The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-16

tie time. III fs pretty raptu uesceut hoA
the Molkeucur to the grounds Of the castle.
went through the whole castle, tne eA.eh'
sive grounds, the HeiDerich' Ban, sbe
:" b.owu-up tower" the iightning-straek po,'
tion, the chapel, cellar, saw the great hetoeh"
berg Tuu, &c, bat it Is all 10 tue gniie,
books, and omit any technical or Getalied
DESCRIPTION. What Ia not In. the guide.books,
and that would fain tell if Gould. is the
impress,on produced on me by union OF
those magnificent views and all their memo
ries with the beauty Of ivy, tree, aud
feger. the scenery around all protuse,
and esch perfect in Its way. The
impression Of pleasure Is so keen and foil
that the thought how soon one must
leave It. thatit Ia perhaps your only view, is
sure 70 tinge your sensations Mauy would
have relisbed the sweet music which. was
being playe In the castle grounds, and the
sight of the happy groups OF eitizens ana
students attired In their respective club-caps
snd drinking their beer and wine at the Ia.
bies in the open air, but would have liked
all better TO have had none Of that near the
castle. 1t was like "fair" Melrose Abbey.
To "yiew It Alright" there should be the
charm of solitude, whether by the light OF
the sun or the moon the pilgrimage be made.
TIE HILLS OF THE NEcKAR.
was so charmed with Heidelberg that I
found 1t quite impossible to start for B'den-
Baden this morning, as bad originally de-
signed doing. So after very early break.
fast secured my guide Of yesterday "a good
enough fellow, who speaks good Eogilsh ana
does not try 10 cheat you-and crossed tne
Neckar for walk amid the hills on the otner
side. Tile day was one that could hardly se
exceed, either for q tramp or ride. had
steep climb up the hillside, but l am con.
fident that my guide could give me good
certificate as pedestrian. Every 1901 OF
height gained brought out broader ana
better views of the scenery, and then again
to the right lay the old castle IN all us
matchless beauty. My guide took good care
to direct my steps to the Eur Hirscbgasse, or
famous students tavern, where their duels
are fought, and be also took good care to lm'
press on me the fact that the tavern was q
private one, to see which l would have to
pay my footing by ordering bottle of wine.
This Information proved of service to both
of US, for he got bis fair share of the wine.
The tavern is almost too pretty place to be
spoiled By any kind of brawl, or even by q
drinking frolic. 1t is near the foot of the
bills, on the right bank of the Neckar, nearly
opposite the castle, and is pleasantly en-
sconccd in ravine, amid flowers, and trees,
and vineyards. 1t is two.story structure.
STUDENTS DUEL. il.
NV guide pointed out to me with much
awe and respect, on the long table on which
we drank our wine, the names of the students
cut there pretty closely for the whole length.
Among them was the name OF the son OF
Prince Bismarck, who had been a student
some years before. This room was plain
one. The students dining.room was far
more elegant. Both were adorned with
liberal supply of engravings hung around
the walls, all of them representing the stu-
dents enjoying themselves with their cups OF
wine or engaged in duels. The boss who
managed the house, and who was regarded
as very important parsonage, was Myn-
heer of enormous proportions, and, Judging
by his appearance, had not gone back on bis
own liquor A young German, who was evil
IDENTITY preparing for like glorious and ele-
waited career in life, waited on me and got
me nv halfbottle of Neckar wine-as mild
manuered fluid as ever got into mans
throat. I was next shown by my guide, and
half by my stealth a5 it were, TO the room
above us, called the "fencipg.room," where
these students duelS are fought. The room
| is quite large one. At one end is small
bar, where coffee and liquors are served out !;
on either side are plain tables, where the
students sit and drink. One end is tree
| from all membranes. There are four
chairs placed two on each side at distance
| Of four or five yards, aud confronting each
other in an ominous manner. These chairs
are used by the duelistS and their seconds
in the pauses of combat; the space
| between the chairs Is where they fight, and
| the floor is plentifully marked by blood Staius
| My guide pointed out all these things to me
| with gusto that showed he had no great dis.
APPRECIATION for the code Of honor, and an
awe that indicated his belief that the students
| were the very salt of the earth. By this time
we bad descended to the public room, and
saw that numbers of the students were ar
riying-for there was to be duel this very
morning at 10 O'Clock. 1t was already half
past g.. The idea of being so near to Ger
man students duel, ,.and yet not to witness it.,
was to me absolutely inlolerable. IN vain did
my guide, backed up by the hotel waiter, as.
sure me that these affairs were entirely" "pri-
yate -: that none but the students were ever
allowed to witness them, and that could not
by any possibility be permitted to be pre-.
sent. This oply stimulated my curiosity and
fired my journalistic zeal.
Sending my card without appending any
request, and simply as visitor at Heidel-
berg, up to one of the students who heard
spoke SOME English, the young gentleman
came down and very cordially welcomed me,
and invited me to 60 up stairs to the "fenc-'
ing-room," where he introduced me to
number of bis friends. There were at least
forty or fifty students in groups at the differ
ent tables, some in white, some in green, and
some in blue caps, these caps tienoting by
their color the different clubs TO which they
belonged. Some were drinking wine, some
coffee, and others breakfasling. None of
them seemed at all excited, and though all
were present to witness an impending duel,
there was none of that gravity which is the
regulation style and natural feeling, may
add, of the American stfiirs of honor, A
stranger entering the room would bave sup
posed that this was an ordinary cafe, so little
did the manner Of those present, including
the bar maids, eyince any concern. One Of
the young gentlemen to whom had been
presented, who spoke English well, inquired
if I wished to witness the duel, and upon
my replying in the affirmative invited me to
remain. OF course this could only have been
by the general consent OF the parties espe.
ciaIy interested. All of sudden my young
friend jumped up quickly, saying
"THE DUEL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN" ~
Everybody else jumped up also, ard
formed semicircle near the chairs. The
com batants were already in place, facing each
other, and being armed--both OF them tall
youths Of about tYenty-one years or age
apparently, one, however, having the aovan'
tage in strength and, us the event proved, in
skill. They represented different clubs, and
bo5 frvo o,. thrao seconds anipen who were
as full of attentions and petits soins for their