DUELLING IN GERMANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21919, 3 April 1933, Page 6

DUELLING IN GERMANY.

The jubilation of the students at Heidelberg at Herr Hitler's restoration of duelling may seem strange to Britons. The privilege of pinking his friends, or alternatively being sliced about by them, is not one that is courted by the Anglo-Saxon. He is content to reserve his sword-play for the field of'battle, and even there the rifle with fixed bayonet has become the grisly substitute in hand-to-hand fighting. But just as boxing meets the need .for honourable blood-letting among the youth of British countries, so is the student's duel, the Mensur, the traditional mode of Teutonic countries for satisfying this atavistic urge. The duel has a place in the history of the German universities as esteemed as the gun-fight among the racketeers of Chicago, and it is, on the whole, much less harmful. Indeed,, the authoritative opinion in Germany is that Mensuren are a mild and commendable pastime compared with pugilism. Two years or so ago when the ban on student duelling became final no less an esteemed organisation than the German Surgery Society publicly deprecated the passing of this engaging sport. Boxing, the society asserted, pandered to degrading purposes, and caused serious injury to its devotees, whereas duelling was an enjoyable and proper frolic for hot-blooded youth, the use of the blade cultivating courage only, where " the dangerous gloved fist" promoted a taste for sensationalism and profitmaking. It might be urged, of course, that an ulterior motive inspires this argument. The medical profession is possibly not averse to performing an occasional suture at the universities. Nevertheless it must be recognised by the unbiased that the student duel has little relation to the use of swords or rapiers to settle a dispute or avenge an insult —" an invention of the devil," the Council of Trent declared, "to compass tha destruction of souls together with a bloody death of the body " —as practised in less enlightened times. The old-time duel fought with the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury is happily all i but extinct, though it is not so long ago that even in England a magazine editor, for instance, might be called out to justify with his rapier the mighty assault made with his pen, Duels as fought by German students are considered in the light of athletic games. The contestants need bear no more malice towards each other than the captains of rival Rugby teams, and with such forethought as distinguished the queen in " Through the LookingGlass," who wept before she pricked her finger with a needle, so the German student bandages himself judiciously prior to engaging in combat, often thereby obviating the need for attendance by members of the Surgery Society after it is over. The platitude that youth will have its fling seems to be made to fit Herr Hitler's edict, perhaps one of the least distressing which he has recently issued. It is stated that most German students to-day are Nazis, and the reflection may be permitted that they will be very much better employed if they remain happily cloistered with their duels, their beer —and, of course, their more bookish studies—than if they ventured out to indulge in the Jewbaiting and terrorism which appear to be the main preoccupation of Herr Hitler's followers.

Australian Mails

The Monowai left Sydney on Friday for Wellington with '26 bags of Australian mail and 15 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due at the.local office on Tuesday afternoon. Better Than a Fire

In the course of the speeches at the Momona Dairy Factory's jubilee celebrations a good many references were made to the fire that many years ago had destroyed the original wooden factory- Some ascribed the success of the company to the fact that a fire had taken place. One speaker reminded his audience, amidst laughter, of the advice the dying Jew had given to his son—to be sure and marry a rich wife, because such would be better than a fire, and safer.

Local Body Elections Those who wish to record their votes at the forthcoming local body elections are reminded that the rolls will be closed sit 5 p.m. on Wednesday next. A voter need not necessarily be a ratepayer—the only qualifications for inclusion on the roll are that an elector must have resided at least three months in Dunedin and have reached the age of 21 years.

Motor Cars Missing Between 6.30 and 8 p.m. last night a Morris Minor single-door sedan, belonging to Mr Arthur Gray, of 775 George street, was stolen from outside the First Church. The car, which is painted blue, bears the registered number 93-617. Some time between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. another car, Mr F. C. Bemouth's Baby Austin tourer, was removed from the parking area in Filleul street. This machine has a green body, with black mudguards, and there is an extra headlamp mounted on the radiator. The registered number is 96-492.

Christchurch City Rates A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that £49,769 of the total city rate levy of £333,354 is still outstanding, against £37,375 last year.

City Fire Calls The City Fire Brigade received a call at 8.10 a.m. yesterday to 235 Kenmure road, Mornington, where fire had broken out in a six-roomed wooden dwelling owned and occupied by Mrs M. Thomas. The blaze had a good hold when the brigade arrived, and, despite the efforts of the brigadesmen, who- had a good pressure of water at their disposal, the building was badly gutted. The building was insured in the Standard Office for £4OO, but the contents were not covered. The Fire Brigade was called to Messrs Smith and Smith's premises in Mason street at 2.49 a.m. on Saturday, a barrel of rubbish having caught alight. No damage was done. Another call was received at 9.57 p.m. on Saturday to the Hillside Railway Workshops, where a minor outbreak, caused by some phosphorus igniting, was extinguished.

High Exchange Policy A complete denial has been given on behalf of the Government to statements in circulation in Wellington during the past week (says a Press Association telegram) that it was intended to depart from the high exchange .policy. There is no ground for believing that any alteration in policy will be adopted.

Mishap to Fishing Trawler The fishing trawler Pilot, owned by Mr Picone, is expected to become a total wreck 'as the result of running aground on the western pier head at Port Ahuriri shortly after 4.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon (says a Press Association telegram from Napier). The vessel was rendering assistance to another trawler, also owned by Mr Picone, which had grounded on a mudbank just inside the inner harbour entrance, and while the Pilot was towing the vessel off it fell foul of a number of piles at the end of the pier, which pierced the vessel and so damaged her that she is expected to become a total loss. The other trawler, which suffered only slight damage,' was rendered assistance by one of Richardson and. Company's tugs and subsequently berthed at the usual moorings. The Farmer's Position

"A farmer can never see for himself until someone knocks his brains out," remarked Mr Moore, when speaking at the Momona Factory jubilee celebrations on Friday evening. He said that for years the lot of the Momona farmer had been hard until he had recognised that his salvation lay in a co-operative dairy factory. The experiment had proved a boon. Now, said Mr Moore, the depression had knocked the brains out once more, but he felt the farmer would put his back to the wall and pull through. A better quality product than ever would ha® to be produced if New Zealand hoped to hold her position on the Home market.

Onehunga Wedding Incident A shop front in Selwyn street, Onehunga, was severely damaged last week as the "result of an empty limousine taxi crashing into it. The. vehicle was waiting to take a bride to her wedding, shortly after 2 o'clock, when it suddenly moved backwards from a steep part of the road, while the driver was delivering flowers for the bride. Crossing the street, it crashed into the shop, which is owned by Mr R Sutherland, and then continued along the side of the,house to which the shop is attached, and came to rest against the kitchen. Crockery, pots and pans and bottles of jam wove scattered in all direc tiona. The wall of the house also was damaged, but the car, protected by the rear bumper, escaped almost unscathed. As there was still half an hour before the wedding ceremony, another car was obtained, and the bride did not know of the accident. " Haunted " House

Most people have expenencedhe eerie sensation associated with sleepWß »an emntv house (says the Auckland Star). So" which pass unnoticed at other tur.es suddenly become^J*" *" QC t3 manner, and set i-nt » «= «,„„,. imagination working. All these sensa tions were experienced by a Matamata citizen pne night last.week and, despite the fact thatJie searched the house with the aid of a torch, the noises recommenced each time he returned J bed. The noises were a mixture of creak incr boards, rustling paper, and a distinct Pitter-patter on the floor. InJhe « his mystification was increased when be found a small saucepan _upTt in the middle of the floor. Another search of the house was made ftwtmj in davliffht, without anything unusual being found! Next night the occupant* Jest was again disturbed, and ft several investigatory trips were mod.they were fruitless. In the morning the saucepan was again on the floor but this famea teapot also was upset, and the tea spilled all over the cloth. Similar happenings occurred for three or four nights, and somewhat disturbed and feeling the effect of loss of sleep, the resident felt like cairn* in outside aid. Later in the wee. he" was told by a farmer that he had called at the house, and, though he could hear someone inside, he could not get an answer to his repeated knocking Now somewhat alarmed, the resident hurried home determined to clear up the mystery. Entering his home cautiously, he made his way from room to room, without result until, on arriving in the kitchen, he found great disorder amongst the various utensils that a man will leave acntwred about when he is baching. Beyond that he could discover nothing. An hour later, however, a flutter .above his head caused him suddenly to step backwards and look up, and there, to his surprise and great relief, he saw a blackbird. Just where the bird hid itself each time he searched the house he has not been able to discover, but the upset dishes were the result of the starving bird's efforts to get food, and the pitter-patter its progress around the room. It is not safe to mention "ghosts" in the hearing of this Matamata resident just at present,

New Zealand Railways Magazine A striking faith in its own future and in the future of the country is evinced by the New Zealand Railways Magazine, in the latest number' of which an announcement is made of a wide extension of its services to its readers. As_ the magazine points out, the fact that it is the organ of a service of national importance to the Dominion alone entitles it to be regarded as a national publication, and with that in mind the publishers have embarked on. a reorganisation of the magazine on lines calculated to extern, its "appeal to the general public. One of the services performed by it is the presentation of information regarding the various localities of New Zealand whose natural attractions present special features of interest to the sightseer, the student, and the sportsman. The new magazine, however, goes far beyond that in scope. Readers will find within its pages information on subjects as wide in range as the revival in gold mining to an article dealing with the lore of the Maori. One feature of particular interest, and one covering a field not largely exploited, is that devoted to famous New Zealanders. The romance of the development of the country has not been lost sight of by contributors to its columns, and the association of men of striking personality and varied gifts with the building up of a nation in the remotest corner of the globe offers material for a series of interesting studies. With these and other aims, to make New Zealand better known to New Zealanders and readers beyond the Dominion the magazine will be increasingly concerned, states the editorial of the latest issue, and all who have an interest in the welfare ot the country will wish it well in this ; campaign.

Steps to Recovery " You will be a little longer in reaching the point we have reached, because from what I hear conditions in Australia are a little better than' here," said Senator Massy Green, Assistant Treasurer of the Federal Government, when addressing business men at a meeting of the Wellington Rotary Club. After describing the steps taken in Australia to meet the depression, Senator Greene remarked that nothing they could do would restore the national income. That must come through a rise in world prices, which they were helpless to achieve, but he hoped for results at the World Economic Conference that would relieve the burden of lnter.national debt. That was what the world was waiting for to make a start towards recovery- Senator Greene stated that but for interest reduction, he was sure Australia would have been faced with a deficit of £40,000,000 in revenue. We have not reached the bottom in respect to interest rates," he said, "and the policy which the Commonwealth Bank is following in close co-operation with the Government, although we do not countenance political control of the bank, isi to get the internal interest rate lower still.

Engaged the Mayoral Coach Problems of high civic pride were engaging the thoughts of Mr Sullivan, of Christchurch, as he was being driven m the Mayoral car to the' Council Chambers one morning last week. A woman interrupted his train of thought. She was a woman in a hurry. The car stopped as she stepped into the road and signalled. "Your car is not full; can you take another fare?" she asked. Mayoral chivalry was equal to the occasion. "Certainly, he said. It was not until the car reached town, and the lady inquired the fare, that she realised that it was not a taxi she had stopped. Perhaps she acted on the tactful suggestion of the Mayor that she should put the amount of the fare in the collection boxes during last Friday s appeal on behalf of the needy.

Attention is drawn to an advertisement in this issue announcing a furthei reduction in the price of kaitangata C °" Nothing better than the best" is the standard of the Austin car.—Austin Motors (Otagb) Ltd., 284-6 Princes street. Phone 13-215.—Advt., * Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W V Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving eood vision for old age.— Ad A fc 'E J. Blakelev and W. E. Bagley, dentists. Bank of Australasia corner Of Bond, and Rattray streets (next TeleBMDh Office) Telephone 12-509.-Advt. Those who are requiring an engagement ring will do well to inspect our ringe.Peter Dick, ring specialist. 490 Moray place. Dunedin. —Advt.