Duelling in the German Campus
Boun
【ODERNISTS In the
MWest German univer Bities are trying to combat I revival of the customs of the historic student
fraternities, the most dramatic of which is the Mensur. or duel, fought with heavy, sharp såbre,
The fight between traditional- ista and modernisty has been going on for years. But it was brought into the open recently by the Senate of the Darmstadi Technical Academy, The Senple. a body of Professer geværring. the Academy, decided that they would withdraw the licences of any of the 57 trattenilles h retured to give up the Mensur Only a low of the fraternities practice duelling,
#1
Professor Walter Brevit, Rector of the Academy and brother of the late East German playwright, Bertafd Breeht, said that the Mensur was "directed at the rouls of the aphil which should prevail In academle life."
Briefly, the case against the duci and ngulust the traditional fraternities, is that they perpelt. ate a hidebound, outmoded - titude of social snobbishness, The case in favour is that they uphold tradition and mantines.
Duelling Fraternities
The Darmstadt Senate's de- cision did not amount to closing
of
down the duelling: fraternities. It merely deprived them official stunding. The Schule's campaign to stop duelling complicated by the fact that the
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1957,
*Flowers for Mr. Ernest Simpson from the Duchess........ A phrase from the news brings a forgotten figure
out of the shadows
MAN called Ernest Simpson lies Bl with a heart attack in n Loudon hospital. The Dutchess of Windsor sends him flowers,
that,
And suddenly one realises although millions of words have been written about that fascinating episode in British history, Brnest Simpson is still the unknown man of the Alxlication, the eno leading figure whose side of the story has never been told.
In the Duke of Windsor's A King's Stofp
he is not even mentionel.
It us if he were a munn not of Besh.nud blood but shadow, without a separate existence
own.
hit
This Ja u pity, fur 1:1 that misto- dramatic history, from which
1*དང
people emerged
with much credit, Ernest Simpson is
sympathetic cha- ructer,
THE MAN
WHO LOST
MRS. SIMPSON
by LAURENCE THOMPSON
He was comfortably off, witty, cosmopolitan, a good bridge player and deneer, always well dressed. He-typined, one might have thought, the world in which the Prince of Wales and Walls Simpson moved so easily.
Silence
had been a subaltern in the Coldstream Guards in the 1814- 18 war, and he emuld not forget that his wife's friend was also his King.
It was this loyalty that made it easy for him to refuse the him by ums eventually reaching almost £100,000 ettered to American syndicates to tell his story,
He was not then the wealthy man he has since become. He lived confortably with Wallis, at a rate which their friends compitted al about £3,000 a year. Comfort, but
not
wealth
term
of
measured in the
Winfield Spencer, and her sub- lamp-sum £100,000 which sequent life in the Far Enst
days would
she have been which those
03 described inx-free. But
frankness In ha reinained with devastating silent.
Has The Heart
Its trasons. Ernext Walls Warfield found Simpson a haven of refuge, a charming, sympathetic and cultivated man who read Lalin Puently and
and loved opera ballet.
-Bere whs perhaps. an- olher reason. As Mrs Soon was drawn more and more into the company of the Prince of Wales. Ernest Simpson began to appreciate the friendship of his wife's closest rehool friend, Mary Kirk, who had been the. most benutiful of her brides- malds at her thst wedding in Ballimore,
1
RENE MacCOLL, in Tokyo to investigate ud ended, and she had return-
West German courts have held the rise of Japanese industry, cables another trade competition warning to Britain.
that there is nothing Jlegal about the student Mensur,
There are two traditional forms of Mensur: the compulsory Mengur, in which the student is fighting for the honour of fraternity: and the voluntary form, in which he is lighting to match his skill againgt an op- ponent, Every member of duelling fraternity has to fence eight compulsory bouts.
J
The dueller or "drummer" is heavily padded about the neck. body and arms to prevent dan- gerous injury. His eyes are pro- tected by cogales, Nefther dueller is allowed to retreat. If his guard is down he must stand his ground and take the blow.
Student duelling rears are a matter of pride to those whn bear them, so much so that they sometimes have salt rubbed into the wounds to make the scars look bigger. Herr Hans Bade- macher, a prominent member of one of the fraternflies at Darm- sladi, said in a recent interview:
press
Spirit of Chivalry
that
"Fighting a Mensur has this meaning: to begin with the dueller should show fairness and a spirit of chivalry. But the erux is that each duclier must first master himself, because he wounded, must expect to be though of course not seriously."
Her Hademacher said the purpose of the compulsory Mensur is to overcome not an the opponent but uneself, - In interests of the community, namely the students'- fraternity, He emphasised that today the Mensur is not, as in the past, 1 means of settling private
airs of honour,
The fraternities play no part in the teaching and learning vide of academic life. They do, how- ever, tuil an impurtant purpose for their members who, when it comes to looking for a career, will look for support from their "Alie Herren", the "old gentle- men", or former members, who have jobs to give or influence to wield.
The fraternities' normal acti- vities are social, often governed by an elaborate drinking code. On special occasions, the more exclusive fraternilles wear uni- form consisting of brightly coloured suita with frog fasten- ed Juckels and, in some cases, plumed hats.
Historical Tradition
All franternities
have
Japan crashes
car
markets
Tokyo.
Unlike most Japanese of today, who tend to giggle and smile readily, Me Koiwa is a grim and glum sort of chap.
Crisis
HE took her into society, for
als sister had married wealthy 123 2017. "Bill" Kerr- Mary Kirk's marriage to French oflcer, Jacques Raffray, Smilley, who entertained lavishly a his house in Belgrave Square.
Prince
of Wnies was ed wo America when Waliis Simp- The
Mrs Kerr-Smiley's sun sent for her. Mary Raffray meng
at her was a woman of unusual wit Euests, but it was not
Simpron Brst and charm. Finest Simpson, house that Mrs never unsusceptible, found him- met the Prince. self more art more in her com-
Mrs Kerr-Smiley, it is salt, puny. In 1837 he married he did not think that the Prince
Their on-the only son of his and Wallis would "mix." four mariages--has jus! left Harrow and gone into business. This wife died in October 1941. In the Guards
ARNEST Simpson was
The Simpson marriage lasted Justed eight yours. Then. 21 years ago next month, Wallis Warleid Simpson pecurel divorce from her husband at Ipswich. after American news- both papers
arrived.
his father.
from It spread London and New York 10 Scandinavia, then, with the shipping boom brought about by the Second World War, all over the world.
Simpson's managers in world capitals were paid at the rate
of several thousands a year. He himself became a wealthy man, nhle to enterialn a small circle of friends and to add to the valuable collection of pictures he had gathered in his house on Campden FILL, which was sheltered from the public by trees and a big gardën,
The retures and entertain- ment, however, came second to the business. He rose at 7.30 Gd was in his office by 0.30. Others were expected, to do the same strenuous day's work that he did himself, and were told politely but firmly that their spare time too belonged to the business if it was needed.
from
had splashed the story
Από 50 in New York in 1807, son of that he was to divorce her.
the Englishnan by British father and an Ameri The Abdication Crisis had dvice, who faced so reluctantly can mother. His father's ship.
the un-English Hunclight, faded humdrum il into the broking business, though found
Throughout the crisis Ernest ed in London, had
This world of business. prosperous Simpson bore himself with con- ramlications, American
of thought generally
20 and siderable dignity. He Insulated Ernest
Ernest unromantic, bot educated at an himself from Press and public. American school and at Harvard He made himself to more than Simpson, too, the heart had its with the Idea of taking charge the shadow he has since of the American end of the remuined.. He still bears Д
business.
WIR
As a boy, however, he had been sent to an English pre- paratory school, Wixenfold, and the training stucic. Although he American could have claimed citizenship by right of birth, he never considered it.
grudge against the Prime Minister, Stanicy Baldwin, because he alone of the princi- pate
wus not consulled by Baldwin about the way in which things might be handled. What might have happened if Baldwin had appealed to The patriotism of this man
He came over from America who prided huself on his during the First World War Englishness? to take a commission in the Coldstream Guards. Tronically.
Mr Kolwa is the general secretary of the Japanese the half-American Simpson has Automobile Industry Association, and I was sitting talk- ing to him in the association's offices about the current Japanese attempt to crush the world light car export
market.
His pictures
INDOUBTEDLY his loyallies would have been divided. For although It is never pleasant to lose one's wife even to king. Simpson fo'md o touching sympathy with Wallis.
rs-
no trace of an American accent and might be taken 09 art
UND Alt epitome of the phrase English Gentleman, while the spraks Duke of Windsor now with Д pronounced Trans- Unfortunately, just as our slice ef that cake. America atlantic decent, chit-chat started, Mr Kniwa makes no small cars, so we aim
was in 1920 that Mr pressed Into my hands with to muve in with our "Tyopet. Simpson married his second How evident pride a glossy souvenir
Warfield, at the catalogue of
I have been spending much wife, Wallis Motor Show.
of my ne in Tyopets in Chelsea registry of marriages,ve been, he
the
Arst marriage to the after the Abdication, to past few days, for they form the (His bulk of Tokyo'a taxicabs and daughter of an old New England Withdrawn from the portals of
fairyland: very smart and nippy little jobs family had been dissolved),-
he When it was all over, After the failure of her first devaled himself to the business they are.
marriage to the dashing airman he hud inherited from
the
1037 Tokyo
SOUVENIR
The catalogor was impressive at first glimpse-colour covers, t The Japanese), car Industry, wealth of photographs and so wrecked by the war, got off to
forth. Bul og
a limping start just eight years EKO.
info Now it is moving mass production, pro-
we chattes started reading some of the English captions in this paganda piece,
First one my eye lit on read: "The
In the past six months Toyota
pliktograph s aight has produced 8,250 passenger shows at s centre Prince cars. The standard model cells Takamatsu as taiking will Dr
for about £800 and the de luxe)
Asosharo and vice-chairman (that catalogue had, of course, Aklda, with his hand spreaded to go and call it "de lax") for
£ 1,005, Kraep
as though trying tn something in the air.
"The impression derived from these three hards of different expressions may indiente, as k were, a motive power which generates the progress of muotor car industry in Japan."
THE MASTERS
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I
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would wrole 10 her have
Impossible se
He may scream...... but he's harmless
WAS shutting the house for the night when a shrew mouse dashed in through a hole in the kitchen door, raced over my foot with furious squeaks, ran all round the wainscoting, and went to earth under the dresser.
So for the Prince
Three hundred years ago this. is only in dribble production-In would
have been terrible. I the past few months i has should have, hobbled to my bed, varied between a low of nine yelling to my wife to fetch the and a high of 100 per month. antidote of shrew-ash and and produced another statistie. But the company has high hopes goose-grease, to my sons to ride or so, Meanwhile I was on to and thinks it will score A Cast for the doctor. this: "As you will see in this prestige triumph at the Paris picture, Prince never forgets to Show.
Mr. Kolwa eyed me sharply
wear hot on whenever be gors
caps
out to attend
other."
and ashes in their own colours for less formal occasions. Bul
whe opinion is divided about ther or not these gay caps and eashes should be worn hi public. The University authorities have urged students to weer them inside their club rooms only, saying that their public display "no longer Rts into our time." The fraternities argue that the display of colours is an "historical tradition" hitherto forbidden only by Hitler.
" some place
by
the lax."
£930
THE TRUTH
short- sighted, so uhlm terly remote that
very
Up-Country
by
THURLOW
my foot
he may
not be able to connect Our colossni hands and feet with ything that lives.
Why does he shrick
faces-
scream
santly?
We only Iknow
part
The Skyline sells for
When he appeared for the standard triedef and would probably have beca CRAIG
£1,200 for the de luxe, or "de swollen, with an angry red los passuge of the marking the poisonour thing, for such is the Mr Kolwa modestly disclaimspower of superstition. But in, any ambitions to British market at home ("How spile of a barbarous physicking this. His high-pitched queaky and bleeding I would have may be a form of echo-ranging my attack by under certain conditions, but it un their home the Mouse with the Tarantula is believed that his voice is his
enter tho
Mr Kolwn, who seemned now to be aware that Souvenir catalogue was produc- ing an unlocked-fur reaction, explained that the Fuji Precision Company's Prince Skyline, car con we challenge the masters of is to be exhibited soon d the the small car Paris Motor Show,
grounds?").
But the fascinates him.
MOVING IN
Is it not strange," I asked
4
recovered from
Poison."
of
main offensive weapon. Shrews American market That, more or less, is
and although the the fight a lot mearing of the shrew's Latin teeth are used their battles And what gives Mr Kolwa the name. Dark and deadly was his always seem to be won by the Mr Kolwa, "that the Fuji feeling that. in time the reputation then, while there are shrow often the female with Herr Heinrich Willleben, company has named its export Japanese motor car may provide slit old countrymen who regard the most strident volee. chairman of the modernist Ger- product Prince Skyline in view, a serious challenge to the Bri-him with superstitious dread.
of British Aurlins Princess Ush in the lush Amerimn Sheerline title?"
man Students' Association, saya that the fraternities will `eer-
and
tainly try to force thoir way of life on the Universities Academics although they are In the minority. Only 30,000 of the 150,000 West German
aludents
are members of such fraternl-
tica.
Just one of those happy coloci
ot
This
What is the truth? .To begin with, not one of our three native shrows is poisonous
is
wan observed centuries ago and the reason why a nagging woman is called a shrew today.
But the phrew is one of our
•
Is
market, perhaps in the Contin- Not strange at all, he said- :ental European market, too?
Just this: the average, wage dences.
of the male Japanese malor His activity-cycle works at very fow wild beasts that does Mr Kolwa, then dwelt on the industry worker is £5 a week. fantastic speed, conalsting of nothing but good. In his per- American market and its possi- The average
the short spells of sleep alternating petual search for food-he wage. bilities.
Japanese woman motor industry with short spells of desperate carnivorous-be kills arki cats "Ah," he said, "we observe worker is £2 a work.
search for food. that Britain does very well with On that busts you can prob- small car exports to America, ably afford to slash prices fairly
like to have-how you say?-a moment shows up.
By Herbert Sternberg notably California. Wo would drasileally when tho right
Cand threw be tamed? great quantities of garden pests Possibly not, and not because that would be missed by tond he is so wild or herce,” but · and, hedgehog, Hồ is truly the because he is so very small, so gardenerta Erlendi..
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