Show A FAMOUS DUEL lippincott to give an wea idea of what a brave man can do if he knows fencing thoroughly and but keeps cool and collected in danger we will relate an historical duel due so bo extraordinary is this combat that it would be held a romance bad it not been witnessed by a whole army the hero Is jean louis of whom we have already spoken as one of the great masters of the beginning of this century and the duel due happened in madrid in 1813 he was the master at arms of the thirty second belond regiment of french infantry the first regiment composed entirely of italians formed part of the same brigade regimental esprit de corps and rivalries of nationality caused constant quarrels when swords were often whipped out or bullets exchanged after a small battle had occurred in the streets of madrid in which over french and italian soldiers had bad taken part the officers of the two regiments in a council of war assembled decided to nive give such breaches of order a great blow and to establish reestablish re discipline ci they declared that the masters alarms of the two regiments should take up the quarrel and fight it out imagine a whole army in battle array on one of the large plains that surround madrid in the center of a large ring is left open for the contestants I 1 1 I his spot to is raised above the plain so that not one of the spectators of this tragic scene gayly gay ly dressed officers soldiers in line spaniards excited as never a bull fight excited them will miss one phase of the contest it to is before ten thousand men that the honor of an army is about to tie be avenged in the blood of thirty brave men the drum is heard the men naked to the waist step in the ring the first la is tall and strong his hie black eyes roll disdainfully upon the gaping crowd he is ie giacanto Gia conto ferrari Ferr arl the celebrated italian the second Beo onil tall also algo handsome and with muscles like steel stands modestly awaiting the word of command his bis name is jean louis the rho seconds take their places on either side of the principals A deathlike death like silence ensues on guard I 1 the two masters cross swords gla corno ferrari lungs repeatedly at jean louis but in tafu his every thrust la is met by a parry he makes up his mind to bide his chance and caresses and aad teases his bis opponents blade jean louis calm and watchful lends himself to the play when quicker than lightning the italian jumps wide aside with a loud yell and makes a terrible lunge at jean louis a florentine trick often successful but with extraordinary rapidity jean louis has parried and ris posts quickly in the shoulder it to is not nothing bing 21 2 1 cries giacomo a mere scratch and they again fall on guard almost directly dire oily he is hit in the breast this time the sword of jean louis who li is now attacking penetrates deeply Qiao Gia omos comos face becomes livid his sword drops from his hand band and he falls heavily on the turf he is ia dead jean louis to is already in position he wipes his reeking blade then with the point of his sword in alj the 1 ground he be calmly awaits the next man the best fencer of the first regi ment has just been carried awaya away a corpse but the day is not dot yet over fourteen adversaries are there impatient to measure swords with the conqueror burning to avenge tile the master they had deemed invincible jean louis has hardly had two minutes rest he Hete is ready A now new adversary stands before him A sinister click of swords is heard a a lunge a parry a ri and then a cry a sigh and all is over A second body is before jean louis A third adversary adva advances noen they want jean louis to rest 1 41 I am not tired he be answers with a smile sir lie the signal is given the italian is ia as tall as the one who lies there a corpse covered by a military cloak he has closely watched jean luis luisi I play and thinks he be has guessed the secret of his hia victories he multiplies his feints and tricks then all at once bounding like a tiger on his prey he gives his opponent a terrible thrust in the lower line but jean louis sword has parried and is now deep within his op ponente breast what need to relate any more ten new adversaries followed him and the ton ten fell before jean louis amid the excited yells and roars of an army at the request of the thirty second regiments colonel who thought the lesson lemon sufficient jean louis after much pressing c to stop the combat and he shook hands with the two survivors applauded by ten taxi thousand men from that day lights fights ceased between french and italian soldiers this wonderful and gigantic combat might be held a fable were not all the facts above stated still found in the archives of the ministry of war |