Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-12
AN AFFAIR OF HONOR IN THE GER
MANY OF TO-DAY.
Interrupted by the POllce-A COmpli.
Gated Series Of Padded ArmOr and
Cloth-wrappings-The Word
"Go"-Hors de Combat.
[Gottingen Cor. Minneapolis Tribune.l


village at a little distance from the town,
and thither we were driven early one morn
ing over the frozen snow. Having arrived
at one of those picturesque old "Wirthshaus"
as well known in German song and story as
in the Germany Of to-day, and our cards
having been sent in and duly inspected, We
were ushered into long, low room, moder-
ately well. filled with students, and artistic
ally draped with wreaths of tobacco smoke,
touched, it must be confessed, with frequent
dashes of the amber color proper to the ma
tional beverage. Preparations for the AZ
fray were evidently well under way. There
were two objects half reclining on the
edges of two chairs in the middle Of the
room; Of the general human shape, but 50
much wrapped up that only their heads and
arms revealed their affinity to humanity.
Two surgeons were enjoying q preliminary
cigar, and at the same time looking over
their stock OF carbol and lint, and the friends
of the beligerents were evidently arranging
the last technical points and assuming the
customary supreme importance of thoee
fortunate persons in all lands to whose lot it
falls duel or dog fight, or any similar
pageant, to superintend.
But the course Of true "chivalry" in this
particular instance resembled that Of true
love- which, it will be remembered, rarely
runs with all the felicity that could be de-
sired. Just at the juncture when every
thing and everybody, except the actual par
ticipants l venture to say, were ready, a
man whom the students station at certain
crossroads for such emergencies came rush-
ing in and breathlessly announced apolizie."
A runaway on Washington avenue could
not have changed the aspect Of things there
more quickly or more effectively. The
bandaged and helpless were hustled down
cellar, the implements Of war were thrown
in q closet, and the onlooksrs having dis
tributed themselves judiciously but hastily
in the various guest-rooms Of the houe.
proceeded to innocentiy sing and yell after
the student fashion the world round.
1t is difficult to imagine why the police
choose to interfere in this way at stated In
tervals with the student duels They are
prohibited by the university laws, to be
sure. but so openly practiced sQuarely under
the nose Of all authorities, and 50 invariably
winked at, that the only rational explana-
tion seems to be that the police choose thus
to give the students hint now and then to
keep within proper bounds-which probably
is to mean that they shall not quite kill each
other. However this may be, one particu-
lar policeman staid only long enough 10
sample the ~Witsh's" brew, and the duel
soon went merrily on. The two persons most
Immediately concerned, reappeared from
below, still wearing their complicated series
Of padded armor and cloth. wrappings
around the trunk, arms, and neck, leaving
only the face and head bara While the left
arm was being tied behind them, and the
iron-framed spectacles adjusted to protect
the eyes, the referees, seconds and othar
important functionaries, each wearing the
colors Of his corps" took their positions
A short period Of suspense followed,
broken only by the formal half Latin, half
vernacular proclamation Of some sort from
the referee, followed by Q responss from all
the seconds, surgeons, and other officials, in
turn; SO that . more impressive moment it
has rarely been my fortune to experience.
The word "Gop from the referss
second later but family expresses
the way those two students stood
up to each other and tried to the best Of
their ability to mutilate the others head.
The right arms were held straight up in the
air, and every motion came quick as light
ming, seemingly all from the wrist and fore
arm The steel rapiers, nearly as sharp as
razors, flashed back and forth 80 rapidly
that it was impossible for the unskilled and
barbarian eye to follow them. Pretty soon
blood frcRI somewhere began to trickle down
the sidefac,s of both men. Then a brief
halt for the referee to take notes on the situ-
alton.
Another halt, with more notes By this
time there were spots Of Venetian red on
the clothing Of men and on the floor. Still
another Lalt, with still more consultation.