Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography; Humorists, American -- 19th century -- Biography; Twain, Mark, 1835-1910
In one of my listed duels--however, let it go, there is nothing
particularly striking about it except that the seconds interfered.
And prematurely, too, for neither man was dead. This was certainly
irregular. Neither of the men liked it. It was a duel with cavalry
sabres, between an editor and a lieutenant. The editor walked to
the hospital, the lieutenant was carried. In this country an editor
who can write well is valuable, but he is not likely to remain so
unless he can handle a sabre with charm.
The following very recent telegram shows that also in France duels
are humanely stopped as soon as they approach the (French)
danger-point:
"_Reuter's Telegram._--PARIS, _March 5_.--The duel between Colonels
Henry and Picquart took place this morning in the Riding School of
the Ecole Militaire, the doors of which were strictly guarded in
order to prevent intrusion. The combatants, who fought with swords,
were in position at ten o'clock.
"At the first reengagement Lieutenant-Colonel Henry was slightly
scratched in the fore arm, and just at the same moment his own
blade appeared to touch his adversary's neck. Senator Ranc, who was
Colonel Picquart's second, stopped the fight, but as it was found
that his principal had not been touched, the combat continued. A
very sharp encounter ensued, in which Colonel Henry was wounded in
the elbow, and the duel terminated."
After which, the stretcher and the band. In lurid contrast with
this delicate flirtation, we have this fatal duel of day before
yesterday in Italy, where the earnest Austrian duel is in vogue. I
knew Cavalotti slightly, and this gives me a sort of personal
interest in his duel. I first saw him in Rome several years ago. He
was sitting on a block of stone in the Forum, and was writing
something in his note-book--a poem or a challenge, or something
like that--and the friend who pointed him out to me said, "That is
Cavalotti--he has fought thirty duels; do not disturb him." I did
not disturb him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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