The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-04-22
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The Brutal C0mbats Carried on In
the Universities Of Germany.
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70 ,Germau studep,sso 0ae is csllei the,
Americans duel, another 10 the f'sahle
mensur,, and the third is the ordinary
mensur, ID Which an t1e persouf Is pro-
.ecsed except the face and read, which
are pecked away at with small, fexible
blade. The eyes are sefe behind iron
spettacles, and ahetes ia ain dst.n0 dan
ger In the fts. kind one ,muYt die, Lots
are thrown, and one must destroy him.
self. In the second the dan ger Is mid
way between the t~ot tothess1 Three OF
the principal arteries on. each side ofths
body are pretected, like the eyes, but:the
chest, arfns, mad and face are left to the.
mercy OF the heavy, vilIainous looking
saber. One blow through the anpro
tected heart, and aman's dueling days
would Terminate The different grades
of dueling represent as many grades Of
Insults. To call fellow student an 'ig-
noramus," is all that is required to de-
mand the second kind The first is large
ly reserved to settle precedence 10 love
affairs, though of course the maiden
never msrries tbs, survivor. was insi-
Ted to attend q .'sable mensur" recently
in Berlin, as guest Ct one Of the corps.
Taking the elevated road to tie oatskirts
OF the city, We found the clans assem-
bled in q qniet "bier local" on the great
square. Representatives oi all the stu
dent corps in the university were there
red caps, blue caps, and black caps.
Our arrival was none too early, for no
sooner had our coats been laid aside
than the assembled students aud guests
solemnly arose, took their beer mugs 10
their hands, and fled 10 stately process
sion past the bar and made into the long
adjacent room, called by courtesy "a
hail." which Is hired by the corps to-
gether for dueling purposes. as II was
pa,riol ically decorated with German tiags
on the walls, and pugilistically with saw
dust on the floor, which bad been clear.
ed. At either end OF the room was q
stalwsrt young gladiator, with Teutonic
features. preparing for the contest On
the ,chairss close. at hand, were lint sur
gical instruments and sponges.. Around
we're medical students, seconds, officials,
sympathizsrs and on lockers. Every
one was expectant, and the garcons pass
ed around tue bieras .ilsN Noa3 ,aaI,aspf
Presently the combatants we're brought
up facing one another, their sword arms
held aloft by attendants. The seconds
took their places, and the blue cap wss
removed from the head Of the tall stu
dent, who looked mad, and the red cap
from the head OF the pale student, who
looked calm. They we're dressed only
in shirts, trousers. and shoes. and stood
In position with one hand held behind.
The points Of the duelists we're discussed,
snd The garc passed. around tue bier
Everything svas ready. The sabers
we're crossed. The word was given, and
the seconds cried "loose." The blades
flashed. There was q succession Of
clashes and d vigorous whirling OF sharp
steel through the air. Suddealy loud
cry of s'halt" is given. There is pause,
and the student who looked mad has lost
piece OF his skin and shirt sleeve to-
gether. A surgeon staunches the aow OF
blood, and she garcons pass round the
bier. 10 :HN sab
With the same formalities the contest
begins. The atmosphere Is cut into
many giblets. The pale student puts
the most science-his antagonist the
most force-into his blows. The former
is cool and clever-the blood Of the lat
ter is mounting. The fencing is done
with, increased energy. Again . shout.
They stop. The pale man has scratch
on his right cheek 1.-The tall man is losing
some OF his angry blood from deep cut
in the left side OF his face. Again more
sponging--thiss time longer-and again
more beer. This sort OF, thing must be
kept up fifteen minutes, actual fighting
time, or till one is Killed or disabled. On
the whole I'd rather see an ametenr dog
eight. Again they are as II, still more
earnestly. Again the blue cap gets
cash, ana his shirt front is covered with
blood.
! This is not serious euoughto stop the
brutal nonsense, and the tnal bout Is be-
Igun.s The saber OF the pale student re-'
wolves with the speed and precisions Of a
,fv.wheel Taey lcome so closest that the
.hilts of the swords hit. The tail man 'is
sngfy and inspain--the other steady end
watchful Suddenly there ia . horrible
moment swhen the sabers miss the con.
tact and ssWeeps kissing through the sir
and you expect to see head decspitateds
A step forward. IA short. 'sT The secords
knock the blades mp. The head Of the
tall man drops upon his chestsand slows
a ghastly CASH through scalp and fore
head, and the blood tricklas down upon
the sswdust. 4 ri - slsaG Ia rsi ieA.
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