The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-08
SHE SAW DUELS FOUGHT.
4 WOMAN'S DESCRIPTIONS OF THE
 FIGHTS OF GERMAN STUDENTS.
Ludicrous in Their Fighting Toggery stve Knees.

One DueIlisrs WabbIy and Expres.
 sive Knees.
 A duel! We had heard of the custom
 and had seen many of the sabre
 scared Germans. Now we were to see
 the fight, thanks to the courtesy of a
 most gracious Heidelberg student and
 no less person than a German prince.
 It is probable that all the women in our
 party would hesitate to see one of our
 own prize fights, but the alacrity with
 which we accepted this invitation
 showed an uneXhausted touch of the
 barbaric in our natures, surprising to
 ourselves, mingled with a humiliating
 curiosity, with which, however, I believ
 the weaker sex always has been cred
 ited. I am glad to note this instance in
 which our Teutonic sisters were our
 superiors, for they were mortified at
 our mad desire to see the blood Spiling,
 as they cannot appreciate our love of
 adventure or do not know the charm
 of having stepped out of the beaten
 path of conventionality.
 It was a beautiful morning, and Hei-
 delberg was at it's loveliest, We were
 up early, and l confess a feeling of eX-
 pectant excitement heretofore unknown
 as we rattled over the stone pavements
 The hackmen seem to have imbibed the
 reckless spirit of the students, and we
 dashed madly over the old bridge,
 across the Neckar, and up the hill with its splendid view of the grand old Hei-
 delberg castle, passing students wear ing the different colored caps of their
 respective orders We mounted a short, steep hill and stopped at our
 place of destination.
 There was few minutes delay while
 awaiting the arrival of the surgeon, who, by the way, draws salary of
 twenty five dollars week to sew up the slashes of the boys. Our German prince and friend of his, a Russian
 count, did the honors as hosts, escort
 ing us to a little bedroom with win dows that ovelook the hall in which the frays take place. Our Russian friend spoke German fuently and understood English; the German prince could neither understand nor speak English, but he could smile and bow adorably and without as great a struggle as might be imagined We learned that
  Tuesdays and Fridays. Two hours a day is given to the practice and a stu dent must fight three times before he may wear the ribbon of the order across his chest. The Baroussen corps is the order of the nobility, claiming Emperor William as one of it's members, and, we have since learned, it is impossible to belong to this fraternity without an in- come of at least three thousand dollars a year. The colors of the Baroussens are white, green and black, which, of course we picked as our favorites.
 The fighting was about to begin. There were to be six duels, but we were disappointed to learn that the special feature of the mornings programme 1 had been declared off. The best fight 1 CT in Heidelberg" whose skill had left | an ugly mark on the Russians fore head, which he proudly displayed was | ill and unable to appear There were | several of us and the windows were small, but we managed by climbing on | chairs and beds, leaning recklessy over | stoves and. pulling ruthlessly at coarse and fortunately strong curtains to ob- tain view of the hall.
 One corner of the room was reserved | for the duellists. Around this were grouped a few of the students; the oth- CTS were unconcernedly sitting at the long tables eating smoking and drink ing what we hoped was nothing stronger than Rhine wine for the amount consumed was astonishing, it not demoralzing. The combatants were led on with their right arms ex- tended, made necessary by the ban dages. They are carefully protected about the throat and torso, so as to guard against a mortal wound and present a laughable appearance, with their immense goggles and long brown overdress, used as a shield from their own arstocratic gore. Behind each of them was bowl filled with absorbent cotton soaking in some antiseptic, and at the left of each stood the seconds, both wisely guarded. The umpire and what seemed like an assistant sat be- fore them, and the last important mem- Der of this interesting cast was the physician, who smoked nonchalantly through the whole performance.
 Fifteen minutes is the specified time, and if the men are not incapacitated when 1t has elapsed they are stopped. Each attack-I scarcely know what to call it; possibly round would do- lasts but a few instants, the seconds giving the signal Los to start and "Halt" to stop. At the sound of the first signal the combatants stood erect, took few steps toward each other, < held their arms high above their heads and clashed swords. The fighting was done over the heads and it was all so , quick that we saw none of the actual only flying hair and stream ; Ing blood. But that was enough! The doctor wiped away the blood with the soaking cotton, the attendants saw to i the swords in like manner, the umpire stepped up to the seconds, lifted his hat I to each, jotted down the number of ( wounds on paper pad and returned to ( his seat. The signal was given again S and the attack repeated until the fight C was over. Then the Spartans were led I away, covered with blood, but showing I 10 signs of pain. C The next fight does not begin until i the physician has carefully sewed up I he heads orf the enthusiasts, who ap- c pear later looking pale and triumphant a We were mortified at the first sight of t heir blood-stained faces, but were re- 2 assured by our friends, who said blood f