DUELLING UP TO DATE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11397, 14 April 1899, Page 8

DUELLING UP TO DATE.

Tho practice of duelling is on the decline in France, t)ie eoimtry which has been peculiarly its own. It grows more ridiculous year by year, and those who engage in it become moro and more a laughing-stock. Perhapß the sense of humour has had more to do with the decline of duelling in France than the sense of true honour and decency. Not long ngo a journalist of Paris, who had by some criticism offended a politician, received from him the following letter: —

" Sir, —One docs not send a challenge to a bandit of your species: one simply administers a cuff on the ears. Therefore I-hereby cuff both your oars. Bo grateful to mo for not having recourse to weapons.—Yours truly,

The journalist answered: —

'My dear.Sir and Adversary,—-I thank you, according to your wish, for having sent me cuffs by post, instead of slaughtering me witli weapons. Cuffed by post, I respond by despatching you by post nix bullets in the head. I kill you by fetter. Please consider yourself dead from the first line of this epistle. "With a respectful salutation to' your corpse, I am,'very truly yours, .'' The publication of this correspondence nearly overwhelmed the politician with ridicule.