The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-05-08

That is not governed by the stars above US;
The blood that fills our veins, in all its ebb
And flow, is swayed by them as certainly
As are the restless tides of the salt sea
BY the Respondent moon.
NEELE.
IT was early in the last century, on the
eve of an Ali-haows Day, that set of ri
otous young men, the greater part of whom
were students of the university of Gotino-
en-, were seated round the table of pub
lie tavern near the college. The bottles
had circulated 50 rapidly that many of the
boon companions were lying beneath the
table, joining in the revels only by an oc-
casional hali-uttered imprecalion or loud
snore. By slow degrees the party dwin-
died away The drawers carried off such
ofthe roysterers as could not walk, and
such as could reeled home to their BEDS
1t was eleven O'Clock; one solitary waiter
lay sleeping upon the chair in the corner
of the room; and ofthe late noisy and nu
merous company, there were bur two left
whose brains had resisted the supplying
effect ot'their debauch. One of them was
Leopold Won Desterreich, student; the
other was captain in regiment of ia
gers, then quartered in the town; his name
WAS Schwartzwald.
In the whole university there was not
any young man who kept up the true char
acter ola collegian with more assiduous
perseverance than Leopold Won Dester-
reich. He was the only son of too-in-
dulgent mother; his iollies and faults were
not only overlooked. but his purse was so
amply supplied that he had the means
and, to persons of his age, the inclination
never wanting-to indulge to the utter
most in all the absurdities of Burschcnism,
as a college lite was thea called.
The main object of a thorough paced
BuTsche's ambition was TO assume beha-
viour and appearance which should be the
wonder of all decent people. To accom-.
plish this object, there was no extrava-
gance or ioolery that he would not readily
commit. Leopold had distinguished him.
self by the pertinacity with which he kept
up all the nonsensical customs that had
from time 10 time been introduced by the
raw madmen who abounded, and by the
ingenuity he had displayed in inyenting
new absurdities.
He had fought more duels than any 9th
er man in the college; and was so fond of
this method of displaying what he thought
his valor, that he would even take I'D the
9uarrels Of other men, and fight them out.
He wore his beard and mustachios of an
unbecoming and even filthy length. His
boots were large and heavy; and his spurs
were ofsuoh size, and made so sonorous.
that they might be heard from one end
oil street 10 the other. A studied neg- |
gexce was apparent in his dress; and he |
eten rubbed holes in the elbows of his new
coats. that he might in no respect forfeit |
the character Off fierce academicai s!oven. |
II was acknowledged universally that he
could smoke more tobacco and drink more
beer than any one ofhis companions; and |
he performed both Of these ieats, not be- I
cause he liked either of them, but because
they made him notorious. In short, there |
was no vagary, which the young and too
hot brain ola youth exposed to allithe evils !
Of bad example could suggest, thaiLeopold |
did not shine formost in. He fancied that,
in doing these things, he gave so many
unquestionable proofs of manhood, and
that he kept up the dignity efthc academy
in manner worthy oft and of himself
Notwithstanding all these follies, he was
young man Of excellent talents, and of
kind and generous heart. His impru.
dences were the mistaken excess ofhaugh-
ty, but noble temper, from which expert.
ence and more extended knowledge off
mankind could not fail to produce far more
worthy results. He was the very soul Of
honor the staunch opposer of every at
tempt at oppression on the part Of the s;l-
periors, and the firm and liberal friend Of
all those students whose courage and parts
made them respectable, while their limited
means prevented them from carrying tLinos
with so high hand as he was enabled t.,
do. He was universally respected BY the
Burschen, and loved by such Of them as
knew him more intimately
Captain Schwartzwald was soldier. he
bad upon many occasions shown great
inclination for the company of the students
and was one Of the very few persons who.
without being Of their fraternity, were nj.
lowed To join their revels.
He was profiigate, daring person, with
a most forhidding countenance. His con-