按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which attempt is made to keep to nationality。 There are the Swabians；
from Swabia； the Frankonians； descendants of the Franks； the Thuringians；
and so forth。 In practice； of course； this results as all such attempts do
resultI believe half our Gordon Highlanders are Cockneysbut the
picturesque object is obtained of dividing each University into some dozen
158
… Page 159…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
or so separate companies of students； each one with its distinctive cap and
colours； and； quite as important； its own particular beer hall； into which no
other student wearing his colours may come。
The chief work of these student companies is to fight among
themselves； or with some rival Korps or Schaft； the celebrated German
Mensur。
The Mensur has been described so often and so thoroughly that I do
not intend to bore my readers with any detailed account of it。 I merely
come forward as an impressionist； and I write purposely the impression of
my first Mensur； because I believe that first impressions are more true and
useful than opinions blunted by intercourse； or shaped by influence。
A Frenchman or a Spaniard will seek to persuade you that the bull…
ring is an institution got up chiefly for the benefit of the bull。 The horse
which you imagined to be screaming with pain was only laughing at the
comical appearance presented by its own inside。 Your French or Spanish
friend contrasts its glorious and exciting death in the ring with the cold…
blooded brutality of the knacker's yard。 If you do not keep a tight hold of
your head； you come away with the desire to start an agitation for the
inception of the bull…ring in England as an aid to chivalry。 No doubt
Torquemada was convinced of the humanity of the Inquisition。 To a
stout gentleman； suffering； perhaps； from cramp or rheumatism； an hour or
so on the rack was really a physical benefit。 He would rise feeling more
free in his jointsmore elastic； as one might say； than he had felt for years。
English huntsmen regard the fox as an animal to be envied。 A day's
excellent sport is provided for him free of charge； during which he is the
centre of attraction。
Use blinds one to everything one does not wish to see。 Every third
German gentleman you meet in the street still bears； and will bear to his
grave； marks of the twenty to a hundred duels he has fought in his student
days。 The German children play at the Mensur in the nursery； rehearse it
in the gymnasium。 The Germans have come to persuade themselves
there is no brutality in itnothing offensive； nothing degrading。 Their
argument is that it schools the German youth to coolness and courage。 If
this could be proved； the argument； particularly in a country where every
159
… Page 160…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
man is a soldier； would be sufficiently one…sided。 But is the virtue of the
prize… fighter the virtue of the soldier？ One doubts it。 Nerve and dash
are surely of more service in the field than a temperament of unreasoning
indifference as to what is happening to one。 As a matter of fact； the
German student would have to be possessed of much more courage not to
fight。 He fights not to please himself； but to satisfy a public opinion that
is two hundred years behind the times。
All the Mensur does is to brutalise him。 There may be skill
displayedI am told there is；but it is not apparent。 The mere fighting is
like nothing so much as a broadsword combat at a Richardson's show； the
display as a whole a successful attempt to combine the ludicrous with the
unpleasant。 In aristocratic Bonn； where style is considered； and in
Heidelberg； where visitors from other nations are more common； the affair
is perhaps more formal。 I am told that there the contests take place in
handsome rooms； that grey…haired doctors wait upon the wounded； and
liveried servants upon the hungry； and that the affair is conducted
throughout with a certain amount of picturesque ceremony。 In the more
essentially German Universities； where strangers are rare and not much
encouraged； the simple essentials are the only things kept in view； and
these are not of an inviting nature。
Indeed； so distinctly uninviting are they； that I strongly advise the
sensitive reader to avoid even this description of them。 The subject
cannot be made pretty； and I do not intend to try。
The room is bare and sordid； its walls splashed with mixed stains of
beer； blood； and candle…grease； its ceiling； smoky； its floor； sawdust
covered。 A crowd of students； laughing； smoking； talking； some sitting
on the floor； others perched upon chairs and benches form the framework。
In the centre； facing one another； stand the combatants； resembling
Japanese warriors； as made familiar to us by the Japanese tea…tray。 Quaint
and rigid； with their goggle…covered eyes； their necks tied up in comforters；
their bodies smothered in what looks like dirty bed quilts； their padded
arms stretched straight above their heads； they might be a pair of ungainly
clockwork figures。 The seconds； also more or less paddedtheir heads
and faces protected by huge leather…peaked caps；drag them out into their
160
… Page 161…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
proper position。 One almost listens to hear the sound of the castors。 The
umpire takes his place； the word is given； and immediately there follow
five rapid clashes of the long straight swords。 There is no interest in
watching the fight： there is no movement； no skill； no grace （I am
speaking of my own impressions。） The strongest man wins； the man who；
with his heavily…padded arm； always in an unnatural position； can hold his
huge clumsy sword longest without growing too weak to be able either to
guard or to strike。
The whole interest is centred in watching the wounds。 They come
always in one of two placeson the top of the head or the left side of the
face。 Sometimes a portion of hairy scalp or section of cheek flies up into
the air； to be carefully preserved in an envelope by its proud possessor； or；
strictly speaking； its proud former possessor； and shown round on
convivial evenings； and from every wound； of course； flows a plentiful
stream of blood。 It splashes doctors； seconds； and spectators； it sprinkles
ceiling and walls； it saturates the fighters； and makes pools for itself in the
sawdust。 At the end of each round the doctors rush up； and with hands
already dripping with blood press together the gaping wounds； dabbing
them with little balls of wet cotton wool； which an attendant carries ready
on a plate。 Naturally； the moment the men stand up again and commence
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