Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-28
A TRICK IN FENCING.
Ono Highly Distressing to an Accom-
pIished Swordsman.

plishoo SWorosman.
long and interesting chapter
might be 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
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 1t was wholly mistake in iden-
tity. Instead of insisting upon an ex-
change of cards and the other custom
ary forms, the kicked man answered.
with much warmth, but admirable self
control: II cannot, sir, accept your.
expression Of regret as sufficient.
Your action may have been a mistake,
as you say, but acquaintances Of mine
may have witnessed 1t and will go
away and spread the news that I have
submitted to an insult without aveng-
ing it. I 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
Weak or timid fencers are sometimes
taught by their masters to keep a
more skillful antagonist busy by fixing
the sword in one position, aimed
straight at his sword hand. and then
not moving except to retreat when
pressed too hard. 1t is highly distress
ing 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 q
retreating adversary across plowed
fields for a mile and half and finally
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 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
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
lawyer Of some note named Cazeneuve
was called out by landed proprietor
whom he had offended by a 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
landed proprietor, being equally igno-
rant, applied to the same master for
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 line OF
ten PAGES and placed them respective
ly at its two termini, 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 delib.
erately uttered: Present arms!"
Garry arms!" shoulder arms!"
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: present arms!" Garry
armsw shoulder arms" Right
about face!" Front" Forward
march,"
They recognized his commands as
given in deadly earnest and knew that
It would be instantly fatal to rebel.
He kept them marching till they
reached his tent There he halted
them and bade them stand at parade
rest till they had listened to lecture
on the folly of dueling which fairly
made their ears ring. But he sea-
soned his dose of rebuke with few
words Of praise for the soldierly met
tie they had shown in facing each 9TH
er's gun without flinching, and the
two men became fast friends from
that hour.-New York Post