The Red Cloud chief., 1913-07-24


czar, who sent for Kumron, and
IL |VA Il demanded to know why the sur
H. -A...)J geon had rcsortcd to the courts
instead of to the duel. The cul-
prtt explained that he had religious scruples
against dueling
Religion" the autocrat retorted "is thing:
honor Is another" And he commanded the sur
geons resignation
In the German Reichstag a Socialist recently
attacked William for the imperial sanction given
20 dueling. lie concluded a fierce denunciaton
with the assertion that were the royal exemption
from the code removed so that the crown prince
might become principal In an affair Of honor,
tho kaiser would instantly put the ban on such
personal combats.
II is probable that the allegation Of the Social
ist without any warrant, and that. did honor
permit the kaiser would send his heir to the
field without whimper. But this charge, as
we'll MS the czars pronouncemont. calls attention
anew TO the fact that dueling Is still encouraged
by the highest civilization on the continent OF
Europe, though for generations the divinity that
doth hedge about n king has commanded that
the Immediate family Of royalty. as well as the
sovereign himself must not be exposed to such
peril Of bullet blade. Aforetime II was not
%. Many kings became famous for prowess in
personal encounters with the foe, and more than
once duel has served to determine sovereignty
There has been nothing Of the sort. however. in
recent history. although only skilled diplomacy
avoided encounter between George III. Of Eng
And and Frederick Of Prussia.
King Georges Duel.
These two peppery and opnonated monarchs
had q long list OF grievances between them. At
the time Of crisis. the chief quarrels between
them we're over marriages and Mecklenburg.
Finally they agreed to settle their disputes by O
personal combat according to the code.
King George chose, as his second. Brigadier.
General Sutton. while Colonel Dershem was to
Hanover. The Prussan monarch was at Saltz.
dahl which Ia near Brunswick. Arrangements
for the duel were formally completed, and Hide
Gheim. account Of It's convenient location, was
selected for the place Of meeting. Naturally
those In tho confidence Of the two sovereigns
were In state OF frightened suspense. and every
effort was made to prevent the fight. These fail
Cd however. until the Prussian minister to the
court Of st. James by ruse secured n slight de-
ny The interval suflced to remove the causes
of bitterest contention. and the monarchs grew
calm enough to hear reason.
Under all the circumstances, that would have
been the most curious of duels had II been
brought to pass. The outcome might have been
either farcica or tragical.
For the matter Of that, there have been actual
meetings apenty Of either kind the ludicrous or
'the ghastly.
A Combat In the rree.Tops.
Perhaps the absurdest duel was fought in the
eighteenth century. The Marquis Merle de
Bainte Marie was an indefatigable duelist. An
other gentleman almost equally busy ON the field
vas Monsieur Pierrot d'Isaac Now. perrot in
French Is sparrow and merle is blackbird. Out
Of these seemingly innocent facts came combat.
tor dlsaac. on a visit to the nobleman. delivered
himself In this wise:
Il am Bonapartist. monsieur le marquis: you
ar0 Royalist ! am the sparrow: you are the
blackbird. Isn't there ono bird too many?"
NM rOuio toA
statement Of the situation.
Precisely!" he agreed. my choice ia pistols"
And he added. "As Is appropriate for birds of
cur Species let US fght in the trees"
This whimsical suggestion was carried out
The seconds had their places on the ground, but
no principals we're aloft in the branches Of trees
that stood the requisite distance apart. The in.
odEator Of the duel was the victim for at tho
Asst hro dIsaac received a bullet in the leg.
which sent him crashing through the branches.
He managed to seize one OF the lower limbs and
from there was helped down by his seconds,
But the marquis failed to be discreet in tho
t10o II victory. Seeing his adversary laid low,
- began twittering joyously. initiating the song
q blaokbird. D'Isaac only waited for his leg
% heal before issuing q challenge on account of
sAe offensive chrping. and In this second en-.
ooanter which lacked any bizarre feature. except
NJ cause tho Marquis de Sainte-Marie was &C.
veroly wounded.
duel more amusing in a wholesome way was
fought In our own country some seventy.ive
years ago, An itinerant preacher named Brown
used to travel through Kentucky He was a man
possessed OF mighty sinews and too, OF a Ger
tain skill that would have delighted a league
manager, as the event showed. In his exercise
Of the ministerial function, he scathingly rebuket
man OF notorious pronigacy. who retorted with
. challenge.
The parson, as the challenged party hat
choice OF weapons He selected for each com
hatant half-bushel Of Irish potatoes-large ones
soiid and well rounded The further stipulation
At the engagement were for distance Of ffteel
PAGES and the taking OF only one potato at
tlme from the receptacle.
The profigate protested but in vain Even,
uaily the two met In accordance with the clergy
mans requirements When the word was gver
tAs parson instantly hurled a potato. whic