Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11
GERMAN STUDENT DUELS
CONSPICUOUS FEATURE OF UNIVER-
SITY LIFE IN THAT COUNTRY.
Fighting Corps Are Organized to
paratiyeiy Infreaucnt for Cause.
From the New York Tribune.

From the ~ York Tribune.
The meusur. or corps duel. which has
always been conspicuous feature in Ger
man student life. became unpopular few
years age when there were indications that
the police would cease to wink at a prac-
tice which had been pronounced contrary
to law But II soon became known that the
anti-due, measures were not serious, that
the alarm a false one. and after
short period OF reduced activity the mensur
resumed its old position of Importance and
IS as popular now as 1t ever was, and
changed only IL so far that the fencing is
better. and that more duels of a serious
character are fought than ever before. For
long time duels for real cause were often
fought with pistols. and in many instances
the American duel was resorted to. This
consisted simply in drawing lots, the man
drawing the fatal lot to kill himself with
any weapon that he might select. Another
American duel was fought by placing
loaded and an UnlOaded pistol under cloth
on u table. The duelists stand at either
side Of The table. each selects a weapon
blind. and then each man holds his
weapon against the breast of the other
and fires
In pace Of these American" duels and
the Regular pistol combats the fighting is
where II Is agreed that the fight shall be to
the death or until one contestant is dis
ab.ed the duelists wear no protective appli-
anceS Duels of this class are rare but
the ''mensur nit binde und bandage" are
the next point removed from them and
they arr more frequent now than ever be-
fore In these duels the principals wear
protective DdndageS at the wrist, elbow and
armpit of the sword arm. a leather belt
with flap to protect the abdomen and cog
giles over the eyes These duels are fought
with sharp. crooked swords having no
points because the thrust is never prac-
ticed in any OF these encounters
The duel which is the most popular, and
the one which Is usually referred to when
the mensur or Paukerei is spoken of is
fought with rapiers- This is light weapon.
square at the place where one would look
FOR the point. and has one edge sharpened
about One-third the length of the blade.
EardageS cover the sword arm and neck
Of the dUelist. and he wears heavy goggles
and protective pads over the heart and
abdomen His head and chest are unpro-
tected. and the object IS to wound the adj
ysrSary in the face and mark him for life
These duels" said DIR. Robert C. Schupp-
haUS, who bears a number of scars his
face as evidence that he has had more than
a passing acquaintance with the custom.
are for our universities what foot ball
and other violent sports are for the Ameri-
eau colleges Years ago there was much
danger from blood poisoning when a man
was wounded in menSur. but with the
aEiiSeDtiC treatment this danger has been
minimized. and except for the sears, which
NJ one cares for. there is no danger"
The "dUeling ground is usually the back
T, ON Of a saloon or restaurant. and when
ii i used for that purpose II is well guard
ed 50 that warming may be given in time
II by any chance the police did wish o
break up the entertainment which has been
termed by its enemies mems karIe klatsch
To those VINO are not familiar with this
peculiar institution. n seems strange that
lot OF superior young can find
enough for carnbaT9 and that
should be dissension sufficient to justify
dUels at the rate OF about six week N
the larger universities. The fact is that
there are only a few duels for cause
Causes are created SO that members of the
various student organizations which exist
to fight may earn what they term laurel5
and win high standing in the opinion of
their fellows.
The fighting organizations are the corps.
OF which there are ninety-Six in the six
teen universities-the Landsmanschaft, the
Rursch@nschaft and the Freie Schlagende
Nerb-ndung. Among the prominent corps
are the SaXe-Borussla OF Heidelberg. the
Borussia q Bonn, Of which the German
emperor was member; the Hannovera OF
Gottingen, OF which Bismarck was an en-
thusias;ic member The Germania of Jena
is the bestknOwn Burschenschaft. and the
GhibebeIinia OF Tubingen is the foremost of
the IandSmanschaft.
When young man becomes a student at
university and wishes to mix pleasure
with his work his first ambition is to be-
his choice in keeping with his purse, and,
having been accepted, is retained the
membership list on probation until he has
given proof OF his worth by fighting two
duels. These duels are fought with MEM
beers of other corps. and are often arranged
by the officers OF the organization. The
fighting time is fifteen minutes The time
which is taken up with rests Is recorded.
and must be made up so that the men
do fifteen minutes actual fighting
The fighting is done in a spirit of sport"
said DR. Schupphaus. and although the in
struments are deadly weapons the men use
them with different spirit than the boxer
does his fists"
When man has fought his duels and
the rights and privileges pertaining to the
high position. he must fight whenever there
Is cause. and when there Is none he does
his share toward creating it The least
pruvOcation Is sufficient TO bring on a men
sur. and when matters become dull in the
duel line II Is nothing unusual for a whole
corps to challenge another corps In such
cases the president must fight the president
of the opposing side. and so down the list
of officers. with addition for good meas
ure Of six IT eight high privates. II may hap
pen thar the officers ola corps are not its best
fencers. but II the corps Is to fight as a
body. and there is time enough before the
meeting To do so. election Is held and
the best men are elected. so that there NAV
be no doubt as to proper representation
Although the various corps are organized
to fight. one with the other individually or
On corps. they are all on friendly footing,