TWENTY-ONE DUELS IN A DAY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 5, Issue 483, 1 May 1883, Page 3

TWENTY-ONE DUELS 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 being at an end even now. On one day 21 serious duels took place among the students, and, the arms used not having been properly cleaned, all those who were wounded had their blood poisoned. About 40 young men are lying in the hospital in a serious condition. One great favourite, the only son of wealthy parents, had his mind upset by an intense attack of fever, and committed suicide by taking strychnine. He died after a terrible agony that lasted many hours. Two more have died already, and there is little hope of saving more than one-half of those who are still in a pitiable condition. This dreadful calamity will no doubt serve to make University duelling very unpopular in Germany, if not with the young men themselves, certainly with their relations.” The correspondent adds that it is difficult for an Englishman to believe on what pretence a duel will sometimes take place, and relates at some length an incident which once occurred in Heidelberg. An Englishman, noticing ntatable-d’hotehow aw kwardly a young German student was using his knife, said, “ You will cut your moutli open if you don’t leave off eating gravy with your knife.” The student looked up, and answered, “ What is that to you P 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!” “Oh, but I can though, and you shall see! Dummer Junge !” With that the student rose and left the room. Dummer Junge! (stupid fellow!) signifies as much as a challenge. The Englishman was terribly

surprised at the serious consequences of what he deemed a most natural remark, offered to apologise, and did all in his power to have the matter arranged, but without effect. He intended firing in the air if he had the second shot, but chance was averse to him. He had the right to shoot first —the aim was deadly, and the young Teuton fell without a groan. Next 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 Dot died through his fault, but through the mistaken notions of honour current among the youth of Germany. (For continuation of news see fourth page.)