AN AFFAIR OF HONOR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 9

AN AFFAIR OF HONOR

GIRLS FIGHT FOR A LOVER, f

Miss S-usarine AVeinhard, young and charming dan-sense of a Budapest cabaret, will never again.he able to wear a- low-necked evening gown or any of those modern dresses which leave part of the pretty shoulders uncovered .Her once perfect “decolletage” is marred "by an. ugly, four-inch scar running diagonally from the middle -of the left shoulder to a point near the middle of the breast. It’s ‘the mark of a -sword cut which she received from the equally young and pretty Miss Mary Radvanyi in a tegular man-like duel. It- wasn’t merely by accident, mind you, that Susanne was wounded in the encounter. The bout, which ended in disaster to Susannc’-s physical perfection was a regular duel fought according to fhe strict rules and regulations of the code of honor, in the presence of four seconds and a surgeon, and with authentic weapons in no way different from these used by men on such occasions. It was the first encounter between women with swords on official record, and as such it will undoubtedly occupy a distinguished place in the history of celebrated duets.

It all began with both Susanne and Mary deciding to take fencing lessons and to join one of the two Budapest women's fencing clubs. It was about a. year ago, at the time when fencing became tho fashionable sport of ladies, a veritable fad that spread rapidly among the women of the Hungarian capital. The country began to produce swordswomen who were just, as proud of their skill as The men. EARLIER- DUELS. Tn fact, there wore two duels in which women figured prominently. One was a case where two well-to-do ladies c- roe sod swords in defence ol the point -of honor. In the other, a woman forced a young lawyer to meet her on the field of combat. In the first instance neither of the duelists was wounded. The second affair did not go beyond the initial stages, because the lawyer As Fair opponent was net willing to -strip to the waist as the rules ,demanded, and agreed to accept her adversary's verbal apologies. Miss AYcinhard and Mis* Radvanyi were the best- of friends. Both were dancers, both appeared in a fashionable night cabaret and both wore well-known in the younger -set of Budapest’s artist colony. This beautiful friendship, however, changed to open hostility when Alary Radvanyi suspected. Susanne AVeinhard of attempting to .steal the affections of a young painter who was her devoted admirer. The artist came every night to the cabaret, to"lc Alary to -supper, .painted her portrait, and even hinted the possibility of his marrying her. Suisonne, being the bosom friend of Alarj-, was also invited on several occasions, first Ijy Alary herself, then by the boy friend. Alary soon discovered that the artist- was becoming interested in her friend, and when one day she learned that he had invited Susanne to his studio without mentioning it to her became convinced that Susanne was acting in a dishonorable way. On the same night before the cabaret- performance, Mary went to Susan.ne’s dressing room and demanded an explanation .Susanne was nervous and heated words followed, and. in a few minutes the two girls .fell upon each other with teeth and nails. “MUST SETTLE THIS.” “We must settle this,’ 5 said Susanne, after they had been separated by stage hands. “You will hear from me,” she called after Alary. “I am always at your disposal,” answered Alary.' . According to the rules of the code, Susanne sent her seconds to Alary. One was a teacher, the other a dancer and both were members of the fencing club. They said that their princi-pal-had been insulted by Miss Radvanyi. and demanded satisfaction. Alary'"listened silently to the challenge, then took a piece of paper, wrote two names on it, and said:— “This is ai case for my seconds. Her© are their names. Will -you please get in touch with them?” The seconds of Aliss AVeinhard departed. Aliss Radvanyi’s seconds were an actress and a- .stenographer. All four second!?; met in a room of the fencing club and discussed the case behind closed doors. They agreed that Aliss AVeinhard had the right to demand “satisfaction with weapon” and decided that a duel should he fought, .the conditions being as follows : 1. AAtoajpons used: light Italian swords with blunted points. Stabbing not permitted. 2. Opponents to fight until the complete inability of one of them, the state of inability to be determined by the surgeon. 3. Full bandages to be used on neck wrist, and armpits. 4. Tho duel to be directed by Miss Yolanda Levay, teacher of fencing. FIGHT TO THEi FINISH. •Next day at 10 a.m., both combatants appeared at tho fencing elul> with their seconds and a woman surgeon who consented to serve ns “duel doctor.” All the ladies were more or less nervous, particularly the seconds. However ,tlie combatants were determined to fight to a finish. In separate rooms the opponent® were stripped to the waist, bandagei

by the seconds, and given last-min-ute instructions. A servant brought the swords, which, were carefully examined by the seconds and'washed in a disinfecting lotion by the doctor. The combatants were then led to the fencing room and placed at a distance of twelve ieet from each other, while Miss Levay, with a. fencing mask on her head and her body covered with a plastron, delivered the formal speech.: “Lad’es,” she isaid, “you came here to settle an affair of honor with the sword. Before starting the bout, f call upon you to become reconciled . ” . . • • Alary shook her bead and Srisanno’s eyes flashed defiance. “I take your silence for a refusal, so the duel, will proceed. You know the significance of the commands. Sword in hand! En garde! Charge! Wligncver I shall call ‘Stop’ you will stop at once.” Before the fair combatants received their swords, there was a slight deviation from the usual proceedings —both fighters asked f°r a mirror. Susanne gave her hair a finishing touch. Alary powdered her nose and smiled with apparent satisfaction. Then they grasped their is words, listened for tile word of command—and charged. It wa.s a furious attack with which Alary attempted to swoop Susanne off her feet —so furious that t-lie referee was afraid ihe combatants would use even their unarmed hanjls and made •a quick dash to stop tho round. In the second round again Alary attacked .but Susanne defended herself courageously and the round was a draw. In the third Alary received a slight wound on her arm and the doctor wanted to call a halt. But Alary insisted upon continuing the duel. She attacked, and suddenly the seconds saw blood guriiing from Susanna's shoulder. The place was thrown into confusion. Susanne fainted; the doctor rushed op and dro-sod her wound. ATarv was sobbing. The seconds surrounded the wounded heroine, assuring her that the wound wai? not dangerous. Somebody called an ambulance, which carried Susanne to her apartment. Alary followed in a taxi cab. She helped to put- Susanne into bod and implored forgiveness. “For the wound I forgive yon.” said Susanne. “But T .can never forgive you for having spoiled my deco l - lotage.” So ended the first modern duel between women with .-words, but the romance underlying it is still alive.”