The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-10
PRICE TWO CENTS.
Correspondence of the NeC York Times.
STUDENT LIFE IN GERMANY.
Saturday. July %. lS5


Saturday, July 49, 1859.
This place is the headquarters of the so called
Student Life in Germany, and | turned my face
hltherward, as many another green one has done
before, with pleasing visions of state of Brother
hood and Noble simplicity, of "COmmers' and
"kneipe," of mystic ceremonies and inspiring songs
of all the chiValry of the past, in picturesque caps
and Wellington boots, defending the last stronghold
OF romance in the present. No one who has visited
Heidelberg will need to be told how soon | was un-
deceived. Brotherhood and noble simplicity con-
slst in saving 'ThOu" to fellow who wears the
same colors with ones self, and shufiling off the
sidewalk the fellow who doesn t. COmmers and
kneipe Just like any other 'Edrunks'' only
rather more disgusting, inasmuch as the intoxica-
tlon resulting from beer comes slowly and makes
the victim merely maudIin-and nasmuch also. as
these scenes are regularly enacted two or three
times week, reminding of the old English no
blemau, who used to say, "Next Friday night, at s
O'Clock, propose, by the blessing of Providence
to be beastly drunk" The mystic ceremonies
are no more interesting than any set of boozy
loafers could extemporize on the nearest lamppost
or the hat of the first unfortunate passer.by. And
as to music-l never in my life heard such fine
songs so abominably sung, as by German students
l very frequently pass the rooms of the Swabian
Corps during the evening, and a little experience
mas enabled M to determine with considerable ac-
curacv the hour of the night by the degrees of dis
cord which pOurs from their lighted windows. If
they are not singing at all, it is o'clock and they
not fairly through with the first quart of beer
at once, "What is the Germans fatherand?" tits 8
o'clock. and they are not yet drunk. "Frei ist der
Bursch' is executed at 10 O'Clock, with a power of
lung and an ingenious variety of tone quite aston
lshing. Now they are ''getting in trim and from
10 to IL the "combat thickens." Imagine the close
OF an American Congressional session, where, in
stead OF bills to be passed, there were five-and-
twenty songs to be sung. Imagine each fellow
committee OF three to sing his particular song and
give 1t expression BY pounding his glass on the ia
BILE, and you will have a faint idea of the grand
serescenda which takes place between the hours
nave mentioned. At IL, when the ordinary kBeipe
or carouse must break up, the climax of discord is
reached; the great ideal pow-wow seems to be real
lZed All the dogs in the neighborhood-and where
there are students, dogs will not be wanting-veII
IN harmonious chorus. The last grand howl as
sumas startling dignity, from its very power but
dies away into ignomnOus chromatic passaces,
ike dlsorde ly retreat after tumutuOus charge
1t Is past H. and no more is to be heard that night
AT a Conmers, or Grand Universal Drunk, the
matter is somewhat different Here there is no dis
tincton as to hour. The University authorities
have given their consent to a protracted Kneipe
and the police do not rap at the door when the
usual hour for closing arrives The climax is reach
ed by midnight but after that time the spirit of
the thing is on the wane. Judicous fellows go
home, foolish fellows sink through all stages of
maudlin imbecity, till they find their level under
the table. And few old hands are left for a while
longer to reve In persevering way, till they, too
weld, and stagger home to a heavy sleep and the
KatZeniammer
The katzenjammer is the alternate state of A
German student. l hardly know what name to
give it in English. My dictionary defines it as the
"Indlspnstion after n drunken debauch' | sun
pose there is technical expression for it among
the Bowery Boys or fast men generally in Ameri-
ca but my vocabulary fails me at this point
corns student may be expected to get out of
bed by ii or u, (in Summer, unless he has a duel
on hand, which must be attended to in the 'coo of
the morning." lounge at the shop Of the con-
fectloner with pretty daughter, couple of hours
practice at the fencing school, ride or promenade
about town, and the days work is over The even
ing will probably pass as the last one did at the
kucipe, and tomorrow morning will be what this
one was, a stupid insensible snooze-or if he is a
tuchs, or green 'un,' more violent form Of the
katzenammer. So goes the time. dav after dav.
"Bnt when do the students find time to attend
lectures or study My dear Madam they don't
attend lectures, and they don't study. For YOU
must know, they set apart three years for student
fye, and then comes study! For three years they
drink and scratch another's face with their
clumsy German swords, and do worse tbings: and
at the end of this time they apply themselves with
all the energy that is left in them to preparation
for degree.
This picture does not represent the life even of
the majority of studyrers at this, or at any other
University. Not more than half the members of
this University connected with the CORPS or
Ierpndungs-the rest are hardworking, steady
fellows, and foreigners. But the characteristic
much-praIsed German student-lite-the only man
ner OF living here which is peculiar and striking
the Hetde'6erg sty'e-is a system from which all
that once was noble, or brave, or honorable, is
dyh9 or mas died out:-a corrupt circle of de-
bauch and dissipation, which is fast losing the
Punv originality which forms its only rccommen-
dation.
The question has been put to mellow is it that
rom school so wca and worthless, as you say
tins Is, Germany has brought forth so many learn
ed scholars and distinguished philosophers?
In the first place there many who do not
% take 'his course, There are very many Germans
VINO go through their term of study at a University
and take the successive degrees without being
drawn into the soul-and-bOdy wasting life of the
out-and out Bursch. Then, again. it may be that
all Universities not like this of Heidelberg. al
though, as far as my experience extends, (I know
how it IS with two or three there is little to choose
between them. Finally, considering the tborouob
and extensive education offered bv the Universi-
Ties, ana the immense number of Young men who
yearly attend them, it is rather to be wondered
at that no more great men are the result of such
causes.
The career of the corps students is one which de-
hes all the laws of health and morali and writes
IN their faces the evidence Of disease and weakness
But their dueiliDg, foolish ridiculous as it appears
from every other standpoint is the phvsical safa
guard which prevents many a constitution from
succumbing under the mode of life which thew lead
] mean that they practice incessanty the violent
yigor of body, which their remainipr habits tend
continually to DESTROY
1t is a curious thing, this hollow shell of a svstem
TINS decayed old Burscheben, in which one NAV
yet distinguish the lineaments of a certain MT
beauty and chivalry. | may find opportunity here
alter to sketch it in its prominent and essen
tlal features, as 1t appears in Heidelberg, which
may be justly considered the centre and head
quarters of its influence.
The New York Herald has the following news
items
Captain Jones, of the bark j. W. Page, from
Monrovia, Liberia, the 3st of July has furnish
a
papers from the west coast of Africa SMALLPOX
prevailed extensively in Monrevia, and large pub
lie health meeting had been held in order to devise
measures to arrest its progress The Quail n new
war steamer presented by the English government
to the republic, had arrived from Plymouth and
the journals are loud in their protestations of gra
utude to Queen Victoria and Lord Palmerston, con-
fasung their llberaty with the policy of the Uni
ted States towards their country very unfavorably
to ourselves. President Benson Immediately went
on visit to tho chiefs to the leeward in the Quail
everything was quiet at Cape Pamas. Indepen-
dence Day was celebrated with great eclat, the
two military companies in Monrova turning out
in grand style to hear with other citizens, fine
Grafton. The English cruisers were taking slave
prizes on the coast. A number of vessels from the
United States, as will be bv our shipping re-
port had arrived at Monrovia, landing many dis !
tnguished African travellers, good cargoeS, an
iron sugar mill, lot of Bibles and number of |
settlers from our Northern and Southern States. |
Several native students bad distinguished them |
selves at the late high school examinations
Che bark Henry 1rowbrIdge, Captain Frsbie, at |
New Haven, brings advices from Barbadnes |
dated on the 18th Of August. Our correspondent |
writes:-There has been slight Improvement in |
cOrDmeal during the last few days and some sales |
have been made from stote-500 bbls. at 81 rs; but
any large imporatoDs would not realise this |
figure. Flour is in light stock but very dull of |
sale. Goldfish is in supply, and lotting at S4 60
Good mackerel would be saleable Herrinrs and |
aewives are plentiful and dull. White pine lum-
Der is abundant and declining. Dealers are still |
fairly supplied with shingles. The weather con- |
tinues showery and generally favorable for cultiva
ton: The public health is generally good
We have Havana advicesto the 4th instant Su- |
gars continue dull.
Accounts from Jamaica to the 18th ult state
that rciniorcements of troops had been sent for the
protection of the northern part of the island from
the recurrence of negro riots
CoRoNERs' INQrEST.- Melancholy Suicide at the h |
Hoie}.-The guests of the International
Hotel on Broadway, were thrown into great state |
Of excitement yesterday afternoon, in consequence
of the eide of Mr.. Alfred Freeman the proprietor
Of the establishment. 1t appears that he had been
i'll for about a week with slow fever and nervous
attack, which So debilitated hir that he was re-
qured to keep his bed. His spirits were quite low
and be was heard to say that he did not believe he |
would recover. Yesterday afternoon about three
o'clock, he requested Mrs Gilson his sister-in law
who was waiting upon him at the bedside to leave |
the room for few moments. Mrs. G. complied |
with the request and during her absence Mr. Free |
man got out of bed, locked the door, and taking |
razor out OF his bureau drawer, walked up to the |
mirror and cut his throat from ear to ear He then
managed to make his way back to bed and throw |
ing himself down, died in few moments The |