Our Paris Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 2 May 1895, Page 3

Our Paris Letter.

Paris, 14th March, 1895. The death of M. Herr Alis, of the Journal des Debats, who was killed in a duel with Captain Le Chatelier, the other day produced much excitement in the literary world, and the opjnjone of two well-known Frenchmen on. duelling is certainly worth having, and it would be difficult to choose two better able to give an opinion than M. Henri Rochefort and M. Alexandre Dumas. The former writes as follows : — " The duel, which possibly necessitates killing a man against whom the antagonist has generally no actual hatred, is an ignoble pieoe of slaughter, which inspires horror and disgust even on those who have them* selves Been principals . «? To say of a poor wretch one has just run through, ' I am delighted I hav^Htilled him,' would be scandaloijst* On the other hand to appear heart broken would be absurd, as one-.appers on the duelling ground with that object unless it is to take the air or stop a tendency to obes-

ity." M. Alexander Dumas writes: — "In many cases the consciences

alone of chose interested are compe-

to judge as to whether a meeting P|)Ught to take place, and often the reason which inspires one man to try and kill another would not be Sufficient to whip a cat. The first

honest fellow who comes along with woman on his arm if another man Of hia-jown set either openly or COYerffifihsulfca her by word or look, whai|j|ji h§ do ? If the woman is clever, or has presence of mind, experience, or is accustomed to such episodes, she will say nothing and

her companion will be none the

wiser ; but if, by a natural movement ehe jflhows what has taken place, the insulter must have his head punched, and the chances are he will not offer the other cheek.

" My advice is that it is the best on the spot to give the merited correction ; but suppose one is not the Stronger, I seize this opportunity to advise all those who are not strong muscularly to carry a thick stick. As to asking legal assistance it is not to bo thought of."

The duel mentioned above between two men of honour, for a trifling matter of simple critic, and which ended unfortunately with the death of a .man, is a proof that duelling means to take the law in its own hands* which is and onght once more to be forbidden by punishing severely the dnellist and his witnesses.

Aprotfbs of fighting, the recent prohibition of bull-fighting in France baa decided the bull fighting Defence Committee to again go to law. It is also -resolved to organise a large deputation and to prepare a monster petftm^-the -former to consist of representatives from all the bullfighting centres in the south and the Senators and Deputies for the southern departments. This delegation will wait upon the President, the Premier, and the Minister of the Interior, and request them to use their influence with the view to the continuance of the sport on the same lines as heretofore, but with precautionfftft r "thefr regulation.

The committee also requests the General and Local Councils to pass resolutions in favour of the amuseineftj^inxl intends to organise public me&ngsT to which resolutions of a similar character will be submitted.

Bull fighting being fortunately not popular in France, it is not generally not believed that the recent prohibition will be re called.