Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-13

man Student Life.
The lecture by Mr.. Lamson last evening, at
the vesuy of his church, on Salem square, was
one of the most interesting that has been deliy-
cred in the city for a long time-lar better than
most of the lectures which ill Mechanics hall
when given in popular courses. 1t consisted of
observations and reflections on German life as
student saw it; and the speakers own expert
ence as a student in Germany enabled him to
speak with an enthusiasm and vividness of de-
scrption which comes not of reading books, but
is the result Of personal investigation and love
of the subject. Passing over the greater portion,
we will give our readers glance at some of it.
He began by speaking of the German nation,
the results OF the late war; etc, and rejoiced
with the Germans 1.-THE present aspect, quoting
the patriotic German poem "What is the Ger
man Fatherandp He then proceeded to speak
of some of the nou-American features of the
country; 6rst, of the railways, which are differ.
emily managed from ours, from the fact that
while in America the government is under the
power Of the railroads, in Germany the railroads
are under the power of the government. After
describing the manner of conducting the roads
and trains, be said that in Germany there are
three classes of carriages; and one can ride on
boards or velvet, according as he has copper or
gold in his purse. Kings, nobility, newly mar
ried people and EnglishmeD, ride frst-c ass; old
people, the sick and single ladies, second-class;
business men, ministers, students-the
mass of healthy men and women,
third. There is also fourth-class
where men ride as cattle. DR.. Tholuck of Hail.
said Mr.. Lamsons, tells to most Americans he
meets the following story: "In America you are
said to be very religious; this is easy of expa-
nation. 1t is the natural outgrowth of your
railway system. Americans are notorious tray
eles-never at rest. As your railroads are
managed, accidents are of every day occurrence
He who commits himselfto railway train COM
mts himself to a probability of death, and
travelling, always has death before him. This
is constant call to be religious, and here is the
necessity and natural explanation of American
pietv."
-, vi the social institutions of Germany he said /:
Inc problem of labor and pleasure and their re-
iatlons has found solution widely different
from mat attained in America In their social
arrangements, to enjoy holds a higher place
than IN our New England life. They have more
hohuaNs, festivities, more abandoning of irk-
toll with mild, genial comfortable recre9tion
Birthdays are made joyful, and in this thew
display an improving good sense. A birsbday
should be SO celebrated that an old man lonls
ing back upon life, can string his years tonether
as woman would string together pearls, bv
remembrance Of what kind friends have done 10
make his birthdays happy.
There is throughout Europe q rich love for
open air enjoyment In the summer time houses
are merely dormtories. II man has six feet
by four land or sky, he makes a table, cultivates
an arbor and il becomes his drawing room,
reading room, dining room and concert hall.
Iowns have gardens where men and women and
children can stroll, gossip and be lazy, and be-
come strong with the abundant freshness of
nature. Such am0scments are recreations.
America places upon the shoulders of her men
ana women weighty responsibilities. With an
open he'd Tor every energy, the temptations to
the rewards OF work are more prominent than
the inducements TO play. Our amusements are
empoyments, and their value recxoned not BY
what they hestow, but by what they cost. We
are lond OF meeting together, but we desire an
object for assembling, For working man to
bask or saunter under the trees and absorb
health with the fresh air, and refined culture
from the sight of beauty would be
called shiitless. Our amusements are ex-
pensive; too often unnatural. They being hu.
man, have unnatural amusements, also; but they
employ and are benefited by the simple refresh
mcnts of nature. What we need n pIosc
outside Of the home to which the family as
family can 20 and not ice either degraded or
Impoverished, Can the German betruo,den he
transferred to America No; and two reasons
give the negative emphasis. National pleasures
cannot be transplanted to new soil, The
second reason is that America does not need
beer, One element Of good is, however, univer-