North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-07-26
orRMAN STUDENT LIFE.

GERMAN STUDENT LIFE. -.
Ill the streets of a German university
town you cannot fail to remark the groups OF
distinguished by their picturesque oIesS %nu 49,
port-folios from all around them. MOS - Vi ~ 80
the sion of their respective chores OF coIlege o
;eesa small colored cap, yellow, green wnile' OF
red and silver, according as the wearer IS - HWd"
i'm !" Is Vandal." IS RUSSIAN" or - w estPhaHan
chore brother the quarter from wG III" Te
ri,tons indeed the Berlin and other Prusslan SUI
dents at Heidelburg not unfrequently are members
the Swabian and WestPhalian chores. on mus
notice also that upon very many faces there are one
or more scars that rather injure the expression VI a
set of ucommony handsome connenanees. Anu Ill. !.
YOU ask the cause, you are toiu mat uieso "
troDhes won in the dueing. ROOM "he" you are
further informed that The authorities have no control
over, the students, (who answeraoie 10 'helr own
fcuIty alone and that from one to three or tour du-
els occur daily, you can hardly heiP regalu,ns
man university as very turbulent and awless place.
So much for a. first Impressions" But 60 with me
to view the actual combat before your Judgment is
pronounced. Through the kindness OF an acqualn-
lance was enabled to be present at the meeting oil
two rather noted combarants, which took place as
usual in the hall of little secluded inn, opposite
Heideburg.
The introduction was hardly necessary-you have
only to be known stranger, TO come and 60 ree
Nv, When we entered, the anti-room was occupied
by the parties The first duel, and their SECONDS anu
assistants, who dressing their Princ pals; ~
ers were iounging about, smoking and hahoilis w
weapons, laughing and chatting as 1t II were w 80
serious affair. l saw the whole process o. ion IS
The right was first envelopeu III oa''us ~
silk then-a stuffed sleeve drawn over IT, SO DIS 10
cover il entirely and the same time 10 ehcnhoel
the arm so much that the duest must support up
on the shoulder ola friend VINO stood oy i i'i 'e
nprnose Then a padded leather breast guard fast-
eninu behind, covered him from knees to throat a
crava of silk like small bolster In thickness guar
ded the throat; he drew thick stuffed glove ike
BOXING glove, but with long stuffed wflstiets DON
ned cap, also stuffed and with long leather visor
that shielded his face, pronounced ready and leu
to his place side OF the larger nail. by one
side stood his second, similarly guarded but In less
degree, and on the other the arms supporter. Inc
" schlauers," pontess double-edged sword, win
a basket hilt very 1.-the and flexible btade' ana
length of about and one hall feet, was given 10
each Of the principals and TO each secohu' anu every
thing was prepared.
No combat may last more than fifteen minutes, eX-
elusive of pauses for rest, and the umpire stood with
watch in hand and gave the word, " Fertlg, (ready)
Los !" (go) All four advanced to meet each 9th
er holding their weapons ZEN garde, the h elevated
and the point downwards, and the seconds, VINO are
parry and not strike, keeping close behind their
PRINCIPLES. They were soon met when blow was
struck, both seconds nterposed their blades, cried
Halt - and all four marched back again. This was
repeated again and again until the time was up, and
then the two heroes unpacked and satisfied"
By this you see there two men to guard, and but
one strike each blow-and nothing but the end OF
the nose, the tips of the ears, and small portion OF
each cheek, can possibly be hit; every where else
sword proof amor defends them. But one blow is
allowed, and f int is permissible; indeed, the
swords can scarcely before the word is given to
STOP and the swords of the seconds int rposed. They
run no possible risk except of ugly scar, and of
that not much. l two Guels fought, in which
neither touched, though the second pair fought
with much spirit, and one Of them was left-handed-
a fact which gave him no little advantage. The prin-
cipal damage done to the weapons. two or three
of which were snapped in the course OF the hight.
Regarded as duelS, the student combats are absurd
they nothing more than sword exercise attended
with the risk of uncomfortable and dishgurlng
scratch. They certainly offend against any moral
law no more than football match and though for
hidden by the university statutes, they perfectly
notorious, and intertered with GU may see
in the print shop windows large ithograph repre-
sentng eudent duel, with all the figures and like c
nesses (and very good ones) and TO max assurance
douby sure, the autograph fac smile of each is be-
meath the print.
Any other combat is extremely rare, and only oc Il
ours when serious quarrel is the Within $
two days, however, the first meeting for mortal
QUARREL, fora year past has taken place. The par p
ties fought with sabres, and undefended by arnor.
Otherwise the same regulations to time and the
eterposton of the seconds were observed. One of r
the principals severely if no fatally wounded by
cut the head, and lies in great danger t.
The other fled Immediately, beyond the British from
er. Another such will not probably occur for two !,
Or three years, and duels with the pistol almost
anheard Of So that, as you may see-the students n
life is far moro Peacebe than - first impress
sions " would lead one TO suppose. HeideLburg n
Correspondence Of the NeU Bedford Mercury. Il