The Washington times., 1921-01-02

If were to tell about all the dues in which
I was concerned should fill volumes. may
recall very strange affair that occurred
during my welded life with Count de Pour -
tales. We enjoying particularly brill
liant dinner in the delightful Pavilion d'Ar-
menonvile, in the Bots dc Boulogne, the most
charming dining place that existed,
believe -
With several of the greatest social
notabilities of that day, such the Marquis
de Don foremost duellist of Paris; Count
Bon de Castellane, who had nearly exhausted Il
the patience and income Of his wife, Anna
Gould, but was still enjoying himself immense
ly, and many other celebrities of similar high =,
rank. M
In the midst of the dinner a young Chi
cagoan, of those wealthy Americans who
make themselves so ridiculous in France and
discredit country, intruded himself on our
table, took seat and began to address the va
rious distinguished noblemcn and noblewomen
present with coarse familiarity.
He asserted that had asked him to join
them. With my accustomed disregard of con-
ventiOnality had perhaps some other occa-
sion permitted myself to be amused by the
creature 8 porcine antics.
In the most courty Count de Pourales invited
the intruder to depart elsewhere. In response the Chi
cagoan slapped him in the face with his glove having
learned in France doubtless that that the
thing to do when feeling unpleasant tremendous out
burst of excitement followed. Behaving with remark
able possession Count de Pourtaes led the Chcagoa
from the table and induced him to leave the restaurant
A duel was duly arranged and Count de Pourtale
wounded the Chcagoan severely but not dangerously
the forearm. Although Bernard not remarkable
swOrdsman, he was serious antagonist.
When first went to France was Mortified at tn,
thought of settling their disputes with deadly weap
When found that few were seriously injured
began to change my mind and to feel something of tina
contempt which good many uniformed Americans fee
for the European duel.
Then changed my mind again and adopted the French
point Of view that duel is really test of courage anG
the only method Of settling disputes between of brit
and breeding.
AS my social career progressed from exciting cpl
sodc to another still more exciting became known h
who had caused dues than anyone in France
Although it is not expected that French duel shall
end fatally that result must occur occasionally when two
excited men face another with deadly weapons The
number of fatalities larger than commonly supposed
for little reference is made to them.
Relations of both my husbands had been concerned II
fatal dues in recent years. knew well several dashne
young nobemen who went to untimely grave a re
suit of these unfortunate mschances. There pic
ture in the Paris Salon in my time called CATER thu
Duel by ~ Sicard, which represented the nearly fata
ending OF an encounter between men knew In the colo
gray dawn the seconds helping wounded dues
into carriage, not knowing whether he is going to live
or die thought that this picture portrayed the tragic
side OF these affairs remarkably well and have always
kept an engraving of IL with me-
fatal duel occurred as recently 1870 between two
princes of the Bourbon family. One Of them was tn,
Duke dc Montpensicr member OF the Bourbon Orleans