Gentlemen, Choose Your Weapons
In 1954, Hemingway’s wife, Mary, argued with Edward Scott, a New Zealand journalist writing for an English-language newspaper in Havana, Cuba. The disagreement occurred when Mary claimed Lion steaks were “delectable,” which earned Scott’s disapproval. Proving how much alike in temper she and her husband were, she had a few things to say about Scott’s opinion. Her comments led to Scott writing a series of columns criticizing her and “women who take after their husbands.”
Even half a century later, Hemingway’s response was enough to get Scott to challenge him to a duel. Hemingway wisely passed, citing his ill-health and writing as an excuse. As annoyed as Scott was by the whole situation, other than trying to force him to accept the duel, there wasn’t much else he could do except let it go. He’d probably have lost to Papa, anyway.
