The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-05-05
a Bayou That Was Larger
a Than the Mississippi.


IcopyFIsss. 100. BY American Pres. A.se-
There Is n part Of the present City
Hall park in New Orleans which was
formerly called the Oaks and was a
famous duellas ground. Lying on the
noted sbell road to Lake Pontchartrain.
not far from the city. yet deserted. IT
Afforded convenient spot for the du-
els 20 frequent among the creoles.
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 Il was
raven black or that the sun reTolred
around the earth instead Of vice versa.
II wnS during . winter somewhere
abort 1880 that Mss Caroline DIckin-
son. visiting her aunt. Nine. La Tour.
in New Orleans. tool; the place social
ly By storm. Though S,autiful. her
character. set. 50 to speak. In Der
charming manners. won the hearts OF
many Of the young bloods OF the
Crescent City. Among them were
CASTOR L'Hommedieu. recently from
Parts. and Eliot whItford. whose IN
Their bad originally gone there from
Virginia. Neither could feel any conf
dence In having secured the lady's IA
vor. but each was jealous Of the other.
Tho truth was that Miss Dickinson
preferred Mr.. whItford.
One morning about , o'clock Nine.
La Tour entered her niece's bedroom.
They had been TO some entertainment.
had sat up late talking It over and had
few minutes before parted for the
night. Miss Dickinson had begun to
disrobe.
My dear" said her aunt. your IN.
Gle has just come in from the club
with some news which may interest
you. NJ. L'Hommedieu and N. Whit
ford are going to meet ut 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 killed.
TT would facilitate your making a
choice between them" replied her
aunt.
"They shall not eight on my ac-
count" replied Miss Dickinson. I'm
going on to the ground to stop them"
( "Al0ney'
mo. aunfsyorase going with me-"
An hour later a caleohe driven by
Mime. La Tour. containing tfssyo wo-
men, was speeding along the shelf SSpd-
The moon. which was three-quartetA
full. rendered the road less difficult to
follow at night. though. being white.
N was distinsuishable at any time.
Just asa faint streak appeared in the
east the ealeche entered the Oaks and
pulled up near what had often been
pointed out TO Nine. La Tour US the
duellnS ground. Presently carriage
rolled up to the historic spot. followed
BY another. and BY the early twilight
two parties OF men were seen confer.
ring as to the placing Of the principals
n the coming fight.
Who's the man with the box under
lis arm?' asked Miss Dickinson.
''D-. Jules eubidoux. BE Is always
called upon on such occasions"
Heavens. How horrible. What
aboralaablc customs You have here.
AID the nan with the bundle of
stickS-who is he:"
Those are not sticks: they are ra-
piers. See. the principals are taiIns
position"
The two women alIShted and walked
cautiously toward The duelists. The
oaks still east sufficient shadow to
conceal thcIr advance. Suddenly as
there WAS Il clash OF steel Miss Dick.
Jason. walking In advance OF Der aunt,
appeared on the scene Both contest.
ATS lowered the points OF their m.
piers and stood Iookin: Mt her with rs.
so2!shment.
Gentlemen" she said. may l ask
he occasion OF this meetlngT'
There was no reply for a time: then
one OF the seconds stepped forward
AID. bowling profoundly. said:
M. L.'HommeGieu. mademoiSelle. has
asserted that the Seine Is larger than
the Mississippi. This NJ. whlt:ord ron.
ssidered IN insult to our noble river
and replied that the Bayou I.atorrrhe
is larger than the Seine. Thereupon
NJ. L'HommedIeu In defense OF In belle
REVERE Of France challenged NJ. Whit
ford"
Il am astonished." said Miss DlckIu-
son. that two gentlemen should quar-
rel about such an absurdIty. OF
course the Seine is not larger than the
Mississippi"
''Mademoiselle." said L'Hommed!eu.
81 accept your decision. II you also
decide that the Bayou Lafourche Is
larger than the Seine. will apologize
to N. whitford."
"And II decide that the Seine Is
larger than the bayou"