The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-05-08
STUDENT DUELS
A Curious Manifestation in Ger
man University Life.
The Contestants Try to Mutilate
Each Others Faces.

One of the most curious manifesto
tions in German student life is the
duel. This is carried on for the most
part by the members of the secret So
cieties. There are certain obligations
as TO the personal behavior resting
upon all the students who are not
"wild men," Antiquated customs ex-
ist in regard to the salute of an ac-
.quaintancc, the method of conduct at
drinking festival aud in the great
field of university social relations in
general. These written and unwritten
rules must be carefully observed, or
the penalty is n challenge, which Gus
tom requires that tho st,Sent shall
accept.
1t may neither be pleasant nor
necessary to give description of one
of these encounters. The task has
been done before, aud it only remains
TO cite few facts in regard to an in
stitution which it is little marvellous
the Germans do not find some method
to abolish. The duel or ''mensur, l"
rs it is called, is fought in various
ways, with various weapons and ac-
cording to different rules. There are
duels with sabres and with rapiers,
with sharp swords and with dull
swords. This is usually a matter of
personal choice or rests perhaps upon
local tradition. The weapon used
generally goes by the name Schlaeger,
and there are again different classes,
such as the Korbschlaeger or basket
hilted rapier and the Glockenschlae-
ger, heavy weapon made of hard
bell metal. The latter is an arm
which has been in favor in late years
. at Leipsic and Halle.
The student duel, however, is not
always the outgrowth of an insult or
. supposed insult. There is another
form which is, perhaps, the more
usual, and which leads to a greater
number of encounters. This is the
''Pro patria" duel, which is contest
between clubs ut regular intervals, and
it is carried on merely for the pleas
urable excitement which those that
participate and those who look on
draw from it. The combatants are
usually chosen by will rather than
their own. Though there are some-
times volunteers, The President, as a
rule, selects some member of his club
who shall on a certain day meet a
member of another club similarly
chosen by its President Contests ar.
ranged in this way are very numerous
1t is desired that each club shall pro-
vide man at least once a week, and,
as there are Mt the large universities
quite large number of fighting 80
cieties, the combit wages very fire.
quently. 1t is this tyrannous, obli-
gatory feature of the duel which
makes it such persistent evil in Ger
man university life.
The duellistmust be specially dressed
for the combat in suit called the
Paukwichs, which consists of heavy
bandaging for the neck and arms, q
thick piece of upholstery, somewhat
like a mattress, which is suspended
over the breast, and glass goggles to
protect the eyes. There are some
times covers for the ears also. The
point of attack is thus the head and
face, another curious symptom of the
student duel. 1t is thus that part OF
the body which nearly all other people
aim the most carefully to guard from
injury which it is the particular desire
to mutilate and scar.
1t is to be noted also that the rules
are such as to protect the rest
of the body. The "strike must
be made in only certain way, and
each combatart has second, also
armed with sword, who must ward
off foul blows. 1t is further curl.
GUS feature that single wound does
not suffice to settle the dfii,ulty. Both
combatants are often injured, and il
is not unusual for each to receive sew.
eral wounds The contest only ends
indeed, by the exhaustion of one OIL
the Other party. or at the expiration
OF the time limit Philadelphia Tcle
graph.
l,l