Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-02-28

great distinction to be called unon TO
uphold the honor of ones society
trains with the fencing master of the
University until he Is pronounced cap
able. The foes then meet in a wood
during the warm season in the
early hours of the morning
or in neighboring dorf during win
ter months accompanied by their Sec
onds, a surgeon and many admiring
friends where they proceed to win
honor and fame. The combat it not
serious matter for the l1uellist is thor
ougly protected. The ears are tied
close to the head. the eyes. chest and
| neck are thoroughly protected. The
left arm is fastened behind the back
and the right arm is so bound that the
only POSSIBLE movement is from the
wrist and the only vulnerable point is
the head and face where he hones to
get a wound. 1t happens now and
then that a nose or an ear Is cut off but
| small affairs of that kind are easily
remedied. 1t is only rarely that stu
dents duel for offense and then of
course things assume a more serious
aspect Usually all scores are settled
with the "mensur" and sabre duelling
/ Is rarely resorted to except in very
! grievous affairs. There is a queer
contradiction of conditions connected
! with the duel. Each man is bound to
uphold the honor of his society and ex-
F., ert his highest skill yet on the other
| hand the man who receives the greater
wound is the greater hero. A great
many methods are employed by the
duellizt to maintain a resoectable scar
! for in that is the chief glory.
Two IMPORTANT student festivals oc-
| curreI while we were in Bonn, one ON
the 18th CT January, the 200th Anniver
: sary OF Prussian Independence and
the Kaisers' birthday on the 9th day
of January. On the 18th of January
the celebration consisted of a student
pre- cession each Corps and Verein be-
ing represented. They appeared in
un, form and presented a handsome
scene in their ela'borately trimmed and
MANY colored Jackets (of their corps
| color their white trousers and patent
leather pumns. With their banners
sire ming accompanied by the Univer-
sity F5culty, distinguished guests and
hands pf -i,, +hny prooaaJ
ed to point on the Rhine some two
miles distant where had recently been
ere ected p monument to Bismarck
Here proper exercise, songs and ad-
dresses by members of the faculty and
representatives of societies were con-
Quoted. At dusk the company returned
in to-chlight procession to Bonn and
according to an old custom they
marched to the market square where
the torches were burned in huge bon
fire.
On the 9th of January. the Kaiser's
birthday, we attended a great student
gathering in Beethoven Halle one of
the LARGEST concert halls of Bonn. The
"Kommerse," as it is called lis only a
Kneipe ON large scale intermixed
with sopgs and addresses. The stu
tents in their bright colored Kneipe
jackets and picturesque caps, the Off
GERS of various corps gloriously ar
rayed in full uniform which is very
handsome and invariably becoming,
occupied the main floor while the lad
les in their most charming gowns oc-
cupied the balcony. This gathering
was dignified by number of distin-
guished guests, University Officials and
Professors.
When the Rector of the University in
his address suggested that the Univer-
sity women should be represented in
the company and should sit side by
side with their brothes, the applause
was very vigorous-thus woman in
higher education is making her way
even in conservative Germany where
now womans education is complete
at the close of her sixteenth year.
, 1t is delight to hear the German
students sing. This exercise is NOT
limited to p Glee Club of a few super-
ior voices but all sing and enjoy it 700.
They sing everywhere, wherever two
or three are gathered together in a so
"ial way, OH favorite walk. at a
Kneipe or wherever it may be there is
; always song. l think l am safe in
saying that their songs are more ra-
tional and far more musical than many
OF our college songs.
At 10:30 the ladies and guests retire
from the hall and then l am told that
then things take livelier turn-the
songs grow more rollicksome and the
evening advances to the early hours
of morning before the end is reached.
Often the various societies retire to
~. -. Il. \ II