Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-14
A Bayou That Was Larger
Than the Mississippi.

There 10 a part Of the present City
Hall park In New Orleans which wal
formerly called the Oaks and was q
famous dueIing ground. Lying on the
noted shell road to Lake Pontchartrain
not far from the city, yet deserted. II
afforded a convenient spot for the du
els 80 frequent among the creoIes.
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 revolved
around the earth instead Of vice versa.
| 1t was during a winter somewhere
| about 1850 that Miss Caroline Dickfn-
son, visiting her aunt, Mime. La Tour,
In New Orleans, took the place social
ly by storm. Though beautiful, her
character, set, so to speak, In her
charming manners, won the hearts OF
many of the young bloods of the
Crescent City. Among them were
CASTOR IHommedieu. recently from
Paris, and Eliot Whitford. whose IA
Their had 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.
The truth was that Miss Dickinson
preferred Mr.. Whitford.
One morning about 2 o'clock Mime.
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 I'M
Gle has just come in from the club
with some news which may interest
you. M. L'Hommedieu and M. Whit
ford are going to meet at 4 o'clock
dawn-at the Oaks. and you are the
cause of the meeting"
'The news does interest me-" re-
piled the girl, with dlsmay. Suppose
one of them should be kiIIed!'
ut would facilitate your making a
choice between them" replied her
aunt.
They shall not fight on my ac-
count" replied Miss Dickinson. "Pm
going on to the ground to stop them"
"AlOneY'
mo, aunt; you are going with me-"
An hour later caleche driven by
Nine. La Tour, containing the two wo-
men. was speeding along the she'll road.
The moon, which was three-quarters
full, rendered the road less difficult to
follow at night. though. being white.
It was distinguishable at any time.
Just as faint streak appeared in the
east the caleche entered the Oaks and
pulled up near what had often been
pointed out to Mime. La Tour as the
dueling ground. Presently a 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
In the coming fight.
WHO'S the man with the box under
his armY' asked Miss Dickinson.
"Dr. Jules Rubidoux. He il always
called upon on such occasions"
Heavens! How horrible! What
abominable customs you have here!
And the man with the bundle OF
sticks-who Is hep
Those are not sticks; they are ra.
piers. See. the principals are taking
position"
The two women aiighted 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.
inson. 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
constituent.
Gentlemen" she said, "may I ask
the occasion of this meetingf"
There was no reply for time; then
one OF the seconds stepped forward
and, bowling profoundly, said:
m. L'Hommedieu, mademoiselle. has
asserted that the Seine is larger than
the Mississippi. This NJ. whitford con. !
Eidered an insult to our noble river
and replied that the Bayou Lafourche
Is larger than the Seine. Thereupon
III. L'Hommedieu in defense OF Ia belle
REVERE OF France challenged NJ. Whit
ford"
Il am astonished." said Miss Dlckin- |
son. shat two gentlemen should quar- !
rel about such an absurdity. OF |
course the Seine Is not larger than the
Mississippi"
"Mademoiselle." said L'Hommedieu.
Il accept your decision. II you also
decide that the Bayou Lafourche Ia
larger than the Seine. win apoIogize
TO NJ. Whitford."
"And If | decide that the Seine Is
larger than the bayouT'
That, mademoiselle, I should con-
slider great blessing"
And this affair win eeaseY'
THAT Is for n. whitford to say.s
And how would you decide thatYs
asked the lady. turning to whitford.
How would | decide that9 Why. I
should then feel obliged to enforce my
opinion IN favor Of the bayou at the
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