three men on the bummel-第42章
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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； 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 themselves cannot see that it is funny； one can only
regret their lack of humour。
But though one may be unable to agree with the public opinion that
supports and commands the Mensur； it at least is possible to
understand。 The University code that； if it does not encourage it；
at least condones drunkenness； is more difficult to treat
argumentatively。 All German students do not get drunk； in fact；
the majority are sober； if not industrious。 But the minority；
whose claim to be representative is freely admitted； are only saved
from perpetual inebriety by ability； acquired at some cost； to
swill half the day and all the night； while retaining to some
extent their five senses。 It does not affect all alike； but it is
common in any University town to see a young man not yet twenty
with the figure of a Falstaff and the complexion of a Rubens
Bacchus。 That the German maiden can be fascinated with a face； cut
and gashed till it suggests having been made out of odd materials
that never could have fitted； is a proved fact。 But surely there
can be no attraction about a blotched and bloated skin and a 〃bay
window〃 thrown out to an extent threatening to overbalance the
whole structure。 Yet what else can be expected； when the youngster
starts his beer…drinking with a 〃Fruhschoppen〃 at 10 a。m。； and
closes it with a 〃Kneipe〃 at four in the morning？
The Kneipe is what we should call a stag party； and can be very
harmless or very rowdy； according to its composition。 One man
invites his fellow…students； a dozen or a hundred； to a cafe； and
provides them with as much beer and as many cheap cigars as their
own sense of health and comfort may dictate； or the host may be the
Korps itself。 Here； as everywhere； you observe the German sense of
discipline and order。 As each new comer enters all those sitting
round the table rise； and with heels close together salute。 When
the table is complete； a chairman is chosen； whose duty it is to
give out the number of the songs。 Printed books of these songs；
one to each two men； lie round the table。 The chairman gives out
number twenty…nine。 〃First verse；〃 he cries； and away all go； each
two men holding a book between them exactly as two people might
hold a hymn…book in church。 There is a pause at the end of each
verse until the chairman starts the company on the next。 As every
German is a trained singer； and as most of them have fair voices；
the general effect is striking。
Although the manner may be suggestive of the singing of hymns in
church； the words of the songs are occasionally such as to correct
this impression。 But whether it be a patriotic song； a sentimental
ballad； or a ditty of a nature that would shock the average young
Englishman； all are sung through with stern earnestness； without a
laugh； without a false note。 At the end； the chairman calls
〃Prosit！〃 Everyone answers 〃Prosit！〃 and the next moment every
glass is empty。 The pianist rises and bows； and is bowed to in
return； and then the Fraulein enters to refill the glasses。
Between the songs； toasts are proposed and responded to； but there
is little cheering； and less laughter。 Smiles and grave nods of
approval are considered as more seeming among German students。
A particular toast； called a Salamander； accorded to some guest as
a special distinction； is drunk with exceptional solemnity。
〃We will now；〃 says the chairman； 〃a Salamander rub〃 （〃Einen
Salamander reiben〃）。 We all rise； and stand like a regiment at
attention。
〃Is the stuff prepared？〃 （〃Sind die stoffe parat？〃） demands the
chairman。
〃Sunt；〃 we answer； with one voice。
〃Ad exercitium Salamandri；〃 says the chairman； and we are ready。
〃Eins！〃 We rub our glasses with a circular motion on the table。
〃Zwei！〃 Again the glasses growl； also at 〃Drei！〃
〃Drink！〃 （〃Bibite！〃）
And with mechanical unison every glass is emptied and held on high。
〃Eins！〃 says the chairman。 The foot of every empty glass twirls
upon the table； producing a sound as of the dragging back of a
stony beach by a receding wave。
〃Zwei！〃 The roll swells and sinks again。
〃Drei！〃 The glasses strike the table with a single crash； and we
are in our seats again。
The
