A CHALLENGE REFUSED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3359, 27 October 1911, Page 7

A CHALLENGE REFUSED.

EDITOR WOULDN’T FIGHT WITH A WOMAN. There were developments the other day. in regard to the attempt of Mdle. Arria- By,. a leading feminist of Toulouse (France) to fight a duel with M. Cazale, the editor of a paper who criticised an article she had written. Mile. By sent her seconds, Mile. Anne Lear and Mile. Maria Pugibet, to M. Cazale with a note in which she said she was opposed to duelling, but was compelled to have recourse to it as the last means of settling a question of honor. It seems that M. Cazale was absent on a holiday trip when tho seconds called and M. Masat, the acting editor, came out with another criticism of Mile. Bv's article, which was resented by Mile. By. The latter then sent her seconds to Massat. hut he replied that he was unwilling to fight a woman. He was willing, however, to meet a male substitute.

Miles. Lear and Pugilet in describing their interview to Mile. By said l M. Massat was at first willing to fight, but afterwards trembled, became pale, and then declined to fight. The would-be woman duellist in thanking her seconds declared that Massat was a coward. He had declined to fight because lie knew sbe was an excellent pistol shot. Mile. By’s article which brought about tlie row argued' that marriage was an abomination. Women, she declared ought to live and die unmarried. M. Cazale in commenting on the article asked ironically if she was young and beautiful. Sbe praised the state in which she was compelled to live against her wishes. Then came the challenge.