The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-22
STUDENT LIFE IN GERMANY.
The Bonn Celebration - DsscrIptIoa of
eUnivsFsity-.Tho Mysterious ObSiIsk
-Gormam SIudsnG Life. --

the New York Eerd'Gs correspondent says:-
To celebrate the hrieh anniversary Of the
University Of Bonn, an in. ltution founded IN
1918, ranking among the hrst of the kiud In
Germany, many thousands of former Bonn
students, from the annual courses dating as lar
back as 1918 up TO last years, also representa-"
tives rom all other German universities, we're
gathered TO that beautiful 10 Vn, on the left
bank of the Rhine, IN the Government District
OF Cologne.
Indeed all the importance of Bonn is due to
its university. Founded in 1856 by toe Archduke
MaximilIan Frederick, 1t was changed under
the French regime, in 1902, into a lyceum. The
existing university was rpfounded III 1878 by
King Frederick William III, of Prussia. 1t Is
an institution most generously endowed, boast
ing of spleu did lecture-rooms, q library number
ing over 200, 600 volumes, museum OF Rhenlsh
antiquities, scientific collections lnnumeraoIe,
an additional anatomical laboratory, botanical
garden, an agricultural department, aud
last, though not least, the renowned
observatory which has given birth to the
lar famed celestial charts. The University
comprises FIVE faculties, in which over ninety
professors aud teachers give nstruc ion. The
number OF studeuts-tormerly over thousand
amounted IN the years 1855 to 1864 to upwards
of SG0-S50. Among the many distinguished
professors formerly aud now attached to the in
stitution are particularly to be mentoned:-
Dorner, Rohe, Bleek, and Lauge, in evangelical
theology; HeGmes aud hts scholars, AChter cid
and Braun, in Catholic theology; Walter,
Bluhme, and Booking, as iursts; Hairless, Nau-
mann, Albers, and Mayer, In the medical faculty;
In the different branches Of philosophy, the
philOlogisls and antiquarans Welcker and Rlts-
Chel; the archgologst OTTO Jahn, Brandes; the
orentalist Lassen; the mathematician Pucker;
the astronomer Argclander; the mineraloglst
NOggerath: the chemist Bischof; the GermaniSt
SImrock: the Romanist Diez; The historians
Arndt, Dahlmann, Won Syhe!, etc,
With the usual German elaboration the Official
celebration was not designed 10 be an affair OF
few or of twenty.Iour hours, but must extend
over four days. The town of Bonn was rgged
out in its holiday attire, streets fairly covered
with banners aud wrea his; and to give tne
students an opportunity OF showing their
humor. there was, apart from the numerous
trumphal arches aud decorations, an old pump
standing in the market place, transmOgrlded by
these iacetious gentlemen into colossal ODE
llsk. At the loot OF it were eight huge bears
not very DANGEROUS, 1t Is true, as they were
closely chained up-lookiug as natural as life.
The symbolic meaning III German student life IS
that when they borrow small sums OF trades
people, and the payment Is conilngent on papas
replenishug their purses, this is called chain
ing up the bear" AS one looks at the obel-k,
somewhat higher, four harmless ,poodles
appear-tLe symOOl OF the University oeadles,
corresponding i'll nun Der.
For The further perfection of our studies
in this branch OF zoology, which we may call
academic" we now contemplate two foxes
and two camcls, repre- |entng the new students
and the old stagers. But on the very
summit Of this monument, embelllshed with
coats of arms aud emOems repr scnting the
various clans among the students, there is q
wine house adjuncts SO indispensable to the
students eYis ,ence-namely, bottles, WINE and
beer glasses, cocksCreWs, etc. But Oh ! horror ]
above the crown sands glganuc tomcat, with
curved back and wavy tall stretched out in the
air, while a smaller cat creeps under his belly.
What may this mean? THIS question was an
| sWered by fine looking, sturdy leu on, who
seemed 10 take pity on our evident ignorance
"You well know,"he said to us, "that the stu
deLts life, without beer and wine and creature
comforts, would be perfectly unbearable; but
the excess in these, hardly to be avoided when
| you meet with company, is designated by the
| cat, which serves as symbol OF That certain
state bordering on happiness and not far OIL
| from misery, the best antidotc Tor which you
up there near the cat. e. two large herrings, a
| fish, inn por ant IN academical zoology, as nature
has evidently designated 1t for sucn emergen
| cies.n
The opening day of the festival was the lst
| inst, monster trains having the previous days
| brought their numerous visitors to the town.
In the morning at eleven o'clock the worthy
| Nestor, Professor F. G. Welcker, too Old tC
| attend himself received from the rector and
| Senate an address, which was handed TO him by
several professors as deputies. Tue day was
occupied with general receptions and welcomes
and the evening concluded with grand jub la
tion ut the riding school, the theatre not havine
been found large enough. On this occasion ole
| and young connected with the A ma Mder IL
any way were assembled for a cOnvivial glass
| II asts, speeches and songs came last arc
| furious; Immense was the consumption o
liquids, and reporters, soon finding That t0en
occupation was gone, Joined in the universe
| uproaT and hilarity. The riding school wa
richly adorned with garands, standards, coats
of arms, gas stars, and on the walls inscriptions
OF the following universities might be read:-
Zurich 1888; Fryburg, 1854; Marourg, 1927
Gottinaen, 1877; Jena. 1858: Grei's walde, 1856
WurZburg, 1882: Breslau, 1902; Eraugen, l743
Halle, 1894; Bonn, 1878: Berlin, 1910; Tublugen
1474; KEEL, 1865; Heidelberg, 1886; Konig, berg
l544: LEIPZIG, l409; Munich, l472; and Glessen
1907.
On the following day the regular official cele-
bration began as carly as o'clock in the morn
ing by services both in the Catholic and Evan
gPical churches, the Archbishop OF Cologne
presiding iB the former and the reroWned pro
lessor, DR.. Kraft, preaching in the latter Al l.
O'Clock, in the great Aula OF the University, tht
formal reception of the Deputies and the Jubei
Jeir itself commenced. The Rector Megniicus
Professor Won Sy BEL opened the proceedings II
speech, which was repled TO by the Minister o
Public Instruction, Won Muller. Next CAM
cougratulatory addresses from all the aboV
named universities, which were called vi
I alphabetically, and seemed to inspire the small
audience with alarm at the bare possibility o
each delegate airing his ora ory, III which even
the ceremony might be indefinitely PROLONGED
But hapOiiy, and to the great satisfaction
j OF everybody the rhetorical Performance
was shortened by the programme which ha
assigned tins part TO Professor Wlntschelt, O
Munich, as the speaker for all the German
universities. By HIM the young sister OF Bon
was greeted in q graceful speech being tol
that, though not dating back AS lar as many o
them, she had occupied at her very commence
ment prominent aud honorable position amon
them. All the German universities he SAID, tel
that they constituted bat Que body, 10 which
entrusted the spiritual future OF the nation. lie
Us hope, then, 10 succeed in raising generation
which will forget that which yet separates tn
German people, and which Will ins'incuVel
cultivate union. so that IN days OF danger IN
whole German people may stand ana mol
tOgetlpr. a united DeODle OF DreLlre0.