The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-25


one occasion to have doffed his dignity and und
pledge OF secrecy from his fellow students to
played his part. He has never lost his sympathy
the aim and object of this traditional custom, whi
tue nnlnltlated seems survival of the brutal da
medieval times. but which in reality has specific
What football is to the American student rugby
boxing to the English, SO is the duel to the Germt
test OF endurance and lesson in keeping an ca
temper and restraint under provocation The k
with a eye to the championship of personal and nat
honor, has expressed opinion that this custom 81
not die out and that there was nothing equal to
the steeling or hardening of the leaders. military
nercial and professional, of the empire.
never enter and hang by a strap wi
looking at the back of the man in front of me and $
atng as to his profession his nationality The eli
indicate very litte-they are American and well
but the instant their owner turns his face you ex
tnwardly, with sense of mental satisfaction at h
found something detnite-German. There is no
installing the telltale scar that runs from eye
to ear or decorates his chin with a puckered
ridge.
Not all Germans honorable scars, how
ever. The badge is the prerogative of the std
dent of Bonn. Heidelberg, Lepsic, Freburg or
the other German universities and as they aver
age 1900 students each, the class is limited.
The kaisers edict will not prevent dueling at
Bonn. however. There still other corps each
with its distinctive name, cap, rules and regula
tons and clearly defined etiquette, chiefly of the
higher classes. Each university has its frater-
mites. with membership of limited number
seldom exceeding ~ or 30; and to join one of the
better known ones is much sought honor The
object of those clubs is to all appearance of
convivial nature, as beer and wine drinking enter
largely into their ceremonial observances but
they are really to promote camaraderie and to
enable the too often lonely student to form friend
ships which will endure through life and be of
masonic service to them. Besides the specific
corps there other bodies composed of the
middle class students such as the handmann-
schaft which the earliest order of student
fraternities.
The duel may have its origin in any quarrel
or difference OF opinion, but usually has not. It
is thing of etiquette and is used to prove a stu
dent. The more duels fights the bigger swae-
ger one may display and a scar is a sign that
one has come out of the ordeal with honor and
IS a silent and speaking testimony to the bear.
er's courage The larger the strips of sticking
plaster which hold cheek together or sliced
nose in position the higher one goes in the aftec.
ton of the fraaleins. and what is the world with.
out "Wein, webb und Gesang?s
When duel is arranged pretext having
been contrtved by the simple expedient Of mem.
Der of the corps cumsy treading on the tail of
, dog owned by Q member of another CORDS or
by some such obvious excuse the combatants are
swathed with bandages on the body and right
arm. the head and eyes and throat are protected
and the only visible spot left are the cheeks chin
and nose.s
The swords are razor.edged at the point and.
unlike the French dueling sword which is used
in foil fashion, they are meant simply to make
q downward nick; which serves to form the scar,
without much further damage than a G opious
stream OF blood and a sore face for a bit. Those