Insulting a sword.
--A singular affair occurred recently at Vienna. A gentleman and a lieutenant in the army meeting in the street, the stick of the former struck, by accident, the sword of the latter. Each party turned round, apparently expecting the other to apologize, when at last the civilian remarked, "Why the deuce do you pass through the streets with your spit sticking out in such a manner?" High words followed, which ended in the officer prosecuting his adversary for an insult to his military honor by an injurious epithet applied to his sword. The president of the police court, before whom the case was brought, severely reproved the civilian for the expression used; and the court, considering that the accused could not be in the possession of his full mental faculties, admitted extenuating circumstances, and condemned him to a fine of fifteen thalers (about two pounds).
