The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-29

the minds Of the older people, the hab-
its and bellefs OF their ancestors we're
sacred They firmly clung to Old
customs, old ideas, faithfully protest
ing that their fathers could do no
wrong; upholding by their daily lives
and actions, their Delief in the fact
that What was good enough for fa-
ther should suit me-"
IN spite OF this, however, the cooler
headed younger men, who gradually
took the reins OF government into
their hands, in the historic Palmetto
State, talked strongly of legislating
against dueling. though the oNuer
generation protested that a man had
the divine right Of self-protection, IN
any way that seemed best to him; !;
that it was absolutely anarchy to de-
prive man of the privilege of using
the sword or pistol in defense of his
honor. They were sincere and honest
in their belief, feeling that dueling
was absolutely justi6able; and could
by no means be considered a disgrace
or be punishable by any law. Rather
they considered that man was eter-
nally tabooed from all social inter-
course with his fellows, if he permit
ted an insult to pass unpunished-if
he did not at least try by challenging
his enemy to combat on the Field
OF Honor. OF course if for any rea-
son whatever the challenge was de-
clined, the giver of it was held to
have avenged his word squarely in
the face, without cringing at the
thought that the dread name Of
coward was set against his name III
the minds of his fellow man. For
nothing was more abhorent to the
real Gentleman of the Old South
than an imputation of cowardice.
Therefore the talk of the younger,
more aggressive, conservative men
in charge of the States affairs, Of
making dueling a punishable crime,
aroused strenuous opposition from the
older generation, and the question
was discussed pro and con across
many Southern table.
Before the law became a fact. how
ever, in '79 or 80, perhaps, two of
South Cardinals most respected sons.
who had served their four long years
in the war, respectively as colonei
and major, became involved in a poll
tical quarrel.
Aspersions were made against the
honor OF each, the lie was passed,
this being the very crowning of all
insults to both men. And these two
representatives of an honored fam
lily, these brave, gallant sons of the
Old South, Colonel Cash and Major
Shannon of Camden, agreed to wipe
out the stain of insult by duel; each
feeling that it was right and Just to
hight as they thought best, believing
that no man had right to interfere
IN his personal affairs, or that any lay
could be made elastic enough to cover
the "Fteld Of Honor"
The argument of their more con-
serVative friends availed NJ sught-th,.
tears and prayers of the: antilles
were futile. Grimly dete. nj. led to
follow the cours Sc that they thought
and believed to be right, and plant
ing their feet in "The footsteps on the
Sands of Time" these two hot-headed
high -principled, honored men, met sr
sunset
Out IN an old field, bordered by the
sentinel pines, with the soft wind
a requiem through their
p!umed heads-under the royal pur-
pie and crimson painted by a Master
hand on the Western sky, with the
Very air. breathing peace good will
to men, while in the Eastern sky
sieamlng many colored like Jacobs
coat. was the arch of Gods promised
protection to man. Everything was
at rest but the turmoil seethins in
the breasts of the men, and under the
nroodlng peace of Mother Natures
wing, the 80 PAGES We're stepped off:
the seconds reluctantly took pistols
from the cases and handed them prim-
ed and cooked to their principals.
With gray heads held high, these
t"t old warriors grimly turned back
to back, and with cool determination
walked their allotted places. Then
at the word Ready" whirled and
each leveled the pistol at his one-time
friend, but now become a. deadly
enemy. These two brave men who
rad on many battle field, faced to-
gether the belching fame of cannon.
the fretful whine of the minnie balls
stool as though carved from marble
Lips sternly set, eyes level, hands
steady, deadly determination in their
hearts-while the soft fingers of the
evening breeze, gently ruffled their
gray hair.
At the word Fire" both pistols
spat their deadly missles-Major
shannon dropped his pistol, stood for
a moment with face upturned to the
quiet star, just peeping through the
curtain of eventidec then reeled and
pltched forward to the earth, his life
olood slowly turning to crimson the