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work； the blood gushes out again； half blinding them； and rendering the
ground beneath them slippery。 Now and then you see a man's teeth laid
bare almost to the ear； so that for the rest of the duel he appears to be
grinning at one half of the spectators； his other side； remaining serious；
and sometimes a man's nose gets slit； which gives to him as he fights a
singularly supercilious air。
As the object of each student is to go away from the University
bearing as many scars as possible； I doubt if any particular pains are taken
to guard； even to the small extent such method of fighting can allow。 The
real victor is he who comes out with the greatest number of wounds； he
who then； stitched and patched almost to unrecognition as a human being；
can promenade for the next month； the envy of the German youth； the
admiration of the German maiden。 He who obtains only a few
unimportant wounds retires sulky and disappointed。
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But the actual fighting is only the beginning of the fun。 The second
act of the spectacle takes place in the dressing…room。 The doctors are
generally mere medical studentsyoung fellows who； having taken their
degree； are anxious for practice。 Truth compels me to say that those with
whom I came in contact were coarse… looking men who seemed rather to
relish their work。 Perhaps they are not to be blamed for this。 It is part
of the system that as much further punishment as possible must be
inflicted by the doctor； and the ideal medical man might hardly care for
such job。 How the student bears the dressing of his wounds is as important
as how he receives them。 Every operation has to be performed as
brutally as may be； and his companions carefully watch him during the
process to see that he goes through it with an appearance of peace and
enjoyment。 A clean…cut wound that gapes wide is most desired by all
parties。 On purpose it is sewn up clumsily； with the hope that by this
means the scar will last a lifetime。 Such a wound； judiciously mauled
and interfered with during the week afterwards； can generally be reckoned
on to secure its fortunate possessor a wife with a dowry of five figures at
the least。
These are the general bi…weekly Mensurs； of which the average student
fights some dozen a year。 There are others to which visitors are not
admitted。 When a student is considered to have disgraced himself by
some slight involuntary movement of the head or body while fighting；
then he can only regain his position by standing up to the best swordsman
in his Korps。 He demands and is accorded； not a contest； but a
punishment。 His opponent then proceeds to inflict as many and as
bloody wounds as can be taken。 The object of the victim is to show his
comrades that he can stand still while his head is half sliced from his skull。
Whether anything can properly be said in favour of the German
Mensur I am doubtful； but if so it concerns only the two combatants。
Upon the spectators it can and does； I am convinced； exercise nothing but
evil。 I know myself sufficiently well to be sure I am not of an unusually
bloodthirsty disposition。 The effect it had upon me can only be the usual
effect。 At first； before the actual work commenced； my sensation was
curiosity mingled with anxiety as to how the sight would trouble me；
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though some slight acquaintance with dissecting…rooms and operating
tables left me less doubt on that point than I might otherwise have felt。
As the blood began to flow； and nerves and muscles to be laid bare； I
experienced a mingling of disgust and pity。 But with the second duel； I
must confess； my finer feelings began to disappear； and by the time the
third was well upon its way； and the room heavy with the curious hot
odour of blood； I began； as the American expression is； to see things red。
I wanted more。 I looked from face to face surrounding me； and in
most of them I found reflected undoubtedly my own sensations。 If it be a
good thing to excite this blood thirst in the modern man； then the Mensur
is a useful institution。 But is it a good thing？ We prate about our
civilisation and humanity； but those of us who do not carry hypocrisy to
the length of self…deception know that underneath our starched shirts there
lurks the savage； with all his savage instincts untouched。 Occasionally
he may be wanted； but we never need fear his dying out。 On the other
hand； it seems unwise to over…nourish him。
In favour of the duel； seriously considered； there are many points to be
urged。 But the Mensur serves no good purpose whatever。 It is
childishness； and the fact of its being a cruel and brutal game makes it
none the less childish。 Wounds have no intrinsic value of their own； it is
the cause that dignifies them； not their size。 William Tell is rightly one of
the heroes of the world； but what should we think of the members of a
club of fathers； formed with the object of meeting twice a week to shoot
apples from their sons' heads with cross…bows？ These young German
gentlemen could obtain all the results of which they are so proud by
teasing a wild cat！ To join a society for the mere purpose of getting
yourself hacked about reduces a man to the intellectual level of a dancing
Dervish。 Travellers tell us of savages in Central Africa who express their
feelings on festive occasions by jumping about and slashing themselves。
But there is no need for Europe to imitate them。 The Mensur is； in fact；
the reductio ad absurdum of the duel； and if the Germans themselve