The daily Alaskan., 1909-05-14
A Bayou That Was Larger "A Than the Mississippi,

TCopyrirht. 1909. by American Press Asso-
 ciatiuul
 There is part of the present City Hall park in New Orleans which was formerly called the Oaks and was n famous dueling ground. Lying on the noted shell road to Lake Pontchartrain, not far from the city, yet deserted, 1t afforded convenient spot for the du' els so frequent among the crcolcs,
 Often when two rivals wished to conceal the cause of their quarrel they would invent reasons, usually absurd. For instance. one would declare that the others hair was red when 1t was raven black or that the sun rcvolycd around the earth instead of vice versa.
 It was during a winter somewhere about 1850 that Miss Caroline DicKlh- son. visiting her aunt, Mime. La Tour in New Orleans. took the place SOclal- lv by storm. Though beautiful, her character, set SD tO speak, m her charming manners. won the hearts or many of the young bIoodS or the Crescent City. Among them were GaSton LIIommcdicu. recently from Paris. and Eliot Whitford. whose ia- thcr had originally gone there rom Virginia. Neither could feel any conn dcncc in having secured the lady Ia- vor. but each was jealous of the other The truth was tha; Miss Dickinson preferred Mr. Whittord.
 One morning about o'clock Mime. Ia Tour entered her niCce's bedroom. They had been to some entertainment, had sat up late talking 1t over and had few minutes before parted for the night Miss Dickinson had begun to diSrobc.
 My dcar." said her aunt your un- clc has just come in from the club with some news which may interest you. NJ. LUommcdicu and M. Whit ford arc going to meet at 1 o'clock dawn-at the Oaks, and you are the cause of the meeting"
 The news does interest me- re- piled the girl, with diSmay. Suppose one of them should be killcdr'
 Ut would facilitate your making choice between thcm," replied her aunt.
 "Thry shall not fight on my Hc- count" replied Miss Dickinson. I'm going on to the ground to stop them"
 "Alonc:"
 "No. aunt: you are going with me-
 An hour later a calcchc driven by Mmc. La Tour. containing the two wo- men. was speeding along the shell road. The moon. which was thrcC-Quarters full. rendered the road less difficult to fellow at night. though. being white, it was distiuguiShablc at any time. Just as a faint streak appeared in the east the calcrhc entered the Oaks and pulled up near what had often been pointed out to Mmc. La Tour as the ducliug ground. Presently carriage rolled up to the historic spot. followed bv another. and by the early twilight two parties of men were seen confer ring as to the placing of the principals in the coming fight
 "Who's the man with the box under bis arm" asked Miss Dickinson.
 'Dr. Jules RubidouX. He is always called upon on such occasions"
 "Hcavcus, How horrible, What abomina5lp customs you have here! And the man with the bundle of Sticks-who is hCT
 "Thosc are not sticks; they are ra- piers. See. the principals are taking position"
 The two women alightcd and walked cautiously toward the dueliSts. The oaks still cast sufficient shadow to conceal their advance Suddenly as there was a clash of steel Miss Dick lnson. walking in advance of her aunt appeared on the scene. Both contest ants lowered the points of their ra- piers and stood looking at her with as- tonishmCnt,
 "Gcutlcmcn," she said, may ask the occasion of this meeting"
 There was no reply for time; then one of the seconds stepped forward and. lowing profoundly. said:
 M. L'Hommcdicu. mademoiselle, has asserted that the Seine Is larger than the Mississippi. This M. Whtford con sldcrcd an insult to our noble river and replied that the Bayou LafOurche iS larger than the Seine. ThereupOn NJ. L'IIommedieu in defense of la belle revicre of France challenged NJ. Whit ford"
 "I am astoniShcd" said Miss Dlckin- son. that two gentlemen should quar- rel about such an absurdity. Of course the Seine is not larger than the Mississippi"
 "Mademoiscllc," said L'Hommedicu, "I accept your decision. If you also decide that the Bayou Lafourche is larger than the Seine, I will apologize to NJ. Whitford"
 And if l decide that the Seine is larger than the bayou"
 That. mademoiSellc, should con- slider a great blessing"
 And this affair will cease?"