Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-21
GERMAN DUELs.
HOW STUDENTS SLASH EACH OTHER.


on fogpy morning rs friend and my
self marched along the Mariahilfer
strasse, in Vienna. Ny friend was u
Young surgeon Of promise.
at is smensur,'" quoth he; "there
will be hot work, for some OF them are
old hands,
A batch OF students duels was to be
fought of, and my friend was doctor for
his old corps, the "Silesia!"
You must be colleague for the
nonce," said he, as We turned down u
narrow side street II can hardly in
troduce You to 'mensur' unless you
pass as doctor"
So buttoned high mS cost and
looked professional. We entered
little restaurant, passed through to the
back, and so by narrow passage to
door with peep-hole-
"Ah, doctorT called half dozen
voices, as We entered.
NV conductor, turning TO me, said
"Gentlemen, here H. ID English col.
league OF mine DESTROYS OF Witnessing
our 'mensur,' let M introduce him"
Long lasted the bowipg, shaking OF
hands, and exchanging Of names, for
punctilious politenes3 Is never more dc
rigueur than on such occasions. A
long room with table ut either end,
tn. walls hung with black led gold
Tags and shields of tho 'Silesia"-an
arsenal OF swords in tho racks gloves,
masks and paddipgs in rrofusicn. A
group OF red-capped students standing
and sitting round one table, a group OF
green capped students at the other
tse whole in q fine atmosphere OF to-
be- eco smoke. Plastered were the faces
of many, end almost every left cheek
bore proud traces OF doughty blows.
Our adversaries st tue other end OF the
room were "Saxonia."
Nv friend and his colleague OF the
other corps now busted themselves in
laying out the implements OF their art
while the first pair Of combatants
prepared for action. Coats and waist
coats were removed; the sword arm was
swaLhed in many folds Of black silk rs
was also the neck, while wadded gar
ment-ho1ribly stiffened and discolored
from use-protected the body, and the
tyes were guarded 10y goggle-like spec
scle frames. A fellow got up In this
cuise has a right "urcanBy' look about
him, especially with the long straight
sword with the feariully sharp blode
and a great basket guard" IN his
hand.
I'VE will commence at o1ce, II it is
agreeable to y1u."
=" We are entirely at your service"
The presidents OF either corps sa.
Int tremendously, the crowd OF stu.
dents fall back, the combatauts advance
to chalk line. The presidents on
either side are in full studen. gala, boot.
ed, capped and r;bboned-their naked
swords ready TO parry an unauthorized
blow. The recorder reads tho protocol
of the fight, the senior calls: "Si-
lentium Ready Guard !" There is
a seconds pause, and then Mt 'he word
4" los !" lie. loose) tho hammering be
Gins. 1t is not at all like broadswords
or sinalesticks still less like foils, for
The students paukerei' il quite sui
genesis-an ineleSant hacking at close
quarters with nothing bat the over
guard =" terce and quart"
They are to fight fcr ii.een minutes
tests not irc,rded-unless, OF course,
before that time the doctor declares
it 20 be dangerous to ir esd. " Halt"
is called for few seconds. First blood.
at is nothing" declares the doctor,
and the swcrlsmen advance again, but
one of them has dripping cash in the
cheek. Ealt is called ut least
! zen times, and each time another
cash is rocoried. One man can hardly
see for the blood which trickies down
his forehead and gets under his Cog
giles, al d so the doctor with calm readi-
ness, smears the upper rim with the
grease from a plate Of "guylasch," and
thus djysrts the goIf stream.
"Our man can go Oh q bit more,
from the SaIonia-
"Our man is quite ready" from the
Siiesia.
Ready Los" once more. Ham-
mer, hammer; clash, clash.
"Halt y lock of hair hUtters to the
ground; Saxonia staggers back; the
doctor is at his side.
I'VE must stop" remarks E'cula-
Plus, after glance; "a deep scalp
wound"
The recorder advances, and reads
passiyely from his notes:
"'Mensur' between Y OF Saxonia.
and Y Of Silesia. Stopped 10y DR..
Z, after fourteenth round, after
twelve and three-quarter minutes actual
Sighting"
And d W the doctors fall to work,
and a right ghaetly sight it is ; CORY
paddings, steamiDg hot, are loosened,
and vine poured down between pale
lips. Next duel vas far finer affair.
for pract.c, slashers yield the steel.
Eyerybooy took the trouble TO look on
even the most crushed Of topers put
down his beer and assumed critical
mien. Lightning quick dashed the
blades, whjzzinS ominously but the
touches were less frequent by reason OF
greater skill in pnrrying. All at once
s5llesia dropped his weapon and tainted
outright. His whole haLd was laid open
by a skiiliul under switch. This con-
Guided the second affair.