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The University of Heidelberg, or simply Heidelberg, was a university known for its infamous student duelling societies. (PROSE: "Robert Scarratt" [+]Part of The Book of the War, Loading...{"namedpart":"Robert Scarratt","1":"The Book of the War (novel)"}) John Brent made reference to these practices in 1963, calling the ink smears on Susan's cheeks, from leaky Quink Ink pens, "Heidelberg duelling scars". (PROSE: Time and Relative)
Indeed, such scars were given in duelling as early as 1816. At this time, new students, or "foxes", would engage in duelling, and inevitably receive duelling scars.
In 1816, Georg Hegel taught at Heidelberg University, and a man matching Robert Scarratt's description studied under him. The student impressed Hegel with his didactic skill, and became involved in the duelling societies, where he received two duelling scars. He was forced to leave the university when he proved unable to make the scars stay open for longer than half a day. (PROSE: "Robert Scarratt" [+]Part of The Book of the War, Loading...{"namedpart":"Robert Scarratt","1":"The Book of the War (novel)"})