A Duelling Epidemic.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 128, 7 May 1883, Page 2

A Duelling Epidemic.

TWENTY-ONE FIGHTS IN A DAY.

The Vienna correspondent of the Daily News writes :— -•' The University of Jena, and indeed the whole city, have passed through a week of intense alarm and anxiety, which are far from bbing at an end even now. On one day 21 serious duels took place among the students, and, as the arms used had not been properly cleaned, all those who were wounded had their blood poisoned. About 40 young men are lying m the hospital m a serious condition. One great favourite, the only son of wealthy parents,h ad his mind upset m an intense attack of fever, and committed suicide by taking strychine. He died after a terrible agony that lasted many hours. Two more have died already, snd there is little hope of saving more than onehalf of those who are still m t» pitiable condition. This dreadful calamity will no doubt serve to make University dueling very unpopular m Germany, if not with the young men themselves, certainly with their relations." The correspondent adds that it is difficult for an Englishman to be'ieve on what pretence a duel will sometimes take place, and reiates at some length an incident which once occurred m Heidelburg. An Englishman noticing at a table-d'hote how awkwardly a soungs oung German student was using his knife, said, " You wil cut your mouth i open if you don't leave off eating gravy with yonr knife." The student looked up, and answered, "What is that to you ? I can cut my mouth open to my ears, for all you have a right to interfere." " Oh, nonsense," said the Englishman coolly ; "you can't expect a decent person, to* let you butcher yourself at dinner 1" " Oh, but I can though, and you shall see ! Dummer Junge ! (stupid fellow!) signifies as much as a challenge. The Englishman was terribly surprised at the serious consequences of wnat he deemed a most natural remark, offered to apologise, and did all m his power to have the matter arranged, but without effect. He intended firing m the air if he had the second shot, but chance was averse to him. He bad the right to shoot first— the aim was deadly, and the young Teuton fell without a groan. Nex^ day the Englishman travelled to the town where his victim's widowed mother lived, and at the end of a two" hours' conversation he convinced her of his sincere regret and his wish to serve her. She admitted , that her son had not died through his fault, but through the mistaken notions of honor current among the youths of Germany. ' • ■ : .