Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-08
GERMAN STUDENTS DuELs.
The Way They Fight Them in the Pretty
 Town of Heidelberg.

A correspondent Of tho Boston Advertiser, | describing Ine manner in which German ] students conduct their duels, writes as fol- l lows: After dinner the student found us in 1 the reading room. He was from Cologne, 1 and, therefore, Westphalian and study ing law and political science. As to duels, no, they were not actually permitted. Could any ono see rhema "I will take you to-mor- row. Hand this card at the door of the 'Hirschgasse' at S:30 o'clock and call for nae, Adieu." And, lowing with the cere- mony he would have affected in a ballroom, VIC shook hands and parted.
 Before eight o'clock the next morning saw from my upper window in the "Rltter'' a half dozen landaus, filled with bright capped students, rolling down the narrow street to the old bridge spanning the Neck CT, past many men who were hurrying the same way on foot. As soon as possible I joined the cavalcade. Tho " Hlrschgasse," n large, oid fashioned, plain, two-storied building with an inner court and beer gar den in front, was guarded by an ugly-lool1 ing seneschal who took my card upstairs. Soon my college friend appeared 4 duel was already in progress.
 Wo passed from tho stairs into high, spacious chamber, in which at our right was a long, plain table, covered with great cot ton paddings, meant for tho protection of all parts of tho body, and a sword or two, with gauutlets as large as boxing gloves. On the loft wero two smaller tables run ming the opposite way, separated by a chair with head rest, which had another little table covered with scissors, knives, pow ders, bottles and mysterious surgical in- strumcnts in general in front of it. The walls were bare, save a few pictures and portraits. Through this room we went up into great high hall twice as large as the first. Hero the duel was in progress. At the left of our entrance, stretching out to tho windowu, were four or five tables with
 benches. at which a few students in their different caps werc seated drinking Rhine wine or bOuilloA. or eating sand wiches. On our right half hundred fel- lows werc nuddled about the narrow circle of which, over the heads of all, I could sec the sword blades flash and descend, rise,
 flash and deSCCud again, and hear their ominous clashing. l was led up closer, and, courteously, members of my friends corps,
 to whom, with the same ceremony l have always noticed, was there introduced, fell
 back, giving me chance to sec every
 thing to tho best advantage.
 Each contestant was supported by two seconds, who straighteucd his sword, stayed up his arms or wiped tho blood from his
 facc and head. Another kept q record ill n
 book of tho cuts received. Two others stood
 by to give the signals for beginning or ceaS- ing the passes, which were always brought to an end whenever new fountain Of blood
 was opened or new bits of halr began to fly.
 Each figure was padded and Waddcd to tho knees. and the eyes of each were protected.
 Over the breast and stomach and down to tho knees hung great breastplato of the
 toughest cloth Inado, at least an inch thick.
 The whole was streaked and stiff with
 Clotfn1 human hlc09 and iHpxDCps iblu Hi
 gusung Is looked as if it had been worn
 for years in a slaughter-house When first
 looked upon tho duclists the surface of tho
 breastplate worn by ono was flowing with
 blood, which drippcd, dripped, dripped as it
 was pumped up by the vigorous lungs out
 from gaping wounds in his cheek and head,
 down over his body, upon his boots and into
 a great pool upon the floor. Every littks
 while sand was sprinkled under his feet
 His opponent was faring much better. He
 had simply slit in his car. 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 advanced sturdily to the contest. It
 was no childs play at fighting. Every blow
 was meant to tell. The vigorous dead earn
 estness of the thruSts of those sharpened
 blades was sgonizing. At my side, sudden
 ly, student, who, l was told afterward,
 had seen several duels, collapsed in a faint
 at the horror of the scene. In an instant he
 was raised upon tho shoulders of four stu.
 dents and carried back into the other room. Now and then tho doctor, a pale, sepulchral- looking figure in shiny black broadcloth, would step up and examine the wounds to see if there was any danger ill letting the duel proceed. 1 wondered why tho better man had no pity. It would seem that now he had dons mischief enough. But he went on slashing away at his ill-matChed foe in an ugly, brutal manner. 1 would havo cried, "Rah, rah, rah!" if I could havo seen his check slashed to the bone. And dm show uppardonable enthusiasm when, just before tho fifteen minutes were up, he received an ugly cut on the top of his head.
 For the most part tho students do not be- tray themselves by the slightest word or look. They sec, 10 believe in Bishop But ler's philosophy that" things will be as they will be-" But the duel was at last over and most of the number betook themselves 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 good deal of nervous energy and felt faint. l tried to get away then. But tho Westphalians were eager for mo to stay and see one of their men i fight Against my will, for their sake, ! ! taken out into tho other room, where the Westphalian was preparing for his battle.
 He was stripped to his trousers and then the padding began. In q previous duel this
 man had had his nose seriously cut, and the doctor thought it best for him to wear pro- tector of that organ lest the old wound should be opened. Over on the opposite side,
 ill the chair I have before mentioned, the 1 participant fin tho former duel was rcceiv ing the doctors attention. He was pitiful- looking object, nearly fainting in the pain, which he bore without q murmur, and a fel
 low student was holding his hand. But at last he was patched up, tho doctor was free,
 the new contestants were ready and the 1 second duel began. Sometimes, my friend 1 told me, they arc kept there till four o'clock 1 in the afternoon. The system is shocking
 piece of superstition, serving, as far as I can
 see, no good end, although the students are
 devoted to it and regard it as betraying courage of rare sort. It is, indeed, q
 plucky thing to walk up before naked 1 sword and know that within fifteen minutes 1 you will be seated in a surgeons chair with
 wounds which you must bear till death But 1t IS pluckiness to no good end. Nothing, l perhaps, in Germany so shows the vitality