On the Field of Honour.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 April 1910, Page 4

On the Field of Honour.

THE IU2VIVAL OF DUELLING IX EUROPE. (London "Daily Express.") Tlio duel fought by the famous scientist. Dr. Doyen, and the lour contests that iiw'iiit a member of the Italinii Chamber appear to indicate that the world is laced with a revival of an institution which most people believed had received its death-blow. There can be no doubt whatever, not only that duelling as a. custom is still flourishing, but that it is growing in favour. Startling as the statement may seem, it is a fact that .there is now only one country of importance in the world where duelling is not practised. That country, of course, is Great Britain. Everywhere else the evil thrives. In France, Germany, Belgium, and Australia duels between officers, politicians, and professional men are connived at by the polieo and sometimes sanctioned by the State. In Italy, Spain, and the United States there are every year many duels, and though the principals are occasionally prosecuted, juries generally fail to conviot. Tt is_ a mistake to suppose that the majority of the duels fought are mere dress-parade affairs, involving no real danger to the combatants. Tn most cases the duel is a serious, if not a deadly, business, and honour is not declared satisfied until one of the principals is so severely wounded as to be unable to continue the Jiglit on equal terms. THE "CODE OF IIOX'OUJl." One of tlio most recent of these tragic and senseless affairs was that fought at Vienna by the two young Austrians. Baron Widerofer, who was the son of the Austrian Kaiser's Late physician, was assaulted by Ma ver, who is a clerk to the Stadliolder at, Vienna. Wilderhofer promptly challenged Mayer, and a duel was fought with single-barrelled pistols at thirty-five paces. "Wilderhofer, whose right arm was injured, fired with his left hand, and naturally missed. Mayer then fired, and shot Widedhofer dead. Widerhofer left a widow and child. Here wo see the irony of " the justice of the duel." A young married man is first insulted, and then allowed to fight in a more or less crippled condition. What code of honour is upheld when this unfortunate young fellow is put to death P Hut tlio senselessness of the duel as an instrument of social justice or vindication does not prevent men -—even those of mature years and high position—from having recourse to. it. What are Ave to think of MM. LintiHiac and Millies-Lacroix, the two French Senators, who lately fought with swords in the Pare des Princes? M. Lacroix is past sixty. This duel was soon over, M. Lintilhac receiving a wound in the right forearm. Here, again, tlio aggrieved person was the one punished. SIX TLMKS WOUNDED. The affair between M. Payer, a French manufacturer, and the Marquis de Campollano, a Spanish military attache, was more serious. The Marquis unintentionally gave offence to La Belle Otero by smoking a cigarette in a dining-car. M. Payer remonstrated with him, and the cigarette was at o,nce put out. Hero the matter might have ended but for the duelling "code of honour." These two headstrong gentlemen must needs meet, sword in hand, liko two knights of the Middle Ages, and try to kill one another. They fought with the greatest determination, and the duel was not stopped until the Marquis was bleeding from six distinct wounds. Like master, like servant. When Senators, Counts and Marqtnsea tight, 'prentices must needs imitate them. Two young Italians at Balliuznna, named Mindell and Molo, lately fought a mock duel when their foreman's back was turned. Taking up two white-hot iron bars, they began to fence as if with swords. Hut duelling is like gambling, and in the excitement of the combat the youths forgot themselves, and began to lungs at one another in real earnest. Presently Molo made a fierce home-thrust, and followed it up like a practised swordsman, with the result that his white-hot bar transfixed the body of his friend, who fell dead with a terrible wound. There was a happier ending, ir a more serious beginning, to the duel between MM. Tailhade and Gohier, in November last. Pistols were the weapons chosen, and M. Gohier took a long, steady aim, but missed. M. Tailhade did not fire, but tranquilly waited to be killed while M. Gohier aimed at him. The two combatants, with belated good sense, then declined to firo further. But, since tliev felt this compunction, why need they have fought at all? A TR.r.YXGULAR DUEL. About the same time a terrible duel took place in the United States between two brothers named Owen ami a wealthy planter named Co nipton. It .was a triangular affair, but, unlike, the famous duel in Marryat's novel, it was a bloodthirsty light. The owen brothers had a revolver each, and Compton, standing twenty feet away, had an automatic pistol in each hand. At the first discharge one of the brothers fell wounded. The duel, however, continued, and Mrs Compton rushed 011. the scene to separate the combatants, followed by her little daughter. The Owen brothers poured in a heavy fire at that mo ment, and Compton, Mrs Compton and the child were all shot dead. It was a blind and brutal business. But what duel is not? In October last M. Berstein, the French dramatist, and M. Clievassu, the dramatic critic, fought a duel in a heavy rain. The Pare des Princes, as usual, was the scene of the conflict. Pistols were the weapons, and M. Bernstein had a narrow escape. M. Clievassu's bullet passing jusit over his head. Mr. Bernstein himself did not fire. One of tlie most deadly aiul remarkable of recent duels was fought neiar Palermo in September last between two rich Sicilians, Signor Ardito and Signor Lobianco. They took their seats in a lairge open carriage, ordered the coachman to drive at a gallop, and opened firo on one another with revolvers. When the firing ceased the carriage was stoppad , and Signor Lrtbianco staggered out mortally wounded. Signor Ardito lay dead on tlie floor of the can - -

i-iase.