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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1910)
Pasteboard Hearts By LITTELL McCLUNG consequently obey his wife, a Jest that tho German people do not relish put hlg foot down heavily, and thero will be no dueling in this corps for some time. Tho kaiser, who by reason of his noblo blood was not porinltted to take part In tho duels of his corps, the Borussla, of Bonn university, nevertheless Is stated on one occasion to have doffed his dignity and under a Pledgo of secrecy from his fellow students to have played his part. Ho has never lost his sympathy with the aim and object of this traditional custom, which to tho uninitiated seemn a survival of tho brutal days of medieval times, but which in reality has a Bpecillo end. What football is to tho American student, rugby and boxing to tho Engllah, so Is tho duel to tho Gorman a test of euduranco and a lesson In keeping an equablo temper and restraint under provocation. Tho kaiser, with a eyo to tho championship of personal and national honor, has expressed an opinion that this custom should not dlo out and that thero was nothing equal to It for tho Bteoling or hardening of tho leaders, military, com mercial and professional, of the empire. I never enter a car and hang by a strap without looking at tho back of tho man In front of mo and specu lating as to blB-professIon or his nationality. Tho clothes indicate vary little they aro American and well fitting, but tho instant their owner turns his face you cxclnlm' inwardly, with a senso of mental satisfaction, at hnvinr found something definite German. There is no mistaking tho telltnlo scar that runs from eyo to ear or decorates his chin with a puckered ridge. Not all Germans wear honorablo scars, how ever. Tho badge is tho prerogative of the stu dent of Donn, Heidelberg, Lelpslc, Freiburg or tho other German universities and as they aver ago 1,500 students ench, tho class is limited. Tho kaiser's edict will not provent dueling at Bonn, howover. Thero nro still other corps, each with its distinctive name, cap, rules and regula tions and clearly defined etiquette, chiefly of tho hlghor classes. Each university has its frater nities, with a membership of a limited number, Beldom exceeding 30 or 35; and to Join ono of tho better known onos Is a much sought honor, Tho object of those clubs Is to all appearance of a convivial nature, as beer and wine drinking enter largely into their ceremonial observances, but they nro really to promote cnmaradorlo and to enablo tho too often lonely student to form friend snips wliicli will enduro through Hfo and bo masonic service to them. Besides tho specific corps thero nro other bodies composed of the mlddlo class students, such as tho handmann schaft, which was the earliest order of student fraternities. Tho duel may have Its oricln In nnv minrrel or amcrenco or opinion, but usually has not. is a thing of etiquette and Is used to provo a stu uent. Tiio moro duels ono fights tho blggor swag ger ono mny display, and a scar Is a sign that ono has como out of the ordeal with honor and is a silent and speaking testimony to tho bear er's courage. The larger tho strips of sticking plaster which hold a cheek together or a sliced nose In position tho higher ono goes In tho affec tion of tho fraulolns, and what Is tho world with out "Weln, welb unci Geeang?" When a duel Is arranged a pretext having been contrived by the simple expedient of a mom her of tho corpB clumsily treading on tho tall of n dog owned by a member of another corps, or by some such obvious excuse, tho combatants nro swathed with bandages on tho body and right arm, tho head nnd oyes and throat aro protected and tho only vlslblo spot left nro tlio cheeks, chin nnd nose. Tho swords aro rnzor-edged at tho point and, unllko tho French duollng sword, which Is usod in foil fashion, they nro meant simply to mako a downward nick, which serves to form tho scar, without much furthor damngo than a copious stream c! Llood and u sore face for a bit. Those OLD Um-mSITY BUILDmSS. HEIDELBERG are sclilagcrs and aro tho scar formers. On tho other hand to wlpo out an insult tho "slne-Blno" duel is resorted to. That means that the bodies aro left "without" almost any protection and the swords aro sabres, which havo no limitation of Use. When the cniinln fnr-n nnrli nfVini- nii.l M.n flchlagcro begin to play, about tholr Jieads a closo watch Is kept upon tnem in case they flinch or draw back their heads. If thoy do they disgrace their corps. Finally ono sword lands and n sprinkle of blood appears. If it Is not likely to cnuso a sovero scar tlio light continues until nt last a can ulng snick does tho trick. Tho mir geon who is at hand Is allowed to try ins prontlco hand ho Is often n first year "mcd" and tho wound Is bound up or sown. Then nn adjournment Is mndc and the evening Ib spent with uoer and song, Tho wounded ono rccelvos his congratulations nnd stnlko about in an ccstacy of Joy, If ho thinks his scar is not Going to bo bountiful enough he mny keep tho wound open for doya and prevent lta rapid healing. But there nro other duels benldos those of tho sword. Thero Is tho hon orable drinking trlul, whoro ho who succeeds longest in dulnylng his de scent to below the tnble In crowned, As It is treason to refuse to drink li toast nnd ns there are toasts all night, the president has n busy ti mo super vising tho proper filling ot each gUss, It Is quite legitimate to nmko room r.. ....... i.nnr Wlipn tint tun ok n Is thirltPKt nnd ilUI u - the songs havo died to n hunrso babble it Is time to make me count. Peace has her victories, and no doubt to tho .students of tho Fatherland this Is a latiOablo spo- clos of peaceful victory. r ry r w m r .s . r - ........ t w ... GIT A Tr of It BERLIN'S "NEW BREW" v fITIIIN 20 minutes of Berlin is the little suburb of Ilnllnnapn. nnllt-litfiiiw M turesque. It is a strong rival of Pots- uam ns a ravorito Haunt for tourist nnd pleasure seekers. It is best known throiichont nil Gnrinnnv fnr Ifn famous Terraces of Hallensco, tho nearest thing Germany has to a dreamland or tho midway plaisnnco of a world's fair, tho Berlin corre spondence of tho New York Times says. The scale of tho terrassen, as It is called, Is very dif ferent from that of a placo like Dreamland or Lunn pnrk, for Instend of bolng n row of fantas tic buildings or variety shows, it is simply n res taurant of vast proportions situated upon a lake, yet at cortaln seasons of tho year It Is essentially tho same sort, of n place, meroly n resort for plcasuro seekers. But In tho early spring it is tho seat for Ber lin of tho famous bock beer fests, a truly Gor man institution, a -tradition, in fact, and ns far removed from tho atmosphoro of a Conoy Island ns tho sun Is from tho earth. Thero is nothing artificial then,- no American tourists to glvo n jarring noto to tho party. It is n tlmo when tho German is not nfrald to bo seen nt play and proudly portnlts his Inhorent passion for Bava rian boor to como to tho surface, llko tho froth on tho boverngo Itself, As a restaurant tho "Torracos" Is unique, not only from Its slzo nnd capacity, accommodating ns it does somo 14,000, but also from its fantastic yet artistlo architecture. It Is an Interesting ex nmplo of what n creative American mind, tho architect being A. F. Lango, absorbing the Teu tonic atmosphoro and traditions, can produce Upon looking at tho photographs of tho "Ter races" ono would think thoy were taken In Assy ria, .Egypt or somo otner oriental country, indeed, (ho Assyrian themo runs throughout entiro nrcnitccturo. In tho season of the bo?k beer fcsls, the sen- for, tho son when tho Bavarian breweries announco tho "brewing of their new boor, nn announcement "which thrills the heart of every German and which is celebrated In every city of tho empire, tho Berllners throng tho "Torrncos" every night during the celebration. Berllners by no means monopolize It, but patrons and enthusiasts from nil tho cities ot northern Gormnny flock about Its standard llko crowds of holiday seekers In tho Paris or London season. Awny with tho proverblnl waiter! Glrln and young women nro brought up from Munich and other Bavarian cltlos especially for tho occasion. Dressed In tho Bavnrlan peasant costume, con sisting of n short bodlco, full skirts flowing from pndded hips, small, gay colorod cr.ps poked coquettlshly on ono side the head and a white blouso with very looso sleeves, they give an add ed touch to tho gay and hilarious neones of thin famotiB celebration. Threo ur four Tyrolean or Bavarian peasant bauds afford tho music, pleas ing nt first, but soon becoming a pandemonium of sounds ns tho evening's supply of "new beer" becomes diminished. In fn, tho bands uro ono of tho chief attractions nnfl without them tho fest would bo of little nmmwnent. Somo have only zithers, whllq others I,avo tho iull list of brass instruments, but each Ins at least on 3 phe nomenally stout man with nn equally phenome nal capacity for tho new boar, whoso duty It is to harass tho bass drum vllb moro phyoli'.il thnn musical strength. Such offorts nro tho slsnnl for uproarious shouts aird jibes. In all thoru Is tho best of good nature and fellowship, noth'ig in the loast ob sceno Is over suggested or tebilrted. Tho spread of Americanism In llkiropo Is well evidenced there at IlalloiiBos, whero an AmerJ can architect has Unlit tho umi. to so snored a fest as the celobratlon of iho browing of the now beer. Surely hq ono nil) deny that Amcrl canism, nn ism moro to bo fears J thnn Lutherlsm ana the roformntlon, hna penetrated the Inner most dootha of traditional Europe. (Copyright, 15(0 by Associated Literary I'reas.) "Isn't Dolly Watson a bit late with nor proposal party 7" asked Campbell ABkln, assisting tho girl with hcropora clonk. "Leap year passed out somo tlmo ago." Helen Armond smiled forgivingly nt nls Ignorance. uoiiy saved to-night a affair pur posely until nil signs of leap year had disappeared," sho replied. "Now she thinks it is high tlmo for tho men to do tho proposing." "That's tho nttltudo, Is it?" tho young man exclaimed. "Well, there's surely method in Dolly's tardiness. T suppose thero will bo tho usual rod .hearts nnd groon mlitona?" "No, sir, there'll bo n change In col ors nt this pnrty," tho girl said. "Tho hearts aro to bo blue, true blue I helped Dolly soloct thorn myself! Tho mittens nro to bo n shade of yellow, suggcsthlvo of lemons, of courso. Yes, it Is n bit slungy, but It cortnlnly is appropriate." "As for rao," rejoined Askln, "I ex pect to got a fow mlttons, for I'm not adopt In proposing." "80 I've noticed!" tho girl ventured. "But I do expoct you," he continued, Ignoring her thrust, "to give, mo a real largo heart two ot them If no body happens to bo looking!" "Don't bo too suro about that, sir!" sho Warned. 'If you don't act vlth proper gnllanry I mny hand you a mitten." "I dnro you!" ho challongod. "Oh, woll," sho answered, "maybo I won't, after all. But pleaBo boo that you do It properly." "I'll do my best," ho declared. "But wo hnd better bo going, for It you nrriVO into VOU llinv in an nnvrrnl nn. peals for n heart or two." This fear was groundless, for they woro ushered In before tho heart-and-mitten contest began. "Awfully glad to seo you both!" cooed Dolly Watson. "I knnw rlinrn ono of my hearts is going." Helen flashed tho hostess n roprov- A Hand Rested Llnhted on His Shoulder. ing look, but It wns wasted, for sho turned to make a slmllnr commont to other guests. Following tho UBiinl croollncn nml Introductions, enmo tho contest, with wnisporlnKB that an unnsunllv immi. somo prize nwnlted tho winner. Tho men wcro to propose by progression, each of tho dozen girts having six hearts and six mittens. Ench could chooso his own words and methods, nnd ho had two minutes for every ac ceptance or rejection. At tho first tap of tlio bell tho slir. nal for tho start Askln found hlmsolf separated from Helon by nlno or ton girls. Ho glanced about to nnn thr men sink to their knees simultaneous ly. In story-book fashion, nnd wlMi mock-serloiiB expressions begin to plead with three girls for ns many hearts. In a momont both drawing rooniB were a bnbol of confusion. Tho absurdity of tho thine Htrunk- Asktn forcibly, nnd ho scowled at tho men around him for making such mon keys of themselves. But bosldo him lm flaw a pretty girl already preparing to give a heart to a young follow who was pleading his cnuso In ardent sen tences. Then, without another nncnmi'n n. tomnlntlon. ho throw himself Into thn spirit of tho contost and began to pro- poao ns pest ne could to a young wom an ho hardly know. Tho girl's faco lighted III) With a smllo Of iilnnnnrn nnd whon tho bell sounded sho drew forth a heart and fnstoned It to his lnpel. Inspired by this success. AsiHn stepped boforo tho second girl and then tho third, vnrylng his declara tions of eternal devotion ns much ns poBslblo. A second, thon a third time, ho was triumphant, and after ho hnd proposed to tho fifth girl flvo bluo hcarto wero dangling from his lapel. But whllo soveral men had thrnn nr four mittens apiece, ho noticed that h was not tho only winner of hearts: tho follow In front of him boasted six of them. Ho wns evidently vory popu lnr, for ho was landing tho coveted prizes witnout apparent uimculty. Suddenly nnd unobserved sonm nno slipped a bit of crumpled pnpor Into vhkiub uamii 110 opencci it ana road1 "You nro doing well.. Keep It, up. t want you to win tho prlzo! "HELEN." Aekln wan In dond carnoat now. No longer wna tho contost nbBurd'or ovon entertaining. Tho congratulations ot tho trl whoso approval ho wished moat of nil wero nt stako, and ho de termined to win. Aa ho began to offor his lovo to maid No. 6 In exchange for a pleco of cardboard, ho noticed that tho man In front wan ntll! getting hearts. Ills eyo flashed duflnnco nt his rival, nnd hla oloqticnco tncrensed. With tho practlco gained by hnlf n dozen nvownls, hla words came with surprising smooth ness. Ho received another heart! Then ho looked ahead and saw that only threo girls separated him from Helen. Sho caucht bin ovn nml hnr look wns ono of prldo. Sho loosonod a noart rrom tho string sho hold and Placed In In hor lap. That heart was for him, ho know. Thon, nil at once, Just ns ho was be ginning tho soventh nronosnl. Aakln'a volco began to fall him. This brought on embarrassment nnd ho found hlm solf uttorlng tho most disconnected sentences. It went from bad to worse and In another mlnuto ho wns uttorly confused and unablo to say anything. Belief C 11 11)0 with llin (mil tnn nnd In tho briof intorlm ho slipped out of lino and retreated into tho softly lighted consorvntory. As ho thought of tho situation ho Blninlv onnld nnt cn lincle into tho crowd, but Instend flung him Belt on a bonch In despair, disgusted with hlmsolf for allowing his fcollnga to master hlra. What would Helen think of him now for giving up so fool- lsniy when tho prlzo was almost with in ins grasp? For somo tlmo ho sat listening to tho tlnklo of tho little silver boll. Every thing became comparatively quiet ngaln. Suddenly behind him ho hoard a BOft football. Then, a hnnd rested lightly on his shoulder. Ho looked up Into Helen's ropronchful oyes. "What's tho matter, Campbell?" tho girl nekod, a touch ot sympathy In hor tone. "Why in tho world did von lot that other follow beat you? Why, yon didn't oven Btny to proposo to mo, and I had a heart waiting for you I" "Helen, that's Just tho roason I couldn't keop up that sham!" ho blurt ed out, "BecauBO you woro thorol ., It was fairly easy proposing to all thoso other girls, but tho thought of saying thoso silly, trumped-up words to you unnorved mo completely!" "Why, Campbell, couldn't you them to mo?" sho nskod quietly. For answer ho turned quickly groaned hor linlf. resisting hnniln. "Because, denr girl," ho whispered, "becauso I simply couldn't willfully scorn ridiculous boforo you. Bccausp, woll J lovo you too much, that's why! Holon, havon't you moro than a pasto board box heart for ino? Haven't you a real one? If you havo, I Want to nsk for It In onrnest now." A fow minutes later tho name of tho man who had won tho prlzo -wns an nounced. Hut Askln know thnt ho, not the fellow who was given a handsome) smoking sot, hnd secured tho real jiflio of tho ovonlng. rf HASTENED TO HIS MOTHER sny nnd Long Ride Undertaken by Washington to Obtain Blessing. He Go Much Valued. . It Is Interesting to recall n rldo takon by the first president which seems to have escaped general no tice. In tho onrly spring of 1789 Charles Thompson, secretary of congress, ronchod Mount Vornon bearing tho offi cial notification that Gcorgo Washing ton had been elected first president of tho United States. Tho news was not unoxpoctcd nnd scorns to havo been calmly rocelved by tho dignified old general. After early dinner, whllo Mrs. Wash ington ontortnlncd tho guest from tho north, Gen. Washington wrote to tho president or tho sonato that tho com munication had reached him nt 1 p. m. that dny, and that ho proposed, aa thoro scorned reason for hasto, to bo gln his Journoy toward Now York "tho day after to-morrow." This lotter was sent nt onco ,to Alexandria postofllca by asoryant, and tho general ordered I1I3 horso for a rapid rldo to Frodoticksburg, nearly 10 mllos away and with two turbulent streams to forry In tho bargain. Tho April days nro not long, and night wns closing In nu Washington loft homo for n long, wild dash through forests and over obstructions not known now In any American forest; and tho object or this offort wn3 not glory or country, hut 0 obtnln on this greatest day of his distinguished enreor his mother's blessing. Tho nged woman wns near 80 and In falling honlth. Washington roaohed her pldo In tho onrly dawn, but hart almost Immodlatoly to return or olso break his word to tho senate. Ho hold her In his arms In loving tender ness, whllo sho doclnred that sho would novor seo him again. But Bho did not seek to detain him, .but with "Uq, my non, and may heaven's and your mother's blessing go with you al ways," sent him forth. Within 24 hours Washington Was ngaln at Mount Vornon nnd rendy to begin tho long ride to Now York. Ho was not far from 00 yeara old nt that thno, vlthor,