Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-06-23
A TRICK IN FENCING
One Highly Distressing to an Ac.
cOmpIiShed SwOrdSman.
TURNS A DUEL INTO A FARCE.

Used by a Weak or a Timid Opponent
It Renders His Adversary Practically
Helpiess--A Case of Two Playing at
the Same Game.
a long and interesting chapter might
he written on the humors of duels
which never came off or which in some
way fell short Of deserving the name
IA case which occurred a few years
ago in Paris, the particular home and
harvest field of the habitual duelist.
merits mention.
A peaceable looking gentleman was
walking down one Of the boulevards
with lady on his arm when out of
cafe sprang man. who dealt him a
violent kick. The victim turned. only
to meet the Mortified apologies OF the
saggressor. who begged to assure him
that it was wholly a mistake in iden-
tity. Instead Of insisting upon an ex.
change of cards and the other custom.
airy forms. the kicked man answered,
with much warmth. but admirable self
control: Il cannot, sir, accept your ex-
preston of regret as sufficient. Your
action may have been a mistake. as
YOU say, but acquaintances of mine
may have witnessed it and viii 60
away and spread the news that have
submitted to an insult without aveng-
ing it, l must therefore and instantly
slap your face with equal publicity
The other most becomingly assented.
the first sufferer administering a ring
ing blow on his ear, and the affair
ended with entire satisfaction on both
sides.
Weak or timid fencers are sometimes
taught by their masters to keep more
skiiful antagonist busy by fixing the
sword in one position, aimed straight
at his sword hand. and then not mov-
ing except to retreat when pressed too
hard. 1t is highly distressing to an
accomplished swordsman to have to
face a learner so instructed. for it
means a great outlay of energy and
wind to little purpose.
Comte de Dion once thus chased a |
retreating adversary across plowed
fields for a mile and half and final /
lly under the wheel Of a cab for the
poor satisfaction of giving him slight
prod in the back. Dr. Clemenceau in
his famous duel with NJ DeschaneI.
after a swift and wearisome pursuit.
halted shouldered his rapier like a
walking stick and strolled back to his
original place, throwing the contemp
tuous remark over his shoulder. "And
now, monsieur, | will await you here"
Catulle Mendes had a similar run
after Lugne Poe through the forest of
St Germain. which he ended by fling
ing his own sword into the bushes,
with the angry exclamation, Il am
willing to die from exhaustion by the
roadside, if need be. but not from run
ming after a poltroon."
A yet funnier incident was that
which occurred in Toulouse, where a
lawyer Of some note named Cazeneuve
was called out by landed proprietor
whom he had offended by speech in
court. He repaired at once to fenc-
ing master, as he knew nothing what
ever about handling a sword. This
teacher gave him the usual advice
about keeping his adversary at arms
length with the poised and immovabIe
rapier. but strongly enjoined him not
to retreat. II so happened that the
landed proprietor, being equally igno-
rant, applied to the same master for
The master, who was
somewhat Of wag. gave him the law
yer's lesson in duplicate.
When the two men met and their
seconds had duly placed them a long
and tedious stiffness ensued. For
more than five minutes each foeman
stood with his sword arm extended at
full length. waiting for the other to ,
advance. Then the seconds interven-
ed. claiming that both had proved ,
themselves men Of honor and courage
md that nothing further was necessa-
~ but TO shake hands and be recon-
,iled. ,
And this recalls the occasion when
Randolph Ridgely of our :
army while in the Mexican war was :
sought by two young officers who had 4
luarreled and each Of whom wished =
IC i4EAtCAAAl 4Ol LAO 6CSCasA ~ MAS ! I
inally arranged that he should act as ,
second for both. On the field, where ;,
he adversaries were armed with shot .
runs, Rdgely measured off a line of 4
en- PAGES and placed them respective a
Y at its two termini, cooked his own :,
evolver and announced that he would =,
i've all the orders himself and in his r.
wn way and that he would shoot :,
own whichever Of his principals dis +,
beyed him in the slightest particular. n
Then came the orders, very delib- T.
rately uttered: present armsw Gar q,
V armsr' shoulder arms~ ''Take
imv' They took careful aim and
7afted almost breathlessly for some
linutes for the command to fire. II +.
ever came. Instead came the orders: :.
armsr' "Carry armsp' "Shoul- :.
er armsr' Fright about face" ~
'FRONT.' Forward march,
They recognized his commands as r.
iven in deadly earnest and knew that
would be instantly fatal TO rebel IN
Ie kept them marching till they
cached his tent. There be halted
lem and bade them stand at parade bc
st till they had listened TO a lecture A,
! the folly of dueling which fairly