Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-09
The Funeral Of n German Student.

To-day / attended the funeral of Ger
man Student, member Of the University
It was quite novel sight to our American
eyes. The news of his death had reached
us day or two before, and this morning
we heard that he was 10 be borne to his
grave. Crowdso people were collected IN
from, of his lodgings, as if expecting some
great display. First there was the hearse'
unlike those black wooden boxes one sees
in our country; it was much larger, ar and
there was no cover over it; somewhat like
platform on wheels on this the coffin lay
exposed, only covered by black velvet
pail with white silk fringe. On the middle
of ms coffin were laid his sword and corps
leap, the tokens of his society and its hon.
ors. On the head of the coffin were laid
friendly wreaths of ivy and everlasting
flowers. The hearse was drawn by four
white horses with plumes, and in front of
these, with slow and solemn step, clad in
the "hablliments of woe" walked tall fe-
male yelled to her feet, the public mourn-
er, whose duty it is to attend upon the pre-
paratfon of the corpse and marshal its way
to the tomb. After the hearse came one
coach in which the officiating priest rode
alone then long procession, two and two,
mostly composed of students, nearly two
hundred in number, with their society caps.
swords, badges, insignia. &C., headed by
band Of music playing slow dead-march.
The long procession moved slowly through
the narrow street. out Of the western gate
toward the burying ground, or Gods acre,
as is the literal translation Of their word for
it /; and then when they had come 20 the
newly made grave, all standing around
re-headed in the gathering twilight, the
priest made few remarks touching the lille
and character Of the dead a short prayer,
and then quite a lengthy sermon 10 the llv.
ing, standing thus on the brink of the grave
and then slowly, as the chant of the dead
was sung by his comrades, the coffin was
lowered to its last resting place, while the
band played softly sad and melancholy
dirge. The father, old and gray-haIred.
with trembling step, moved forward and
cast one handful Of earth upon the coffin,
and the crowd departed from the ground,
forming again at the gate in procession,
headed by the band, which now struck up
a series of lively airs, waltzes, polkas, re-
dowas, quick marches, ,&c.,in loud and live.
ly tones and to its music they marched
ag lin into town, ON through the crooked
streets to the Aula or Senate halNof the
University, formed then large semicircle
about the statue of George the Fourth, the
founder of the University. which stands in
the centre of the large square and all join.
ed in the first verse of the "Gaudeamu',"
which runs thus.
Gaudeamus igitur jnvenes dunn sumus,
Post jucundum juventuem;
Post molesam senectutem,
Nos abibit humus.
The translation of which is: Let us rejoice
while we are young for after the pleasures
of youth, after the troubles of old age, we
all shall be laid beneath the earth. 1t was
sung slowly and sadly, and the grave old
walls of the University buildings echoed and
re-echoed the solemn sounds poured forth
by such multitude Of manly voices in uni
son, under the broad canopy of heaven, to
commemorate the departure Of one OF their
number, and as the last sounds died away
in silence, each took his departure TO his
home again and alone in the still night air
stood the stern bronze statue in the middle
of the plaza, cold and immovable as the
dead in yonder grave.-Country Gentle
man.