Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-23
GERMAN DUELlSTS.

The Munich correspondence of the
New York Times says:
When one student believes himself to
have been insulted by another he sends
him challenge through the hands of a
friend, and such is the ssnsitiveness of
the German sense of honor he dare not
decline it. They quarrel much less
freely over matters of love than Ameri-
cans, though they are not a whit less
fond of gazing upon a comcly virgin.
The challenger has right to demand
satisfaction with any weapon he chooses,
as pistol or crooked sabre; but it is
exceedingly rarely that they use anything
else than long, narrow. straight sword
(Schlager). Every student is bound to
give satisfaction not only to those of his
own university, but from others also, to
army officers and those recognized as
citizens (phillster). The challenger has
the right to appoint the umpire, while
the challenged appoints the surgeon who
shall attend, as well as the time and
place. Both the seconds, the umpire
and the surgeon must be on good terms
with each other; either principal may,
persons from the spectacle, though there
are usually twenty-five or thirty of the
sworn friends present
The affair usually takes place in a
close, retired room in the city, though
sometimes in deep thicket in the neigh
borhood; if the challenger is fifteen min
utes behind time in the city, or thirty in
the country, he loses his claim for salts
faction. The usual challenge is for
twenty.four rounds, which must be of
certain number of minutes, provided the
parties do not earlier become hors de
combat.
Let us look in now upon the room
where they are assembled. Grouped
about the room in all sorts OF posture are
the spectators, upon whose fine, manly
faces the pale light casts an uncertain
glow; not one of them, except perhaps
the managers and very few others, will
be without his long crooked pipe or his
cigar, which, SO sang .troid do they re-
gard the proceedings, they do not forget
to Whit throughout, while in the centre
stand the combatants, stripped for the
fray. Glorious blades these German
students are-there 80 pair of them
now before my window-rosy and of
magnificent anatomy, not like our
cadaverous martyrs in America. who
looked as if they were afflicted with the
pipe-ste poor and thin legs and arms
were swelled up like knilting-needles
The principals take off coat and vest and
generally the cap, put on thick leather
apron which covers the body as high as
half way up the waist and down 10 the
knees, which is closely tied around them
with strings, thick, wide stock around
the neck, and gauntets, the right one of
which covers the arm to the shoulder.
The seconds are armed and equipped
in the same manner, aud take th5ir po-
sition close behind their principals
When all is ready the challengers sec
ond calls out, Cover the scratch. (dy;I
DIE menSprl The other one then com
mands, "Lay out lIegt eucA qusl, and
lastly, the first one SAYS, Let fly" llps)
which is the signal for them TO begin to
play. | cannot give all the technical
regulations ofthe play praeticed fencers
alone would undefstaHd them. They are
very rigid, however, as foF instance, II
either party gets forward Of his mark
four times, The umpire administers a re-
buke, and the fifth tima be is ruled out,
As soon as the challenger has ''aeshed'
his sword be has received ''saiisfaction,"
and the woabd in bis honor at once heals
over.
SO far are they from regarding these
operations with loaIhng, that they often
have them painted aud chrome litho-
graphed, each figure including the spec
tators, with a number attached. to which,
below, they append their own signatures:
These pictures are then distributed
among their friends and admirers, as in
ieresting and honorable certificates that
tLoy have Hsaau sprvipp