The literary Anglomania in France to which we alluded last
week has led to an extraordinary duel in Paris. After the performance last Saturday of Hamlet—in which Madame Sarah Bernhardt is playing the title-role—M. Catulle Mendes, the poet, and a M. Vanor engaged in a discussion, in the course of which the latter asserted his belief that the words "fat and scant. of breath" should be taken literally, and -condemned Madame Bernliardt's reading as morbid and fantastic. M. Catulle Mendes rejoined with warmth, and finally slapped M. Vanor's face. The insult provoked a challenge, and in the ensuing duel M. Catulle Mendes—who has been "out" more than a dozen times already—was soon at the mercy of his opponent, and received a severe wound in the stomach. It is stated that not only friends, but even Madame Mendes herself, witnessed the fight from hiding-places. The growing publicity attaching to French duels will, it is to be hoped, before long give them their death-blow. The motive for the present encounter is almost as ridiculous as in the case of the historic combat about the merits of Tasso between two fire- eaters, both of whom subsequently confessed that they had never read a line of his poetry. There is, we may add, a far prettier duel connected with Hamlet than the present ridiculous encounter. Some seventy years ago a British naval Captain challenged a foreign critic who averred that Ophelia had been seduced by Hamlet. One cannot help loving the gallant sailor for his readiness in such a quarrel.
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