The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-06-11
A TRICK IN FENCING
Ore Highly Distressing to an Ac.
compIished SWordsman.
TURNS A DUEL INTO A FARCE.
Used by . Weak or q Timid Opponent
II Renders His Adversary Practically
Hslplsss-A Case, Of Two Playing at
the Same Game.

1nS Same 0am0.
A long aud interesting chapter might
be written on the humors of duels
which never came OF or which in some
way fell short OF deserving the name
A case which occurred few years
ago in Paris. the particular home and
harvest field of the hnbituai duelist.
merits mention. u
A peaceable looking gentleman was
walking down one of the boulevards
with lady on his arm when out of q
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 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 admiral bile self
control: Il cannot. sir. accept your ex-
preston of regret as sufficient. Your
action may have been mistake. as
you say. but acquaintances Of mine
may have witnessed it and will go
away and spread the news that l have
submitted to an insult without aveng-
ing 1t. 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 a more
skiilful 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 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 a half and final-
~ under the wheel of a cab for the
poor satisfaction of giving him n slight
prod in the back. Dr. Clemenceau iu
his famous duel with NJ Deschanel.
after 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 V
Catulle Mendes had Il similar run
after Lugne Poe through the forest Of
st. Germain. which be ended by ding
ing his own sword into the bushes,
with the angry exclamation. Il am
willing to die from exhaustion by the
roadside. II need be. but not from run.
ming after poltroon.''
A yet funuier incident was that
which occurred in Toulouse. where a
lawyer Of some note ualned Cazeneuve
was called our by u landed proprietor
whom he had offended by Il speech in
court. He repaired at once to a fenc-
ever about handling a sword. This
teacher gave him the usual advice
about keeping his adversary at arms
length with the poised and immovable
rapier. bur strongly enjoined him not
to retreat. It SO happened that the
landed proprietor. being equally igno-
rant. applied to the same master for
instruction. The master. who was
somewhat of wag. gave him the law
yers lesson in duplicate.
When the two men met and their
seconds had duly placed them = long
and tedious stiffness ensued. For
more than i've minutes each foeman