The anti-monopolist., 1875-08-16
LITERARY
The CowardIy Murder of a Heideiburg Uni
yersty Student.


A letter from Heidelburg, Germany, re-
cords the following foul tragedy
When a student takes his place IN col
lege he is, in the course Of some weeks,
proposed as member, as they are called
in American colleges.
When admitted the student is ''fox,"
and the ceremony Of initiation involves two
or three continuous nights of dissipation,
and the candidate receiving baptism OF
beer the first night wine the second, and
cognac the third. Songs are sung, speeches
made, and various tomfooeries gone through,
the whole winding up by the new member
passing between double line of his COM
panions and receiving on his head the con-
tents of hundred or more beer mugs.
A week ago brilliant young fellow from
Frankfort Hirschell by name, having en-
joyed the place and privileges OF fox for
a year or more, sent application to the
Corps Court to be admitted to the "Bursch.
His case was weighed solemnly by the com
bined Presidents, and two dissenting mem
bers were found in the seven. These gen
tlemen, the Presidents of the two aristo-
cratic corps declared that Hirschell had not
borne himself bravely in the initial duels,
and that he was not worthy the companion
ship of braves like himself and his COM
rades The decision was communicated to
the young fellow, and the result was an in
stantaneous challenge to the TWO dissentents
"a challenge which was Instantly accept
ed.
The responsible person, the leader of the
Saxo- Banassn corps who had voted against
the admission OF the other fine
specimen of the average noble born German.
Tall, rather more than usually shapely,
with the color Of his corps over his shout
ders and across his breast to his left hlp, he
made a striking picture. The challenger
was sliehter of build and more comely IN
appearance, boy of perhaps nineteen-
neither of them over twenty The sec
onds made last attempt to settle the affair
amicably. even when the two were standing
ready for the signal The younger and as-
priev d had shook his head impatently
He declared life unbearable under such
stigma.
The method of dueling with pistols here
is to load one weapon only and give both tf
the combatants Neither knows which h,
has of course the loaded or unloaded, th'
man receiving the first choice to whom th'
lots comes The details ended at ten min
utes past 6. the words one, two. were spok
en-. and two reports heard. The challenge
had drawn the empty pistol the work o
his antagonists ball being plainly visible
in the body Of tree behind him.
Naturally it was thought that this woul'
end the contest. The lad had proved hi
willingness to stand FIRE, and if the othe
had only the presumption Of his lack 0
bravery to guide him to voting against HI
admission this would convince him Of hi
mistake and the unhappy affair would b
ended To the surprise of everybody th
Young ruthan demanded the three shots,
which by the code he is entitled. The SCI
onds could only demur, they could not re
fuse. and then in the warm sunlight, ii
birds whir ing and twi,tering, the trees an
shrubbery glistening in crystal stars. tt
whole scene an unutterable symphony
peace and beauty. this villainous thing W,
done
You can't escape now, said the mul
derer. II don't want TO escape, you coy
srdly SANDER responded has vieti'
promptly. Another shot Missed ihrous
the intervening space. No harm was uon
however. and the seconds oreatheu fres
But one more and the evil work might y
end happily. Again the young savage
pleaded with He was reminded that It "
he whe was now acting the coward.
responded with wrath that any man asse
ing il would have to meet him when he b
finished THAT fellow.
He demanded his third shot, and 1t "
given. He raised the weapon deliberate
a beam Of sunshine glistened on the barr
he lowered the point, waited. raised II sic
lv. took careful aim, and. at the word tv
fred. He had kept his promises his vic'
could trouble him no more The wretcn
boy lay on his back on the soft, wet grs
blood pouring from his body IN s'reai
The ball had entered the stomach just
low the navel. and death in a short time '
inevitable,
When the funeral cortege passed throI
Haup,strom to the depot, all heideios