Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1876 — French Duels. [ARTICLE]

French Duels.

Th* principal* having: been stripped to the waut, choice of position is decided- by tossings coin: “Head* or tails?" file who has choice of position elects one in whioh his back shall be to the sun; his adyeraaty is placed opposite to him. It Is commonly agreed to make boards, beyond «}ilch ike respective opponents shall not etreat. This precaution is taken, parti r o save the reputation of a nervous prlncf>al who might retreat till doomsday, and HUtly to prevent the due] from lasting too ong a time. The instructions given a principal who is less skillful than his adversary are: “ Always attack and continually retreat, 1 * The reasons of these . tactics air, tlmt it is easier to attack than to parry feints and blowa, especially when they are rapidly delivered. Retreat is ‘made with long strides; advance is slow and cautious, tor during the advance one is powerless even for defense. The ad versaries once in position they are armed. It is a tacit condition of every duel that neither of the principals shall havo handled tho weapons; ono is twico as expert with a familiar as with a new sword. The swords are held straight, point up and overhead, the arm outstretched to lull length, until the second of the principal who has won choice of position advances half way between each adversary, when swords are lowered till they cross. The second bolds both at the junction, and asks each antagonist, (his principal last), “ Are you ready, sir?” Upon receiving an affirmative answer, he waits an instant, that each adversary may feel on his guard; then removes his hand and exclaims: “Allot, Messieurs .” (“Go, gentlemen.”) Usually; both principals spring in retreat at this word, in order to guard against surprise. The more confident or the more impatient adversary soon advances Cautiously, until swords are joined again. He studies his adversary for an instant (the uninitiated can scarcely Imagine how much is revealed by the feel of an adversary’s sword and the sight of his hand), then gives one, two, three, four, five or six slight blows (varying the number with the feel of his adversary’s sword) to his opponent’s weapon, and (lien tries to get iu a good blow, unless his opponent lias anticipated him, by taking advantage of his change of blow from four to six, to make a rapid lunge just after he quits four and before he reaches six; and if the lunge be made with catlike rapidity and in the nick of the propertime, it commonly reaches its destination. The action once engaged, lunge rapidly follows lunge for two minutes, and then, if no blood be drawn, both parties take rest, breathless and unable to hold up their swords, which seem as heavy as the best bower anchor of a man-of-war. When they’ recover breath and strength tbs second again crosses their swords, and the combat recommences. A duel rarely lasts longer than eight minutes, including all the rcstings. At last a lucky blow produces an abrasion of the skin of the little finger. The surgeon, by dint of hard and adroit pressure, contrives to squeeze out a tiny bead of blood. The code is homeopathic. That drop suffices to purge away smirch from the escutcheon; ‘‘honor is satisfied.” The adversaries shake-hands and vow themselves to be desolated that a misunderstanding should have occurred between them. Coffee is served.— Scribner for February,