DUELLING IN FRANCE
“NECESSARY AND HUMANE” NOVELIST'S PERSUASIVE DEFENCE (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 16. (Received March 17, at 6.30 p.m.) According to the Guardian’s Paris correspondent Joseph Renaud, the novelist and fencing champion, who is a wellknown duel organiser, says: “ The duel is a necessary and even a humane institution, It enables the little man to protect himself against the big bully who is threatening personal violence. Duelling might seem an anachronism to the Anglo-Saxon, but it is essential in France, owing to the inadequacy of the law of libel. The Frenchman is reluctant to appear ridiculous by bringing his personal grievances to court and finding his enemy fined a few shillings. Only about one challenge in 20 produces a duel, the offender apologising in the majority of cases. About 100 are fought annually in Paris. Few are reported in the newspapers. Blank shots are never fired. A scratch is insufficient to terminate a duel with swords. Death is less unusual than people think, but when a death occurs it is always hushed up.”
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 22523, 18 March 1935, Page 10
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178DUELLING IN FRANCE Otago Daily Times, Issue 22523, 18 March 1935, Page 10
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