Old German Custom

Nations often judge one another's culture by the diversions of the students at their great universities. Many a European regards the mob excitement and roughness of U. S. college football games as barbaric, the initiations of U. S. college fraternities as infantile. Last week, through the enterprise of press photographers, the U. S. was given an intimate contemporary view of a European college activity seldom viewed by outsiders--the Schlaeger mensur or "sport duel," as still practiced secretly with sharp sabres at the foremost universities of Germany.

At the Universities of Berlin and Heidelberg especially, dueling is preserved by the students in defiance of national law, in the belief that it teaches self-control and physical courage. The "sport duel" is fought "not on any point of personal honor but as a test of endurance of bloodletting." The leaders of the undergraduate "corporations" tell off the representatives who are to meet. At Heidelberg, each member of the most select of the 44 corporations must fight ten duels during his three-year residence.

The duelists stand a sabre's length apart, stripped to the buff. At the side of each is a second. Doctors and corporation officials are present; fellow members sit about drinking beer and watching the "fun." About the middle of each duelist is fastened a protective pad, about each throat a thick scarf to prevent severance of the jugular vein. Over the eyes are placed wire mesh goggles; a steel snout protects the nose. The duelists' prime targets are one another's cheeks and forehead.

The swords are swabbed with antiseptic to make the maiming cleanly. At the cry of "Los!" (Go), each falls to, slashing eight times at his adversary's head with his keen blade. Only an up, down or sidewise slash, not a thrust with the point, is permitted. After eight slashes and parries, the seconds seize the sword arms, doctors examine the damage. Unless one contestant is unable to stand up, the affray continues until one faints from loss of blood or has suffered sufficient disfigurement to make the duel satisfactory to one & all.

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