Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-15
Student Dueling Abolished.

Student Dueling Abolished.
ed. because Of the determined attitude
OF the emperor. the church and society
generally. In Austria the duel remains
as the only method of settling disputes
and affairs of honor" in the army. In
German universities all participants in
duels, II detected. are punished with ex-
pulsion and imprisonment
Fencing bouts are not so popular as
formerly. The 'Bestimmungsmensur as
1t Is called. Is considered, however, more
humane than foot ball In the United
States. No one is ever killed in a fenc-
Ing bout. while long lists OF foot ball
victims appear In the papers every year
Fencing is accepted one Of the best
forms of physical exercise. and develops
manIfnesS as we'll as muscles, lungs and
hearts. A scar across the cheek of a
young man does not interfere with his
success in life, like injuries which fire.
quently disable foot ball players.
Fencing bouts are therefore tolerated,
and. In some cases, encouraged by the
faculties. They are confined to the Corps.
are regulated by a strict code, and
supervised by older students, who do not
ways stop them before serious injury is
suffered.
The code will not permit a student to
send or accept a challenge unless he has
reached a certain proficiency in the use
Of the rapier. When blood is drawn on
either side the bout Is over.
A surgeon is always present. Wounds
are promptly treated and the eyes. heart.
lungs and other vital organs are pro-
tected.
One Of the strongest arguments in favor
Of the fencing bout is that it puts all
students on an equal footing, A peasant
student can challenge prince. and the
latter must fight or funk. The victory de-
nv1do nd mot
rank or money.
The scar left by rapier is accepted
more promptly as a certificate of honor
and courage than a doctors degree. Usu
Of society.
Dissipation Still in Vogue.
While the drinking bouts that formerly
disgraced the German universities are
practically abolished, and the habits of
students have improved, there is still
room for improvement. There are still
societies which compel their members to
sacrifice their time and money, their
capacity for work. their scholarship
standing and their physical and moral
welfare in order to obey the injunctions
of a code which dates back to the seven
teenth century, the period of the greatest
depravity Of student life.
These fraternities, however. now exist
only In Munich, Berlin and Bonn. Even
there the members maintain strictest
secrecy.
When the Prince Imperial of Germany
entered the University of Bonn the
kaiser accompanied him and assisted in
the initiation of his son into the Corps
and the drinking club to which he had
belonged in his student days. Certain
newspapers published a story that father
and son. the present and the future SOW
ereisns Of the German empire. drank
strong wine until they were stupefied and
fell senseless under the table, according
to the custom Of the club.
This report was denied and denounced
with the greatest indignation. The author
Germany. Whether there was any truth
In 1t or not, the publication directed at
tention to the possibility Of such thing,
shocked the national conscience and has
done much toward its abolition.
Moral Tone Improving.
Everybody agrees that the moral tone
Of the student body In Germany has ad
yanced steadily during the last half CEN
fury. 1t Is now unpopular to indulge in
habits that are beneath the dignity of
gentlemen, and intemperance and i'm
morality are considered SUFFICIENT ground
In Leipzig the influences are good.
While there is considerable dissipation
among students. it is no greater than at
Oxford. Cambridge, Harvard, Yale and
other city colleges in the United States.
The traditional German student Of ro-
mance-a dreamy. irresponsible individual
with long hair, a flowing necktie and a
cap Of his Corps. who isabsorbed in a
trance part Of his time and stupefied with
beer the rest-is seldom seen these days
outside Of the comic papers. But the in.
habitants Of Leipzig are often entertained
by wild and reckless PUSHES and are
sometimes showed of the sidewalk by
young rascals who imagine they must as
sert their independence Of character and
Intellectual superiority by a show Of in
science.
No Religious Obligations.
There are no official religious influences
at Leipzig or at any other German uni