Show STUDENT LIFE most astonishing- fact connected with the duelling custom is that the students do not wait for an insult to fight but arrange with members of some other student society to fight a duel “for sport” A student probably has been in the university a year or more and has taken fencing lessons He begins to feel that to be a student he should have had one or more real fights so his friends arrange with another society for him to have an encounter with a member of that society who may happen to be in the same need of actual experience Such combats are known as “duels for sport” and are usually prolonged through only half as many rounds as “duels for insult” It is - full-fledge- d 213 dent duels would doubtless suppose that many fatalities occur but such is so rarely the outcome that there is hardly a remote thought of those entering the combat that it may end In fact all things confatally sidered there is not the danger to life and limb that there is in our American game of football Viewed in this comparison we Americans so long as our old form of football is kept up are far from having a right to criticise our German for barbarous practices Though our German friend who enters the duel runs more chances of carrying off some superficial scars or of losing some blood he runs no risk of sprained ankles broken ribs disolcated ind shoulders or other juries which would leave a lifelong weakening effect It is doubtful whether there are as many fatalities resulting from these light sword duels as have resulted in recent years from American football compared with the number engaged in each case If we compare the two practices as to the skill and dexterity which each develops the German student is ready at once to claim superiority for the duel The quickness of eye and the accuracy of muscle required of the expert swordsman to deliver and parry off the blows he says is far superior to that required of the football player Our German friend views our game of football as a contest of brute force and probably considers a cock fight as displaying a higher grade of skill fellow- -students deep-seate- said by some in a position to know that the majority of duels are of the former class They are fought however under the same rules except as to the number of rounds Those unfamiliar with these stu |