another by the colour of the caps they wore; thus the Prussians had white caps, the Westphalians green, and the Vandals red. Of these the Prussians were the most aristocratic. Indeed, almost, if not all, the members were noblemen. Generally one chor challenges another to fight. A certain number of men are picked out from both. These are pitted against each other according to their respective strength and skill, and on the day appointed they use the comically expressive German phrase "go loose" against each other.

These explanations are necessary to a proper understanding of what follows; besides, we venture to hope they may be of some interest in themselves. Well, the summer session was almost done, when a German friend one day asked us if we had seen a duel, and on answering no, he remarked that if we wished to view a spectacle of the kind, we had better be quick. Very good; but then how to manage it? Some English friends of ours, not being well acquainted with the proper form of procedure, had solved the difficulty as to entrance by walking into the room where the proceedings took place during the interval between two encounters; but then they had been, with the greatest politeness, immediately bowed out again--politeness of a kind that is to say, for no one understands the art of insolent politeness better than a high-born German. And then in such circumstances one could hardly retaliate, because the conversation would be carried on in a foreign language, which gives such an advantage to one of the disputants, and morcover one would be manifestly in the wrong to intrude one's self into a place where one was not wanted. Again, we knew not a single chor student, and these gentlemen alone have the right of entry. In this emergency, we were advised to apply to the "Pauck-Doctor," viz., surgeon for the duels; for these chors keep a doctor

who takes care of the wounded combatants, piecing together two bits of a nose, or sewing up a cheek, as the case may be.

We took the advice, called on the gentleman in question, and got what we wanted. The doctor, one of the pleasantest of men, at once agreed to do everything in his power to gain us admittance, and told us to meet him next morning at the Hirschgasse.

This Hirschgasse (lit., stag's lane or path) is a tavern situated at the foot of a steep road of the same name, which ascends from the banks of the Neckar and joins on with the "Philosopher's Way," which, in its turn, is a road running along the face of the Heiligenberg, between vineyards all the way, till it reaches the little village of Neunheim. Of this inn we are sorry to say we cannot speak in favourable terms. The wine is very bad, and very dear. Still, it is pleasantly situated. You can lie in the arbour, where the vines overhead, trained over the wooden roof-work, make a pleasant ceiling, and listen to the swift-flowing Neckar in the silence of a hot summer's day; or, if it be night, and the moon is shining over the glorious. Neckar valley, you can lie half dreaming, while the plaintive jug-jug of the nightingale is heard from the hill, and the fire-flies dance in and out among the bushes of the garden.

However, what the Hirschgasse tavern is specially noted for is that here all the duels come off-a large room at the back of the house being specially reserved for the purpose.

To this spot, then, we turned our steps next morning. The day was very bright and very hot, and we felt the full effect of the sun's rays as we crossed the bridge, and wended our way along the side of the river.

We could not help envying the chor students, as they whirled past in twohorse cabs to the place of meeting-a chor student is too proud, or too rich, or

too lazy to walk far-but courage! here we are at the Hirschgasse, and there is the doctor, who recognises us at once, and leads us into the "hall of battles," which proves to be a room of moderate dimensions and of an almost square form. Down two sides of it ran long wooden tables, with chairs and forms attached. At these tables a large number of students were seated. Some were engaged in feasting on all sorts of heavy meats-stewed kidney, cutlets, chops, etc., served up with potatoes smoking hot. (It was not yet eleven o'clock A.M.) Others were drinking wine, smoking, and card-playing. They were all welldressed in the most perfect taste; and were as fine a set of young fellows as one could wish to see, though they did look as if they ate and drank too much, and didn't take enough of active openair exercise.

We were introduced by the doctor to two of these gentlemen, and from them we learned that one duel was over, but two were yet to come; and this we discovered to be the way in which the spectators passed their time between the combats.

While we talked, we noticed that several other students arrived: one of these specially attracted our attention, from a sort of fidgety, nervous way he had of moving about, as if he was trying his best to appear at his ease, when he was really quite the contrary. He passed us and went up to the bar, and we saw that he was drinking a glass of brandy-a very unusual thing for a for a German to do in the morning. But here there was a bustle from the side room, and the combatants were led in by their seconds. One arm they held, if indeed it was not tied, behind their back, the other, in which was a slender, sharp sword, was stretched out and held up in the air, in which position it was supported by the combatant's second. One glance at the equipment of the combatants showed that the affair could

have no very dangerous consequences. First of all the eyes were protected by a pair of guards, something like spectacles; then the neck was bound round with some kind of cloth, which looked like a coil of rope. As to the arms the left one was of course out of the way of mischief, because it was behind the man's back; the sword arm was protected with some sort of padding, on which the fiercest blows of the really sharp weapons must fall quite harmlessly. Then the whole front part of the body was covered with a sort of steelproof jacket; so that, practically, the only vulnerable parts were the nose, forehead, and cheeks. The least touch there would certainly draw blood, for the swords were as sharp as razors; and one had only to look round the room to see in the seamed and scarred face of nearly every student present, that it was there all the marks of the encounters were borne.

The seconds led their men to the middle part of the room, and placed them opposite each other. The other students left their drinking, eating, and card-playing, and formed a ring round the duellists; the doctor, who was smoking a pipe, at least four feet long, laid it aside, and advanced, to be near at hand in case of accident, whilst near by there was also an umpire, in case of dispute, and another student, watch in hand, ready to "time" the rounds.

When all was ready, the umpire said some words, of which we could only catch the last four, which were pronounced in a more distinct tone than the rest. They were, "Die Mensur geht los," which may be rendered as the combat "begins." Whereupon the swords began to whistle through the air, and each fellow to cut at his opponent, as if that one were a tree, and he the woodman hewing it down. However, there was certainly more cry than wool, for both were splendid fencers; and though the sparks were flying in a shower from the weapons

as they clashed together, the matter for a long while went no further— neither touched the other in a vulnerable part. All at once, there was a cry of Halt! whereupon the seconds seized the sword-arm of each of the duellists, and interrupted the combat. The reason of the stoppage was that one of the swords was bent almost double. Several fresh pairs were kept ready for use, and the parties being supplied with one of these, the fight went on as briskly and as purposelessly as ever. There were continual stoppages after this, for something was always going wrong; but, as there was as yet no wounding, the spectators began to yawn, and watch the affair with less attention; when, all at once, as if by magic, for we could hardly say we saw it done, a purple line appeared on the right cheek of one of the combatants. Of course there was the shout of Halt! again, and the doctor advanced to examine the wound, which he at once pronounced serious enough to terminate the duel. Whereupon, the second of the wounded man advanced to the second of his opponent, and, taking off his cap and bowing, he declared himself satisfied. The other also took off his cap and bowed, and after a few more polite speeches and a good many polite gesticulations- for the affair was managed throughout with a most comical amount of ceremony-the "Mensur" was declared at an end. The combatants were then led off the scene, and the spectators returned to their eating, drinking, smoking, and card-playing till the next affair should commence. After some time the next pair were led forth, and we recognised in one of the combatants the dark, nervous youth whom we mentioned a little ago. We are afraid his taste of "Schnapps "had not done him much good, for the fight had scarcely begun, when he received a very severe gash on the forehead. Of course the combat was immediately stopped, and after a repetition of the

already described formula, the parties were led off, and the meeting broke up. As we passed through the side room on our way out, we saw the two wounded men. They were each clad in a long, loose overcoat-the purpose of which was, we suppose, to prevent the spoiling of their garments by blood-stains. The doctor was just sewing up the forehead of the one last hurt; the wound of the other was already dressed, and an attendant was engaged in diligently sponging it. They both looked sufficiently silly and woebegone; but neither was as badly off as a student we once heard of, who got the point of his nose slit off. The doctor hastened forward, needle and thread in hand, to sew it on again, but it could nowhere be found! A diligent search was made, but to no purpose, till all at once the doctor's poodle dog began to attract notice by the suspicious way in which it was smacking its lips! Alas! the mystery of the lost nose admitted of but too easy a solution the dog had swallowed it! This story, though current at every German University, is probably apochryphal. Still, "if not true, it is at least well invented," and, we may add, not at all improbable.

It may be as well, before concluding this article, to clear away one or two misconceptions with which we are apt to regard the subject. Indeed, there is a certain misconception about the very name, duelling. The proper name for these encounters is "Mensur," which were well translated "fencing." It must be remembered that the combatants have no real grudge against one another, and different chors challenge one another to fight, just as two football clubs do in this country, and really we may ask, Is it as dangerous as football? Certainly, in the latter sport more lives are lost, though more wounds may occur in the other.

The whole proceeding, with its multitude of stilted ceremonies, has a highly

farcial character to an Englishman, and this was heightened on the occasion when we were present, by the fact that two ladies, evidently relations of an old chor student who was with them, were spectators.

The presence of ladies at these encounters is, however, very rare. The air of farce and unreality, already strong enough, is heightened too strongly by such an addition!

With us the whole affair would be put down by the strong hand of the law, and even were that wanting, such "fencing" would be speedily laughed down ; but among the Germans there is a strong dash of the romantic spirit of the middle ages, and this keeps up such customs. Thus, the higher post-office officials, even in a small town, march about on Sundays with long swords dangling by their sides, because, as we heard it explained, postmen were once obliged to carry the mails armed to the teeth, and now, when such a state of things is long over, the weapon is still retained as an imposing ornament! Then, no doubt, the rulers suppose that this practice of duelling or fencing keeps up the martial spirit among the young men of the nation-no unimportant consideration, when we remember that every German must serve in the army. Perhaps, too, some of the men in office indulged in such follies in their youth, and are unwilling to check with too severe a hand

like conduct among their successors. One of our professors-a distinguished philosopher he was, too-had a most suspicious scar right down the middle of his nose, and this was said to be the effect of a duel—at any rate, it looked exceedingly like it. In all this we have looked at the favourable side of the "Mensur," but there is certainly one serious evil connected with it. It keeps up the practice of real duelling. Every couple of years or so an actual encounter with pistols or sabres, and without any wrapping up, takes place at some of the German Universities. This duel is in consequence of some real or fancied injury of a serious nature, and is, of course, fought in some secluded spot without spectators. A German friend told us that while a schoolboy he was present at one of these encounters. He had received intelligence of the affair in some way or other, and at the appointed time hid himself near the place of meeting, which was in a wood. The duel was with sabres, and after a short fight one gave the other a severe cut, which proved mortal the same day. The one who inflicted the wound fled, and was never again heard of. Now, it is these encounters which get mixed with the 'Mensur," and give to this last its air of mystery, divested of which it appears as a nearly harmless, in some respects almost censurable, and yet on the whole somewhat silly affair.

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