The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-01-31
STUDENT DUELS,
0hD Brutal Combats Carried On In the
Uniyersitics OF Germany.

1ueT0 are JnIoe kluQS Oh Ou0lS known !
20 German students. One is called the
American duel, another is the sable
mensur," and the third is the ordinary
mensur, in which all the person il pro-
tected except the face and head, which
are pecked away at with small flexible
blade. The eyes are safe behind iron
spectacles, and there is almost 10 dam
ger. In the first kind one luust di.
Lots are thrown, and one Must destroy
himself. In the second the danger is
midway between the two others. Three
OF the principal arteries Cn each side of
the body are protected, like tine eyes,
but the chest, arms, head and face are
Left to the mercy Of the lieAvs. villain
ous-looAing sAbcr. One bow through
the unprotected h art. and mans d,l-
cling days would terminate TIE diff
erent grades Of dazzling represent 3
many grades Of insuit,. 10 call a fell
low-student an "isnoramls,' is all tha.
is required to demand tne >, conu kind.
The first is largely reserved to settle
precedence III love a;,alrs, though ut
course the maiden never m,irries the
survivor. | WAS invited to attend
Sable mensur" recently i'll E,.riiE, ;Is u
guest OF one OF the corps. Taking the
elevated road to the outskirts Of the
city, we found the clans assembled in u
quiet bier local" on great square.
kepresen ntatlvts OF all the stl.dent CORPS
in the university were there-reu caps,
blue caps, green caps, and BLACK caps.
Our arrival was none too early, for no
sooner had our coats been laid aside
than the assembled students and guests
r solemnly arose. took their beer mugs
in their hand, and filed IL stately pro-
.cession past the bar and into the long
4 adjacent room. called by courtesy "a
hail." which is hired by the corps to-
gether for dueling purposes. 1t was
patriot lily decorated with German
hags on the walls, and pugilistically
with sawdust on the floor, which had
been cleared. At either end Of the
room was stalwart young gladiator,
with Teutonic features, preparing for
the contest. On the chairs, close at
hand, We're lint, surgical instruments
and sponEes. Around were medical
students, seconds, officials, sympathiz-
ers, and on-lookers. Every one was ex-
pectant, and the garcons passed around
the bier
Presently the comhatants were
brought up facing one another. their
sword arms held aloft by attendants.
The seconds took their places, and the
blue cap was removed from the head ot
the tall student, who looked mad, and
the red cap from the head of the pale
student, who looked calm. They were
dressed only in shirts, trousers, and
A,a1 ~, ,,nS.<tny, with
hand held behind. The points of the
duelists were discussed. and the garconi
passed around the bier.
Everything was ready. The saber:
were crossed. The word was given. an(
the seconds cried "loose." The blades
flashed There was q succession o
clashes and 4 vigorous whicllng of sharl
steel through the air. Suddenly lout
cry of "halt" is given. There is . pause
and the student who looked mad ha
lost o piece of his skin and shirt-sleev
together A surgeon stanches the tiov
of blood, and the garcons pass roun'
the bier.
With the some formalities the contes
begins. The atmosphere is cut int
many giblets. The pale student put
the mos: science--his antagonist tn
most forc.-into his blows. The fol
mer is cool and clever--the blood G
the latter is mounting. The fencing
done with increased energy. Again
shout. They stop. The pale man la
q scratch on his right cheek-the ta
man is losing some OF his angry bloc
from deep cut in the left side Of hi
face. Again more sponging-thi tim
longer-and again more beer. Thl
sort of thing must be kept up fftee
minutes, actual fighting time, or tt
one is killed or disabled. On the whole
I had rather see an amateur dog-fgh
Again tlcy ar, at it, still more carr
estlv. Again the blue cap gets a gasl
and his shirt front is covered Wit
blood.
This is not serious enough to stop I'll
brutal nonsense, and the final bout
begun. The saber of the pale studel
A revolves with the speed and precisio
of tiy-whecl. They come so clos
that the hilts of the swords hit. II
tall man is angry and in pain-tl
other steady and vatchful. Sudden
there is horrible moment when Il
.sabers miss the contact and sweep his
ing through the air, and you expect
see q head decapitated. A step fo
ward. A shout. The seconds knot
the blades up. The head of the "a
man drops upon his chest, and shows
1xhastly cash through scalp and for
head, and the blood trickles down up'
the sawdust.-Dr. ". Still0a0ss, N 4
6arat0gian.
TIE terms Of twenty-five Unit