“Shame! Where is thy blush?”
How degrading to human nature! Worse than the brute is he who endeavours
to draw another into a contest!
An instance occurred a few days since of a _battle_ between two persons,
who (as I withhold their real names) I shall distinguish by the titles
of Willet and Martin. Willet had long been a visitor at the house of the
other, for what purpose I know not; but be it what it may, his
intentions, no doubt, were honourable. Martin has an amiable sister, and
report says, the heart of Willet has been smitten by her charms; and
when time permitted, and she consented, he intended to have made her his
bride.
His visits, it seems, were not very pleasing to the brother of the young
lady, who took an opportunity of loading him with a series of epithets
consisting of “_mean, low_,” &c. &c. To these Willet scarcely deigned a
reply. When Martin found the object of his malice removed by his vile
insinuations, he challenged him to _fight_. He was forced to comply,
though much against his inclination, and both quitting the house, he
found himself instantly attacked in the open street, where a scene
ensued that would have made the unprincipled savage, were he present,
blush with indignation.
In short, the challenger was worsted; he was not a match for his
antagonist, though he had the better of him in years. His mother and
sister saw the conflict from a window, and endeavoured to restore him to
reason, but without effect; he was quite transported with excess of
passion.
Martin was the aggressor, and his punishment was just. When he became
sensible that he had suffered sufficiently, he was conveyed home,
without enjoying the pleasure of beholding that bright luminary, the
sun, the cuffs he had received having entirely closed up the organs of
sight; to all appearance, a few more would have made him an inhabitant
of the world of spirits; but by a lucky turn of the wheel of fortune,
they were restrained.