Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-11-29
When etndents Fight


training for fighters in its nava
and military schools are justified
in using their fists when question:
OF personal honor are involved
In Germany and several Other
European countries the duel is moi
only countenanced but the students
are expected to use their rapier'
in settling personal controversies
The death OF Midshipman Branch,
resulting from a long fight with
Midshipman Meriwether at the
Annapolis naval academy, is one
Of those deplorable tragedies that
may be Classed as an accident, fol
there was no murderous intent.
The men had had q personal quar-,
rel and they simply followed time.
honored precedent in settling
scores.
The Annapolis case is repre-
sentative Of student life generally.
These two young men held keenly
to their sense OF "honor'. The
investigation thus far made shows
that no rules of the academy were
involved, but that the enmity that
: had arisen between the midship-
men was, according to the code,
their own affair. One had called
the other Coward" and .
''sneak", and that meant . fight
If anything did. SO legitimate
was the excuse, according to the
usages of the academy, that the
other cadets, friends of both men,
planned all the pugilistic arrange
ments and attended to see that it
was fairly conducted, and there is
not the least evidence that the
combatants did not fight "fair".
The battle lasted for more than an
hour and terminated in what is
technically called a "draw" mean
ing that honors were even.
The contestant left the ring
pretty badly battered up, but
it is unlikely any report Of the
affair would have reached the out
side world had not an entirely un-
expected complication developed
which caused Branch's death.
Those who experience q shock
at these disclosures might remem-
Der that fights are rather common
In nearly all schools and colleges.
To the everlasting credit Of the
students 1t must be recorded that
these fights are usually fair and
honest, insofar as any fight may
be fair and honest. One need not
be a defendant Of the practice Of
fighting to see something admira
BILE in the young man who is con-
tent to settle his differences in the
accepted fashion without going to
the authorities with q complaint.
Very rarely, indeed, does q stu
dent fight result in permanent in
jury to either cOmbatant. The
usual end to the whole affair is
the establishment Of q wholesome
friendship and mutual respect be-
tween former enemies.
Fighting at all times is deplora-
BILE in itself, but the ordinary man
with red blood in his veins can re-
member without regret certain
rough and tumble arguments that
made him all the better for them
whether he won or lost. The
willingness, even anxiety, to
stand up to a fair fight in a just
cause is the heritage Of the Anglo
Saxon. It may not be right &C.
cOrding to some standards, but
this is the equality that has made
us a dominant race. 1t is incon-
ceivable that any boy who will al
low another to call him q ''cow-
ard" and q "sneak" without per-
sonsl resentment would ever make
q good naval or military COM
mander, or even a well.equipped
citizen in any walk Of life that de-.
mands aelf-reliance and pluck, and
. just appreciation Of these ex-
celleRt Qu slities in other men.
81 !.