POLITE DUELLISTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 3

POLITE DUELLISTS.

The French may declare that the English are an uncultured race, but there is one matter in which they are behind their neighbours. For all their development, they have not yet achieved, in some directions, a sense of the ridiculous. The reports of some of their duels show that. On the morning of November 25th, M. Painleve, of the institute, and a member of Parliament for Paris, with Professor Haller, who holds the chair of organic science, appeared at the Velodrome of the Parc des Princes as seconds to Dr. Langevin, professor of chemistry at the Sorbonne. The cause of the meeting was the publication by M. Tery, a writer on the Journal, of a pamphlet, which contained matter deemed offensive by Dr. Langevin. Pistols were chosen by the doctor, and M. Painleve was appointed director of the duel. He placed the adversaries at twenty-live paces distance from each other, and gave the word to lire. Professor Langevin had raised his arm when he perceived that his opponent lin'd not moved. During long minutes the combatants gazed at each other, each standing motionless. ''Again and again the director ordered them to lire. They stood there, making no movement. The professor, in response to the eager questions of his seconds, said: “It is impossible for me to fire on M. Tery, who keeps his pistol pointed downwards and'very visibly indicates his intention (if not firing at me.” His opponent gave the following reason for his attitude: “Professor Langevin is married. He has children. I have said that there was a man in this affair. 1 He is the man. He has come forward. That is enough for me. Besides this, I have the greatest and most sincere admiration for him as a scientist. I absolutely refuse to fire at him.” The pistols were discharged into the air, and the duellists and their seconds left the “fighting” ground and had lunch together. The affair was declared to he ended, but it is naturally suggested that it ought to be specified in the next edition of the duelling code whether or not honour may he satisfied by the proceeding. It is hoped that this sensible refusal to lire is a sign that the French arc learning sense in the matter of duelling. i