Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-28
GERMAN STUDENT LIFE.
a Description or Two Cory Dueis at
Heidelberg.
lneldelherr lrtler % the Boeton Advertlser.l

the reading room. he was from
Cologne, and, therefore, a Guestphalian,
and studying law and political science.
As 10 duels, no, they were not forbidden,
bnt they were not actually permitted.
Could any one see them 81 will take
you tomorrow. Hand this card TO the
madchen at the door OF the " Hlrsch-
gasse at half-pa 8 and call for me.
Adieu," and bowling with the ceremony
he would have affected in a ballroom we
shook hands and parted.
Before o'clock the next morning !
saw from my upper window IN the Int
ter half-dozen landaus filled with
bright-capped students rolling down the
narrow street to the old bridge that
spans the Neckar, past many men who
were hurrying the same way on foot AS
soon rs possible / joined the cavalcade.
The " Hirschgasse, large, old-fashion-
ed, plain two-stoued building, with an
inner court and beer-garden in 'front.'
was guarded by an ugly-looking sene-
schal, who took my card upstairs.
Soon my college friend appeared
A duel was already in progress
" q IlaNNfh iAUlll AAlt DNAAAo INV -
spacious chamber, in which at our night
was a long, plain table covered with
great cotton paddings, meant for the
protection of all parts OF the body, ana
Il sword or two with gauntlets as large as
boxing gloves. On the left were two
smaller tables running the opposite way,
separated by a chair with a headrest,
which had another little table covered
with scissors, knives, powders, bottles,
and mysterious surgical instruments IN
general in front OF it. The walls were
bare, save a few pictures and por-
traits. Through this room We went
up into a greut high hall, twice as
large as the first. Here the duel was
in progress. At the left Of our entrance,
stretching out to the windows, were four
or five tables with benches, at winch
few students in their different caps were
seated, drinking Rhine wine or bouillon
or eating sandwiches On our right hall
a hundred follows were huddled about
the narrow circle out OF which, over the
heads Of all, could see the sword-blades
flash and descend, rise, flash and descend
again, and hear their ominous clashlng.
| was led up closer, and courteously
members OF my friends corps, to
whom. with the same ceremony l have
always noticed, ! WAS there IN
troduced, fell back, giving me chance
to see everything 10 the best advantage.
Each contestant was supported by Two
seconds, who Strengthened his sword,
stayed up his arms, or wiped the blood
from his face and head. Another kept a
record in a book of the cuts received.
Two others stood by to give the signals
for beginning or ceaslng the passes,
which were always brought TO an end
whenever new fountain of blood was
opened or new bits Of hair began
to fly. Each figure WAS padded and
wadded to the knees, and the
eyes OF each were protected. Over
the breast and stomach and down to the
knees hung n great breast-plate Of the
toughest cloth made-at least an inch
thick. The whole was streaked and
stir with clotted human blood and mex
presslby disgusting. It looked as If It
had been worn for years in a slaughter
house. When first / looked upon the
duclists the surface of this breast-pate
worn by one was flowing with blood
which dripped, dripped, dripped, as 1t
was pumped up by the vigorous lungs
ont from gaping wounds In his cheek
and head. down over his body, upon his
boots, and into a great pool upon the
loor. Every little while sand was
sprlnkled 1ndcr his feet. His opponent
was faring much better. He had simply
a slit in his ear. But every time, at the
given signal, the poor fellow whom | first
saw rose up most pluckily from the arms
Of the men who supported him and adj
yanced sturdilv to the contest. 1t was
no chIld's play at fighting. Every blow
was meant to tell. The vigorous dead
earnestness Of the thrusts Of those sharp
cned blades was agonlzing. At my side
suddenly a student, who, was told after
wards. had seen several duels, collapsed
IN a faint at the horrible scene. In
an instant he was raised upon the
shoulders Of four students and car
RED back into the other room. Now and
then the doctor, a pale, sepulchral look
ing figure in shiny black broadclotb,
would step up and examine the wounds
to see if there was any danger III letting
the duel proceed. ! wondered why the
better man had no pity. 1t would seem
that now he had done mischief enough.
But he went on slashing away at his i'll
matched foe in an ugly, brutal manner.
/ would have cried Rah, rah, rah 3"
if | could have seen his cheek slashed
to the bone. And | did show
quite objectionable enthusiasm
when, Just before the fifteen min
utes were up, he received an ugly cut
on the top Of the head. For the most
part the students do not betray them
selves by the slightest word or look.
They seem to believe III Bishop Buffers
philosophy, that " things will be ashley
will be. But the dnel was at last over.
and most of the number betook them
selves to the tables and went to writing
in the little corps books or eating their
breakfast. was glad enough to take a
glass OF wine, for / had dissipated a
good deal of nervous energy and
felt faint. l tried to get away
then. But the Guestphalians were
eager for me to stay and see one of their
men fight. Against my will, for their
sake / waited, therefore. And mean
while / was taken ont into the other
room, where the Guestphalian was pre-
pairing for his battle. ITO was stripped
to his trousers, and then the padding
began. In q previous duel this man bad
had his nose seriously cut, and the doc
tor thought best for him to wear
protector OF that organ lest the
old wound should be opened. Over
on the opposite side, IN the chair
have before mentioned, the partici-
pant in the former duel was receiving
the doctors attention. He was q pitt
ful-looking object, nearly fainting in
the pain. which he bore without n MUIR
muir, and a fellow student was holding
his hand. But at last he was patched
up, the doctor was free, the new con-
Iestants were ready. and the second duel
began. Sometimes, my friend told me,
they are kept there till 4 o'clock in the
afternoon. The system is a shocking
piece OF superstition, serving, AS
far as | can see, no good end.
although the students are devoted
to it and regard it as betrayine courage
OF rare sort. 1t is indeed a plucky
thing TO walk up before a naked sword