|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 8
The Prime Minister, however, felt that he had been so terribly insulted
that nothing but a duel could satisfy his sense of honor.
He therefore telegraphed to the Emperor, asking his permission to fight.
Duelling used to be a very common practice in Europe, and was considered
the only means of avenging an insult. It was, however, carried to such
an extent, that men would call one another out, as it was termed, for
the most trifling offence. So many good and brave men were killed in
this unreasonable manner, that one country after another began to make
laws forbidding the practice. These laws have only been in force for a
very few years, and in cases where men are terribly provoked, they still
turn to duelling as a means of settling their disputes.
The Emperor of Austria, when he learnt of the shameful things that had
been said to the Count, felt that, were he in the Premier's place,
nothing but a duel could satisfy his honor, and so he gave his
permission, and the duel took place.
Count Badeni was shot in the arm, and severely wounded; Dr. Wolff
escaped unhurt.
Immediately the duel had taken place the Premier's enemies seized upon
it as a means of disgracing him.
They raised a tumult about it, and declared that a man who would break
the law by fighting a duel was not fit to manage the affairs of
Government, and begged that the Count be dismissed from office, and
arrested.
The Premier was, however, well aware of the serious nature of the act he
contemplated, and that duelling was not a becoming occupation for a
Prime Minister, so, when he asked the Emperor's permission to fight, he
also sent in his resignation as Prime Minister.
The Emperor of Austria appears to be a very fair-minded man. Having
given his permission for the duel, he was not going to desert the Count.
He refused to accept the Count's resignation, and, as a reply to the
enemies of his Prime Minister, issued a decree forbidding the courts
from prosecuting the Count for breaking the law.
Such a decree would not do for us in America, where the law is the
highest power in the state, and even the President is bound to obey it;
but in Austria, where such a thing was possible, it was certainly very
considerate of the Emperor to stand so bravely by his minister.
Duelling is also against the laws of the Church, and the Count might
have got into fresh trouble with his bishop if kind friends had not
helped him in this direction also.
His case was represented to the Pope, who also recognized that he had
been terribly tried and provoked, and graciously pardoned him.
Despite the efforts of his enemies, he has been able to make peace with
both his emperor and his bishop, and though he will not have a pleasant
time of it with such a parliament against him, he ought to be able to
overcome his difficulties with two such powerful friends behind him.
* * * * *
There was a delightful celebration the other afternoon in New York at
East River and Twenty-fourth Street.
It was the occasion of the opening of a new Recreation Pier, and the
children were out in force to take possession of their newly acquired
property.
When the present dock commissioners came into office they found an old
law on the books of the city which had never been put in force.
It provided that the dock commissioners could build an upper deck to any
of the piers which jutted out into the river, and arrange it for the use
of the people as a recreation pier, a place where the children could
walk and run and romp and play, and the mothers could take the babies
for a breath of fresh air on the summer nights, when their work was
done.
Finding the law on the books, these kindly men determined to carry it
out, and so they built the pier at the foot of Third Street; and, when
that was finished, began work on the one at East Twenty-fourth Street,
which was opened the other day.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|