The daily Alaskan., 1908-09-16
A UNIQUE
 MEDICATION

When Evan BaNcr,-', a young Nir- giuian. went to study at the Uniycr- slty of Heidelberg he promised his mother that he would never fight a duel. But Bancroft did not consider it necessary 10 refrain from joining the fighting corps and engaging in harm less encounters. Indeed there was plenty of fighting material in him in hcrited from his pTogcniJorS, and this was why his mother had cNacted the promise. Her father had been killed in a duel, one of her brothers through reckless exposure in the civil war, while another had been shot attempt ing 10 defend a prisoner from mob These shafts of death. striking so near her. caused hcr,to brood and induced a fear that her only son should fall through a similar cause.
 Bancroft at Heidelberg proved so handy with all sorts of weapons as to distance all competitors save one, a young Englishman named Horcut. The two held the record for being the best swordsmeu at the university. and there was a desire among the students that they should fight for the cham plonship. Bancroft made mo objec- tlun Co a friendly encounter the vital parts of each diSputaut being covered according to the corps rules. But in truth be did not relish even a friendly fight with the EngliShmau. who was an ayowed hater of Americans.
 When the terms of thc fight for the championship came to hc arranged Horcut insisted on certain innovations rendering the affair dangerous. It was suspected by few that he considered Bancroft the better swordsmau and, judging him to be timid, wished to force him to decline the combat This would give Horcut the championship without fighting for 1t or risking to lose it. He would then return to Eng land to enjoy his honors.
 Whether or no this was his object 1t was accomplished Bancroft de cllned to fight except under the rules for friendly contests. Horcut accused him of cowardlce, and there was now nothing for him to do but challenge the Brltlsher to an unprotected fight or be cut by the members of his corps. He declined to fight either foI the championship or to vindicate his courage. but he wrote his mother the l facts and begged her to release him She declined to do so. Besides, friends at home assured him that she was In critical physical condition and II anything happened to him 1t would kill her.
 Bancroft neither cared to give his true reason for not fighting nor be lieved that it would be accepted Il would have been accepted and Inc would have been respected for 1t if he could have satisfied the students oi its truth. In no country in the world are parents more beloved and respect ed than in Germany. But to convincC couple of thousand of young meT that he was not hiding behind hi. mothers skirts was out of the Ques tlon.
 1 So Bancroft finished his university career a cut man, though he was burn ing to meet his adversary. When ht went home to Virginia, finding tha the story had preceded him and pref udlced some people against him, ht went to the farther west and engaged in sheep raising. Soon after this hi, mother died.
 Several years passed. One day Ban croft was treadlng his way on patl barely foot wide around the side of { precipice. While doing so he saw party of tourists coming. Persons meeting on the path must pass care u fully, the one taking the outside, tn