The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-30
Boy Ducllists in Germany.

From the Evening Post.
An American student at G%ottingen,
G. NJ. Harper, Princeton, 'S4, writes
the following account OF a recent stu
dent duel:
"A fight was just about to begin.
The combatants, surrounded by sec
onds, umpires, and friends, had al
readytakcn their places on the floor.
Their breasts and thighs were pro-
tected by thick pads, on which the
black blood OF former encounters had
gathered for years past. The veins OF
The neck were guarded by winding
around it a heavy scarf. Iron goggles
with plate-glass windows concealed the
eyes, and the arms were also covered
with wadding. The swords were long
and narrow, without points. One of
the pair OF warriors, II member of the
blue cap corps, was a pale, slender,
good-looking youth. He never spoke
a word or took his eyes off his adver-
sary. The latter, one Of the red caps,
was a big burly fellow, whom the pads
seemed greatly to Cypress; perhaps he
~ iiiSiitSllCo. 1 soIl l. piaiilt NM.
1.-The surgeon stepped back, looking
like a butcher, in his long white apron,
spotted with blood. There had been
timekeeper took his place at a little
table. The seconds jumped into
position each at the left side ofhis man,
after polite bows to each other in true
German fashion. The fifty or sixty
4, ~ ~, ,y,,l,,t -l-~ 49,. IA A,.u -
little tables around the eating
breakfast and drinking, rose to see
the fight. All was %solemnity, and the
silence was only broken by some dig
niiied fellows calling to an acquaint-
ance clear across the floor and drink
ing his health. at the same time bow
ing profoundly and lifting his cap.
There were Il few sharp words of COM
mand repeated by one second after
the other, somethinglike 'Makeready.
Co. and iY an instant all one could
see was the flashing Of swords and the
tlyingof sparks, and all onecould hear
was the regular 'wliack, whack,' OF the
blows. There seemed to be only one
kind OF stroke, and eachmet the other
half way. Halt! cried the fat fellow,
and the seconds u up to see where
ne is cut; but it was n false alarm.
They rub him a little and let him
sweat a moment, then at it again.
Dodglng with the head or moving the
feet or body is not allowed, and tho
lett arm must be kept behind the back,
'Whack. whack. whack!' as before. but
also a clear swish! from a clean per-
pendicular slash in the big fellows left
cheek.
About this time I wondered how the
hotel woman could stand it, for she
had been carrying meat and drink
from table to table all the time. l al.
so had occasion to see a man who had
for two seasons been punished behind
the bat on the Princeton, base balThine
and who had risked his life in one or
two Thanksgiving day ball comes,
walk with uncertain step to the win
dow for q breath OF fresh air. 1t isn't
pleasant to see a mans cheek laid
open deliberately. The next round
proved even more disastrous for the
plump rea-cap, Tor he received an ugly
cash above the eye, which will 20
WIFI hm as long as the eye itself.
Next time his chin suffered and THEN
his nose. He was out OF breath, and
looked miserable. went to the Win
dow and looked at the clear blue sky
and the golden fields, and wondered
why human society must so tor
ture itself with useless and cruel
conventionalities. But the fascin-
alton OF the raining blows called
me back to see the next round. A
nun OF interest ran along t%hegallery
front, when the cool little fellow was
seen to get far the heaviest blow ofthe
fight across his brow, which was soon
covered with blood.
They took off the goggles and the
blood ran into his eyes. Then they
mopped it up and he was ready again,
and III the next round gave his oppo-
nent another cash on the left temple.
1t seemed to me about time to call a
holt Tor good, and presently they did.
Under the rules a fight lasts fifteen
minutes OF actual fencing, pauses not
counted. With parlses reckoned in,
tins must have lasted about forty
minutes. The sladiators carried their
bloody heads into another room to
receive the doctors attention, and
preparations began for another duel.
asked a STUDENT either ofour bloody
friends had fought before, and he said
laconically: The little fellow has
fought min this term"