New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-12
NetpDork DAILY Gsibm,ss.
An AMERICAN STUDENT At JENA

Correspondence # the n. L. Tribune. p
JrsA, July -, 1856.
The little town Of jena, lying hidden from the world
emong the green hills of Thuringen has in itself very
little to boast Of as regards beauty interest, except
Its e1tf,me cid age. The houses Ear from being
handsome snd as the mud OF which they ere built Is
begmnbg 10 give way there Is certain arness in
Their exterior appearance that far from being attrac-
tive in this cold climate. And their interior Is nothing
better Halls which lead in zgzas directions Heaven
only knows whittier, conduct YOU into tall broad and
long rooms with a multitude Of small windows and no
carpets each with its two chains ts desk, sofa and
ye-storied stove and all Of them very cherries and
airy. When YOU rccollect that is not two weeks
since we have had frost in our neighborhood you will
uerceiye that cool rooms not everywhere desirable
even in midsummer But Jena has one great sdvan-
tsce which must not fail TO mention. Ii is SMALL and
therefore il does not take long 10 get out OF IT. And
Gree out of it, crooked streets and from between Its
uI;re lie eve Is wandering aeghtedly over the splen-
did LANDSCAPE OF hills valleys, fields gardens hainets,
woods and vineyards you bestow an inward blessing
upon old Melanchon, or Luthor, or whoever II was
vto chose this site as the proper Location for Unyer-
siiv I have now been almost entirely through tho
TturirConwad but have seen no place so beautifully
situated in tlc midst of such splendid scenery as the
little University town OF Jena.
II is upon ills Uni, eIsity that Jena mainly depends
Having had some little experience IN student hie al
home and having heard so much about the romance Oh
German student life was little curious 10 compare
the Two together and 10 which presented Inc most
attractions and advantages to the student As tar a.
been drinking and tobacco-smoking are cohcerheu,
think the German Universities must Dear away mo
pam. As regards studying, however, Jon WISH 10
g,e too rash an opinion but have SOFT OF Suspicion
that German students about as much entitled 10
that name as are their American brethren The stu
dents L,re are not all long haired specialized men, Win
enormous mustaclos. On the contrary, such are inc
Ilo afa lll-tfre
raniv persons, with few very bad habits ana win
one single ylrtue-politensss. student VIII touch ms
hat wien lie meets in the street person with whom no
is engaged TO fight duel tie next day. Speaking OF
dues let me mention that they are the great institution
Of Jena. Duels duels, every day dues, and scarcely
student WHO does not bear ON LIS face one or moro
tremendous scars, trophies of the conflicts IN which
lie has been engaged. Dueling, as II is carried on
here is in NY opinion n very foolish way of passing
the time. Associations formed merely Tor the pui-
pose OF NJ hng, ard every member poun 10 hsnt at
L., Il one duel Inter walls OF ntoNcatlon al beer drunk
ing bouts are taken advantage OF 10 insult each Other
nld any harmless idle word is considered sufficient
proyooaton Tor a duel. The fights are IN themselves
harmless general thing, although frequently a blow
is received that dsfguIes, II At does not MAIN Tor
lite As | have already been present at sew.
cal Of these petty conflicts, perhaps YOU might
not consider a biof description OF one unn-
te,esting There were thee duels to be fought III
one moinipg and the hour OF had been appointed
rs the time when the police would be least ikeiy 10
| interfere with the sport. mend, VINO knew .ao
ropes" called for me- and we went t"geei "croSS ''o
little river Saal to the Gasihaus IN when Is ule r1ot
whore all these delicate little affairs come on. Inc
house Just at the end of the bridge and the room -
so situate that the guard who is always stationed as
the window can see every body who comes out OF jena
Duelup beng very strictly forbidden by the University
gulatons these precautions are OF course necessary
As We entered the room, the combatants Were JUS.
pepaiing for the encounter. lhe apartment was nied
wnh students smoking their long-stemne'spipes and
seated on benches ranged around the wall iaking
seat myseli had an opportunity of seeing the opera
ton of dressing for the hight The legs ana Dody arc
covered with large shield of padded buckskin Tho
nc M ann is hound round with cloths Of different coors
10 Great thickness the throat securely protected by
high padded collar, and the duelng cops have very
wide brms coming down over the eyes, so tha' inc
fnc md chest the only vulnerable parts oil tue Dou
II is ndo at the face and head that all the blows are
| aimed. The preparations beng completed, uie umpire
clos. by the conbaants called out, ana they tooA
| IN, il respective places opposite each otner, each Nv
tended by two seconds, oe to support tne sword-ann
during the pauses and intervals OF rest which are quite
fr quent and the other also armed and protected with
huge padded apron, to stop the hgiit inc nhomens
his principals sword is bent or foul blow Is struck
"Cioss the swordsn cried one Of the seconds They
| are crossed" answered the other. son, them and
at il they went hewiny and hacking, and cutting and
| slashDg at each others heads, just BECAUSE some
| evenings previous of them had expressed dis.
taste to the beer which the other was praisng F'
,en minutes is the time allowed for each OF these
of the dueliss had received several cuts, one ON tho
ear and two quite large wounds on the top OF tho
head bis antagonists sword having cut entirely
through the dueingcap. At length he received another
wound his hand, cutting clear into the baae OF ono
of his fingers. The battle then necessarily terminated.
The wounded person. with his face and body dripping
blood turned around family to bis secondly who ull-
DRESSED the M and then handed HIM over b a medi-
cal student who shaved of his hair, sewed up tho
wounds and sent him off home to bed rejoicing In
three or four days time however he was well again.
The other duelist had not even received scratch.
Two more ducls we're fought then but they termi-
mated more happly-,he time allotted u each expiring
without any injuries being received Such is an I'M
perfect description Of the duelng, which, together
with walking, talking smoking, and beer-drinking,
the chief occupation of the student in Jena. VI course
Won will understand ME to the wilder class Of
students only, for have become acquainted with
many who deprecate the institution Of duelng, anu