The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-08

consisted simply of drawing lots, the
man drawing the fatal lot to kill him
self with any weapon that he might Sc
lect. Another American duel was
fought by placing loaded and an un-
loaded pistol under a cloth on table.
The duellists stand at either site of the
table, each selects a weapon blind" and
then each man holds hrs weapon against
the breast of the other and fires.
In place of these American" duels and
the regular pistol combats tho fighting Is
now done with crooked swords, says the
New York Tribune. In cases where 1t is
agreed that the fight shall be to the
death, or until one contestant Is disabled,
the duellists 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 are more frequent now than ever
before. In these duels the principals wear
protective bandages at the wrist, elbow
and armpft of the sword arm, a leather
belt with a flap to protect the abdomen
and goggles over the eyes. These duels
are fought with sharp, crooked swords
having no points because the thrust Is
never practieed in any of these encoun-
tiers.
THE MOST POPULAR DUEL
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. Bandages cover the
sword arm and neck Of the duellist, and
he wears heavy goggles and protective
pads over the heart and abdomen. His
head and chest are unprotected, and the
object is to wound the adversary in the
face and mark him for life.
''These duels," said DR.. Robert c.
Schupphaus, who bears a number of
scars on his face as evidence that he
has had more than a passing acquaint-
ance with tie custom, 'are for our uni
Versities what football and other violent
sports are for the American colleges.
Years ago there was much danger from
blood poisoning when man was wound
ed in a mensur, but with the antiseptic
treatment this danger has been mini
mixed, and except for the scars, which
no one care for, there is no danger"
The "dueling ground Is usually the
back room of q saloon or restaurant
and when 1t is used for that purpose it Is
we'll guarded, so that warning may be
given in time if by any chance the po-
lice did wish to break up the entertain
ment, which has been termed by It's enc
mics a mems katie klatsch.
To those who are not familiar with this
peculiar institution, 1t seems strange that
lot of superior young men can find
enough causes for combats, and that there
should be dissension sufficient to justify
duels at the rate of about six week
in the larger universities. The fact is
that there are only a few duels for
cause. Causes are created so that mem
bers of the various student organizations
which exist to fight may earn what they
term laurcls and win high standing in
the opinion Of their fellows.
The fighting organizations are the
corps, Of which there are ninety-siX in
the sixteen universities-the Landsman-
schaft, the Burschenschaft and the Freie
Schlagende Verbindung. Among the
prominent corps are the Sake Borussia,
of Heidelberg; the Borussia, of Bonn, OF
which the German emperor was MEM
Der; the Hannovera, Of Gottfngen, Of
which Bismarck was an enthusiastic
member The Germania, of Jena, is the
best known Burschenschaft, and the
Ghibelina, of Tubingen, Is the foremost
Of the Landsmanschaft.
When q young man becomes a student
ct a university and wishes to mix pleas
ure with his work, his first ambition is to
become a member of corps, and he
makes his choice in keeping with his
purse, and, having been accepted, is re-
tanned on the membership list on proba-
ton until he has given proof of his worth
by fighting two duels. These duels are
fought with members 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 ia recorded. and must be
made up" so that the men do fifteen
minutes actual fighting.
IN A SPIRIT OF SPORT.
THE fighting is done in spirit OF
| sport, said DR.. Schupphaus, "and al
1 though the Instruments are deadly wear
0nS the men 1Iaa them ND Ii -. 81 ne.....l.