Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1875 — German University Dueling-Clubs. [ARTICLE]

German University Dueling-Clubs.

In America one reads occasionally that the once-famous dueling-clubs of the German universities are now almost extinct, and, with this impression uppermost, an American will not be a little surprised to find, after some residence in Heidelburg, Bonn or Gottengen, that these remarkable associations, so tar from being extinct are still flourishing in full vigor, and by a little management a stranger can even have the high privilege of being present at one of the warlike performances. The plan on which the dueling is managed is as follows: Anew man joins a corps, and as soon as he has made some little progress in fencing his society sends a challenge to some other of equal standing, requesting the honor of a combat. Then the corps so challenged appoints a man to meet the member of the challenging party. The preliminaries being all settled, the two corps and a select party of friends go off to some secret place where the university officers will not be likely to interrupt them, and the sjiort comes off. *Hius it will be seen that no personal animosity exists tjetween the combatants in such a duel, but each man simply lights for the honor of his corps, and to win his own spurs. ~ The first students’ duel which it fell to my lot to see was here, on a misty, threat ening Saturday afternoon, in the early part of last summer. . . It is to be remembered that the participants in these duels are animated by no desire to seriously injure each other, for it often happens that two students about to fight are total strangers, and have to beintroduced, and in many cases tlicy are very good friends, or at least acquaintances on good terms. Therefore some precautions are necessary to guard against the infliction of fatal or dangerous wounds, and, with this view, each combatant is investee! in a suit of armor which completely encircles the body and neck and covers the right or sworci arm, and sometimes the left arm. The armor for the body is made of padded leather, something like the quilted skirts of a saddle, being an inch or two thick, and provided with straps and buckles, by means of which it is fastened in position. The “ gorget,” or neckpiece is made of quilted silk and is simply wrapped round the neck and secured with strings. The protection for tlie right arm is afforded by means of a complicated series of stuffed silk bandages which, when wrapped around the arm by an expert, completely shield that member from injury-, but at the same time permit of cousiderable freedom of motion. The process of dressing takes some time. Each hero of the coming combat removes his coat, vest and shirt, and puts on an old shirt that will serve to catch the blood, and, having his breast armament strapped around him, he takes a seat and has his salient arm done up in the abovedescrib«d silken bandages, applied by a skillful and practised attendant. Then the “gorget” is adjusted, and, lastly, the eyes are shielded by means of a peculiar pair of spectacles, consisting of two oval leather plates perforated with eye-holes, in front of which project circular steel fringes, or rims, to a distance of perhaps halfan inch, by means of which the eyes are protected from all but a direct thrust, which is not allowed in the dueling code, the plan being simply to cut, not to stab. When a man is completely done up in this fashion he presents a most extraordinary appearance, reminding one, not a tittle, of a diver preparing to enter the water in his submarine armor. He looks, moreover, perfectly helpless, for, when he attempts to walk, he must be accompanied by two or three friends, one of whom supports his ponderous arm, while the others lead him forward. The field of vision permitted by the steel spectacles is very limited; and, if a combatant had to support his own arm half an hour with all that bandaging around it he would be too tired to Tift a sword, much less fight a duel. The swords used are very peculiar. They are of the usual rapier length. Very thin, so thin in fact, that they become bent after every few strokes, and have to be straightened before the duel can proceed, ana they have a point as square as that of a case-knife would be if broken across near the end. They are about three-fourths of an inch wide and double-edged. This square point and the edges for about five inches back are very carefully sharpened, so as to insure the infliction of a neat, clean gash, and not of a ragged, ugly tear. The handles are provided with immense bas-ket-guards, which completely cover the Jiand, and the interspaces between the bars of these baskets are filled in with the colors of the corps to which the sword belongs, in velvet or plush. As soon as the two combatants were arrayed in their warlike attire they were led forward as above described and stationed opposite each other. A ring of spectators was instantly formed around them. The duelists stood motionless while an umpire read the terffis of combat. Then the second on one side stated the claims of his champion, and was answered by the second of the opposing party. These seconds, it may be remarked, also wear a protective breastplate and visor, to prevent their being hurt in case a blade breaks. The command was thtn given by one second: “Auf die mensur binden die klingen" (literally, “Join the blades upon the measure;’’ or, liberally rendered, “Assume your attitudes”), and instantly the two hitherto motionless figures sprang into life and assumed the first position, upon which the second cried out: “ Oebunden sind" (“Joined they are”), and then came the word “Zos,” simultaneously with which the two began to lay about each other’s heads with their swords, making these weapons fairlv whistle through the air as they whirled in flashing circles round and round, striking fire when they 1 meet, and bending nearly double with every stroke. The necessity for having the sword-arm so well protected was now obvious, for it was used to receive these tremendous blows after the fashion of a buckler, and without the thick wrapping blood-vessels, muscles, and even bones would be cut asunder. The’ left arm was held behind the back, where it was out of the way. The combatants cut and slashed at each other for about fifteen seconds, when the command was given, “Halt!” and it was observed that one of the men had his left temple laid open by a cut of perhaps two inches in length, from which the blood was flowing freely. The second of the other side then made a note ofhis champion haying drawn thejiret blood, afid the attendance stepped forward with a probe to ex&nine the wound, and to decide whether or not it would be prudent to continue the combat. The spectators listened in breathless suspense for his verdict, and a sigh of relief went round when, after probing the wound and sponging a while, the surgeon announced that the wound would not inter sere with the progress of the duel. ' The two champions were again placed in position and the same orders given as before as signals for them to begin. I will mention, however, that during the

pause each man had his mighty arm upheld by an obliging friend, and the one who had received the cut had a glass of wine administered to him to keep up his courage. I say administered, because the process of imbibing a liquid with one’s neck wound around with a yard or two of stiff quilting so that the head is allowed only a slight rotary motion, could scarcely be called drinking. Well, off they went again—whiz! clash! whist! rap!—until another cut was given, this time by the party first wounded, but, this proving very slight, the duel was immediately resumed. ~ The next telling stroke took effect on the top of the man’s head who had received the first - cuj, and as the whizzing blade passed with a fierce sweep through his hair we saw a tuft fly up like feathers from a fighting-cock. This gash was at once pronounced serious, and therefore the duel was at an end. The victor was, then led forward to shake hands with the opponent whom he had partially scalped, ana as he turned away was surrounded by his friends and warmly con gratulated on his success, while the other combatant was led off to have his head sewed up. The students are very proud of their scars, and nothing gives one of them more joy than to be able to show a face trav' et-sed with several huge marks of this kind, betokening what a champion he has been in his day. Of course it was a great misfortune to get a slash on the top of one’s head, for the party receiving it suffered the disgrace of being vanquished, and had nothing to show' for it but a little scratch on the temple. It is customary to have all the duels accumulating for a week or two to take place upon one occasion, so as to avoid the trouble of having to go out so often; and on the afternoon in question tw’o others came off, both of which were of very brief duration, as the parties were ill-matched as regards skill, and tire weaker opponent was soon carved up handsomely in each case. Such are the famous students’ duels as they occur at the present day in Germany.—An American Student at Bonn, in Appletons' Journal.