The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-06-03
A TRICK IN FENCING
One Highly Distressing to an Ac-
compIished SWordsman.

COmpIlSneu SWOruSWdn.
TURNS A DUEL INTO A FARCE.
Used by Weak or Timid Opponent
It Renders His Adversary Practically
HeipIess-A Case Of Two Playing at
the Same Game.
A long and 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 a few years
ago in Paris, the particular home and
harvest field of the habitual duelist.
merits mention
peaceable looking gentleman was
walking down one OF the boulevards
| with lady on his arm when out Of a
cafe sprang a 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: II cannot, sir, accept your ex-
preston of regret as sufficient. Your
action may have been a 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 ring
ing blow on his ear. and the affair
ended with entire satisfaction on both
sides.
i 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 a half and final
~ under the wheel Of a cab for the
poor satisfaction of giving him slight
prod in the back. DIR. Clemenceau in
his famous duel with M. 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"
Catulle Mendes had a similar run
after Lugne Poe through the forest OF
st. German. 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 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
a to retreat 1t 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
yer's lesson in duplicate.
h 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
9 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.
~ 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 of line OF
), ten PAGES and placed them respective
q ly at its two termini, cooked his OWL
!. revolver and announced that he would
! give all the orders himself and In his
r 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 armsw Gar
9 ry armsr' shoulder arms" 'aTaks
n aim!'' They took careful aim ant
. waited almost breathlessly for Some
Il minutes for the command to fire. Il
never came. Instead came the orders
n present arms!' "Carry arms!' "Shoul