New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-25
PRINCE SLAIN IN DUEL
CHARGE Brought Against Kaiser
in ReiChStag DiSproved.

=, the ReIchstag the other day, during
.,a angry discussion on the subject of duel
49,. and the attacks on the Emperor IN
an,sction Herewith. Socialist Deputy
ada a remark to the effect that IF a
n-,rce were shot there would promptly
- an imperial order to stop duelling."
,rhIs conveys the impression that no prince
-, aver been killed in a duel. which Ia by
- means the case, as the following in
s.snce demonstrates.
ONE Of the counts OF the ancient house OF
u..del for so long connected with the
.,.oI family OF Hanover. on following the
.y,6 King OF that country to Vienna in
,sse had the misfortune to become involved
- The latter city. through no fault OF his
&, 2 duel with one OF his masters
,.vor1te nephews, a particularly quarrel
.o,s Young man. Prince Solms, and TO
.ro,nd him fatally in the encounter. AL
.,o,gh Count Wedel was in no way to
slan,e yet he was forced TO leave the en-
-i.,, ~ the King, all his previous devotion
Io,,g for nothing, and to expatriate HIM
.olf taking up his residence in this coun-
try.
Ru. the most pathetic feature Of the trag-
~ Vas the fact that the dead princes
-,o,ber was stone blind, like her half
hrotber. the King Of Hanover, and that she
"a. led by her other children to believe
,hot her son was travelling abroad, en-
cspad in some confidential mission, and
I.,,e-s purporting to have come from him
.,d IN have been written from various
rs-ts Of the world were ingeniously con-
coctsd and read aloud to her.
Inst as the poor old lady was begin
ming 10 get concerned by the prolonged alb
sence Of her favoritc boy, and when the
rious fraud seemed TO be on the point OF
s1nosu-e she died suddenly. after very
,bort illness. and so did not learn. until
sbA had passed into the Great Beyond
that her son had preceded her there.
same n1isapprehension seems TO exist in
,,s mind Of tho Socialist referred 10 as 10
the influence of the Kaiser on the subject
~ the duelIo Although he has not for
hidden private comhats altogether. he has
so bed-ed them about with restrictions
that during his reign the number OF such
affairs Of honor has been reduced from
considerably over 300 a year in the army
and navy 10 an average Of less than
dozen yearly. and these only take place
uhsr a court Of honor has found that a
reoonc'listion Of the difficulty Is Impossible
~ in their estimation insdvsahle.
IN England II is ii felony t. send q Chai-
,.-e. ~ fcht r duel or 10 leave the KING
d,r, for the purpose Of lighting one on
t,~eie- soil Three wears ago Spain passed
= Law prohibiting duels and rendering the
,rinc,rqIs and their seconds criminalJ &C
Courtaple. especially in tho case OF fatsI
duGs.
austria Hungary. Italy and Rumania
,,chih,t under heavy penalties the fisnting
n duel which has not previously received
tho sanction Of a court OF honor. Nhere
d.Allfrr cannot he suppressed altogether
,.,bars the next best thing Is 20 make such
.r.irs nerfectlv harmless as Is practically
.te case i'm France. where such meetings
f.-risb material for the comic papers ana
.re generally regarded as attempts 10 OBJ
,air free advertising. It must not he sup
rosed. however. that the French duelilsI Is
r-ore t,rnid than his Teuton prototype. The
difference IS that he risks his money as wei
8, HE life. for he who is unskilful or IN
f.-,rrste enough 10 kill the party Of 'h"
o,bs- mart" Is liable In heavy damages u
-he family Of the deceased or iiS'aH
IN the duel between NJ Asselin and NJ 30
81 Victor, when the latter was AhI''' ''S
widow instituted not criminal ont "lNu Pr.
ceAdinrs. and obtained verdict OF i'V'pV'
francs damages. Although French uueIl'S, :
-. ..-aci.11I- anxious 20 avoid homicide II
4. .rorouzl,Iy, understood that honor can
80. =. satisfied without the shedding OF an
,r,rec,abIe amount Of gore. To meet TINS
~.o,,ira,oert n has been humorously sai'
80 +bs attendant surgeons. who form an
...a-.a,+ ,ar- Of every hostile meeting
~. beer known TO carry small bottle OF
n1ood ~ nuid OF similar color in their
r,cka+s 70 augment the apparent serious
ices NJ snv scratch that did not penetrate
the skin deep enough TO produce respect
NpU