The San Francisco call., 1901-12-08

EnaDIer, A 1llpee VI
Student Life" in Ray Stannard
Bakers book. just published by Nc
Il Clure Phillips & Co. New YORK
price SD Mr.. Bakers name is so well
known through his excellent work ap-
pearing from time to time in the maga-
zines that his book cannot fail to attract
merited attention.
The author made trip to Germany re-
Gently. accompanied by George Varian,
the artist. Mr.. Varian sketched and
studied while Mr.. Baker "saw' and wrote
..Seen i'm Germany his present book
is the result. Mr.. Baker was provided
with credentials that permitted him to
see and hear much that is denied to the
ordinary traveller. A glimpse at the
chapter headings of his book will give
an idea Of its contents. Mr.. Baker is
rare hand at gathering facts and under
the following headings he has placed
many that would have escaped the ord
mary traveller entirely unless his atten-
fion had been especially called to them
bv person Of the authors experience:
Common Things Seen in Germany,
The Kaiser The German Private Sol
dier," a View Of the German Working
man." a German Professor "A Typi-
cal Scientific Institution How the
Germans Created a New Industry. "A
German Venture in Practical Philanthro-
py" How the Germans Build Ships"
Some New Educational Ideas in Ger
many" "A Glimpse Of German Student
life" The New Germany"
The following extract describes a corps
duel at Wollnitz. Read il and you will
probably fin1 that you have had very
mistaken idea concerning these German
student duels:
The dueling hall was a long low-raf-
tered room set about with tables and
benches. In the center there was strip
Of black canvas. well sanded, on which
the duelists were to stand. Blood was
spattered everywhere. on the white
washed ceiling above. on the walls and
windows at each side, and there was fresh
evidence Of the last duel on the floor. The
spectators formed a ring about a sword s
length from the place where the con-
testants were 10 stand. those behind
mounting OF the benches and tables. until
the whole room was walled in with hu-
man faces. and most of those faces bore
the gashes and scars Of just such con-
fiicts as the one we were now to see. Two
surgeons came in bringing a bowl Of
some antiseptic solution. roll of absorb
ent cotton and a bundle of bandages.
They had added cilcloth aprons to their
white surgeons blouses A student in a
purple cap arranged a chair at each end
Of the canvas strip. the backs facing.
And now came the duelists themselves
seconds. American
versity crowd would have cheered madly,
each corps for its favorite fighter: but
there was no sign of excitement or en-
*husiasm here. although every eye was
fixed on the combatants. They were both
powerfully built men. so tall that when
they raised their swords the points bare
ly escaped touching the ceiling. Both
bore the scars of past duels, and both
had the reputa ton of being hard fighters.
10th dan 74-lo 1xed
narrowly TO the adjustment of the ar
NOR. And such armor as this was. A
knight Of the old crusades could hardly
have been more completely protected.
Thick leathern stocks or collars covered
each combatants throat. holding his chin
squarely in place and preventing the pos
sible severing of the jugular vein. Thick
ly upholstered pads covered the shoulders.
The front Of the body. from just above
the heart downward. was protected by a,
shield not unlike that worn by an Ameri
can baseball catcher. only much heavier
and thicker The shields worn by both
Of these dueIists had a peculiar bronzed
appearance. which we took at first glance
70 be the natural shade of FURNISHED
leather. On closer examination. however,
we discovered that this color was the
suit Of the blood of many battles-the
same armor doing service in the duels of
an entire corps.
Heavy outjutting spectacles protected
the eyes of the duelists. They were held
in place by stout straps, which, in pass
ing round the head, bound the ears
zrmly back We observed, however, that
parts Of the ears protruded above and
below the straps. a fact accounting salts
factorily for the fashion among advanced
German students of wearing their ears
squared either at top or bottom or both.
All the combatants' heads, therefore, ex-
cept the eyes and part of the ears. were
entirely unprotected. although. as we
afterward learned, in some duels there
is an agreement 10 permit the covering
Of the nose. some students preferring to
retain their noses intact. 1t is the sole
purpose Of each duelist TO cut his oppo-
nent somewhere in the face or head, else
the scars viii not show and much good
honor will 90 to waste. This is the chief
purpose of the thorough protection of the
body and the exposure of the face.
We observed that each second gave
special attention to the covering of his
chiefs sword arm, which consisted of a
heavy cloth pad extending from the
shoulder down to the wrist.
The stress Of many duels had cut the
outer covering of this portion of each
duelist's armor into picturesque and
bloody tatters. And now the opponents
arc faced. looking squarely into each
others eyes. and yet making no sign OF
recognition and saying nothing, not even
10 their seconds. 1t is a point of honor
that there must be no show of emotion.
Each wore the gay cap of his corps.
vizor turned behind. AS they raised their
arms each second stepped quickly for
wsrd and fitted his chiefs gloved hand
into the basket handle of the sword A
most disagreeable weapon is this sword.
Somewhat shorter than fencing rapier
and hatter and thinner. square at the
point and as sharp as a razor.
The combatants step deliberately to-
ward each other on the black canvas un-
I'll they are exactly swords length
apart One might almost have touched