The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-06-09
A Trick IN FENCING
One Highly Distressing to an Ac-
compIished SWordsman.
TURNS A DUEL INTO a FARCE,

JOnNS n OUcl iNlU n fAkCk,
Used by Weak or Timid Opponent
It Renders His Adversary Practically
Heipiess--A Case Of Two PIavino ~
the Same Game.
A long and interesting chapter might
De written on the humors of duels
which never came off or which in some
way fell short Of deserving the name,
A 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 a
cafe sprang man. who dealt him a
violent kick. The victim turned, only
to meet the Mortified apologies of the
aggressor, 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 mistake, as
you say, but acquaintance of mine
may have witnessed it and will go
away and spread the news that have
submitted to an insult without aveng-
ing it. 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
skillful antagonist busy by fixing the
sword in one position, aimed straight
at his sword hand, and then not NOV
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 great outlay of energy and
wind to little purpose.
Comte de Dion once thus chased a
retreating adversary across plowed
fields for mile and half and final
~ under the wheel of a cab for the
poor satisfaction of giving him a slight
prod in the back. DR.. Clemenceau in
his famous duel with M Deschanel,
after a swift and wearisome pursuit.
halted, shouldered his rapier like a
walking stick and strolled back to his
original place, throwing the contempt
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. German, which be ended by fling
ing his own sword into the bushes,
with the angry exclamation. 81 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
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 a fenc-
ing master, as he knew nothing what
ever about handling Il sword. This
teacher gave him the usual advice
about keeping his adversary at arms
length with the poised and immovable
rapier. but strongly enjoined him not
to retreat 1t SO happened that the
landed proprietor being equally igno-
q Mt ind f~
instruction. The master, who was
somewhat of a wag. gave him the law
yer's lesson in duplicate
When the two men met and their
seconds had duly placed them 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
and that nothing further was necessa-
ry but to shake hands and be recon
ciled.
And this recalls the occasion when
Lieutenant Randolph Ridgely of our
army while in the Mexican war was
sought by two young officers who had
quarreled and each of whom wished
the lieutenant for his second. 1t was
finally arranged that he should act as
second for both. On the field, where
the adversaries were armed with shot
guns, Ridgely measured off a line of
ten PAGES and placed them respective
~ at its two ter1nini, cooked his own
revolver and announced that he would
give all the orders himself and in his
own way and that he would shoot
down whichever of his principals dis
obeyed him in the slightest particular.
Then came the orders, very DELHI
erately uttered: present armsv' Gar
~ armsr shoulder armsp' "Take
aim!' They took careful aim and
waited almost breathlessly for some
minutes for the command to fire. 1t
never came. Instead came the orders: