Quaintandrigid，withtheirgoggle—coveredeyes，theirneckstiedupincomforters，theirbodiessmotheredinwhatlookslikedirtybedquilts，theirpaddedarmsstretchedstraightabovetheirheads，theymightbeapairofungainlyclockworkfigures。Theseconds，alsomoreorlesspadded——theirheadsandfacesprotectedbyhugeleather—peakedcaps，——dragthemoutintotheirproperposition。
Onealmostlistenstohearthesoundofthecastors。Theumpiretakeshisplace，thewordisgiven，andimmediatelytherefollowfiverapidclashesofthelongstraightswords。Thereisnointerestinwatchingthefight：thereisnomovement，noskill，nograce（Iamspeakingofmyownimpressions。）Thestrongestmanwins；themanwho，withhisheavily—paddedarm，alwaysinanunnaturalposition，canholdhishugeclumsyswordlongestwithoutgrowingtooweaktobeableeithertoguardortostrike。
Thewholeinterestiscentredinwatchingthewounds。Theycomealwaysinoneoftwoplaces——onthetopoftheheadortheleftsideoftheface。Sometimesaportionofhairyscalporsectionofcheekfliesupintotheair，tobecarefullypreservedinanenvelopebyitsproudpossessor，or，strictlyspeaking，itsproudformerpossessor，andshownroundonconvivialevenings；andfromeverywound，ofcourse，flowsaplentifulstreamofblood。Itsplashesdoctors，seconds，andspectators；itsprinklesceilingandwalls；itsaturatesthefighters，andmakespoolsforitselfinthesawdust。Attheendofeachroundthedoctorsrushup，andwithhandsalreadydrippingwithbloodpresstogetherthegapingwounds，dabbingthemwithlittleballsofwetcottonwool，whichanattendantcarriesreadyonaplate。Naturally，themomentthemenstandupagainandcommencework，thebloodgushesoutagain，halfblindingthem，andrenderingthegroundbeneaththemslippery。Nowandthenyouseeaman’steethlaidbarealmosttotheear，sothatfortherestoftheduelheappearstobegrinningatonehalfofthespectators，hisotherside，remainingserious；andsometimesaman’snosegetsslit，whichgivestohimashefightsasingularlysuperciliousair。
AstheobjectofeachstudentistogoawayfromtheUniversitybearingasmanyscarsaspossible，Idoubtifanyparticularpainsaretakentoguard，eventothesmallextentsuchmethodoffightingcanallow。Therealvictorishewhocomesoutwiththegreatestnumberofwounds；hewhothen，stitchedandpatchedalmosttounrecognitionasahumanbeing，canpromenadeforthenextmonth，theenvyoftheGermanyouth，theadmirationoftheGermanmaiden。Hewhoobtainsonlyafewunimportantwoundsretiressulkyanddisappointed。
Buttheactualfightingisonlythebeginningofthefun。Thesecondactofthespectacletakesplaceinthedressing—room。Thedoctorsaregenerallymeremedicalstudents——youngfellowswho，havingtakentheirdegree，areanxiousforpractice。TruthcompelsmetosaythatthosewithwhomIcameincontactwerecoarse—