Borden Chantry
Louis L'Amour
Duelling is still an Olympic Sport using blunted epees and elaborate protective equipment. Boxing is a form of specialized duel--the manly art; still legally practised as is wrestling. War was once conducted with swords and then there was the joust. The advent of gunpowder made the practice far more deadly. Elaborately made and encased duelling pistols still exist. Duelling was once legal, murder was another matter.
[Personally I find Greco-Roman Wrestling a boring watch.]
Supposedly the ability to quickly draw a six-gun and fire it accurately was an essential tool in Olde West law enforcement. The essential tools were quick reflexes, good eyesight, and learning not to hesitate before pulling that trigger. You may have watched Gunsmoke or High Noon.
All these "sports" are fuelled by ego and testosterone. Competitiveness. Success, if that word can be applied to the taking of human life gave the winner an ego boost. Mass shootings are a weekly event to this day in America. Computer video games give aficionados a vicarious boost.
This tale is the story of such an Old West Marshall.
No comments:
Post a Comment