rdeal or a judgment OF God. guilt at
aching itself to the ORG wounded or |
llled. And this ordeal or trial by
aith. like all other forms OF the
uel, arose out OF the necessities OF
he case. In a society governed more
y superstition than by law, where
othing was attended with greater
ificulty than securing reliable wit
esses. where none out OF fear OF
engeance dared 10 testify against
he member OF another family or
roup. this appeal TO the Judgment
Z Cod came nc take the Mace Of