Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-30

the Fall Semester in October, and ends
with the Summer one in July; there is q
long vacation between the semesters, usual
ly from the middle Of March till the first
of May. And, as the Germans always cele-
brate Christmas. the University is closed
for three weeks at that time. In actual
work at the University one may reckon
seven months Of the year certainly not
much more public work than that found
in most medical schools Of the North Of the
United States.
How does the German student study?
A question l cannot satisfactorily an
swer. for l never saw one hard at work
bending his energies to a given task,
doing SO much to-day. expecting to do so
much tomorrow. and so on. The system
contradistinguished from the College plan,
he listens to lectures, following no text
book. As rule, he takes notes in ink. He
is attentive, and always respectful. Per-
haps be remembers that the State Is before
him. in the person of the Professor. Be-
tween one and three O'Clock in the day he
may be found at home on the sofa, this ar
ticle Of furniture being an institution in
every students room in Berlin. After seven
in the evening he may be always found in a
hneipe. or beer-saloon, with his colleagues.
Several students arrange together to spend
their evenings in that way till ten O'Clock,
after which hour the houses of Berlin are
locked to public use. Students consult
whether they will have light or dark beer,
frequent q Lokai. talk, and play a light
game at cards, till the hour OF separation,
to renew the scene again twenty-one hours
later. They are noisy. but not troublesome;
and their patronage IS usually characterized
by q well-known insufhciency of walters
fees. Here they compare notes, lampoon
the Faculty. and study if it may be called so,
in peripatetic kind OF way for nearly three
years. As the examinations are forbicding.
they are then found at home, either study
ing over book. or discussing intelligently
the lectures of the dav. do not wonder
at the length of time devoted 10 the work.
The German student expects 10 go along
slowly and comfortably He knows there
is time enough, and the instruction is the
best the world can offer lie is quite right
as to both conclusions, though conceited in
his view about the second. Accustomed to
dilatory habits in his Professors, not fear
ing qui<zing, and having no prizes to
secure. he lets himself be lectured, to day
alter day. until it becomes time for him to
meet an examination. Daily work in the
quiet room, public quizzing. and recitations
are not IN his regime. lti only familiari-
ty with the ordinary quiet German life. with
their few luxuries, and with their faith in
the enjoyment Of the moment, that can
make such sketch appreciable. In bust
ling, ambitious America. it would typiiy
a torpidity Of thought. stupidity of exist
tence. and view of lite. materialistic, if
1t did not merit the name of pbilOs0phic.
Such is the average German medical student.
whose manner Of living is a. unwelcome
to the foreigner. as his advantages are Gov
eted
EUROPEAN DISARMAMENT.
| spent an evening not long since with
several gentlemen, who met for the purpose
OF discussing the question Of the general
disarmament OF European armies. Among
the number was a member OF the Imperial
Parliament. and other gentlemen prominent
in the Association for the Reform and Cod
ifcation oft the Law of Nations The meas
ure had been brought before the body at its
last meeting at the Hague. in September.
1875. by a valuable paper discussing the
Armament of Germany. - far has the gen.
eral bject progressed. that a member of the
Lower House OF the British Parliament
was induced to present, last year. measures
affecting the English service. The attempt
will be made to induce the same gentleman
to urge the matter tefore the House of
Commons. this year. while NJ. Gambetta
will be intrusted with the same commits
sion at the seat of the French Government;
and it is hoped that an Italian will bring
like bill before the notice of the Italian
Parliament. The project meets with gen.
eral favor among the conservative portion
of the Association, and must find, to some
extent, response from that large class Of
men in every nation, who unite service
to the State with heavy payments into the
exchequer. The Secretary of the Associa-
tion. an American, has died since the last
meeting, and the matter may receive tenn
porsrv check through the failure to secure
equal service from his successor.
In this connection | may allude to the
late secret conference of the three Imperial
Chandeliers of Austria. Prussia and Ger
many on the occasion of the visit of the
Gar Alexander. Conservatives hoped that
the question of general military disarma-
ment would be leading topic. Whether
it was or not no one knows. aud the Confer
ence is now fourteen days old. | could fill
your columns with the different views of its
results, taken from the leading German
journals, as well as those of London. II
was rumored that Prince Bismarck had con-
sented to police the border, and protect
Austria; but il is not so apparent that the
Prince prizes Servia 50 highly. lie seems TO
ia ke about the same interest in ii that sue
cessful Lowell manufacturer does in Alaska.
To-day IT is whispered that England declines
to enter into any national compact whatever.
and will array herself. just as she did GOO
years ago. against the policy of tie Con-
tlnent. Last week, Count Andras-y on his
return was quoted as making statements at
Pesth, contradictory to what be promised
in the Conference. One thing Is certain.
Ii was one of the most important political
councils of the day. as - the future OF
European powers, Austria in particular.
W hat influence it will have upon the dis
banding and disarmament of their several
armies is a question for refJrmers. lt may
be said with certainty as TO Germany. that
il has no spirit for war. while the esprit de
corps of the army is superb. The meet
ings of the conference were held in Prince
palace. IS Wilhelmstrasse. whose
exterior Is not fit for the Prince Of Wales
stables. The building is the palace Of the
Imperial Chancellor. who lives where he Is
put it is a low, long, two-storied building,
directly upon the street. whose ficades are
crumbling away, not 50 much with age as
neglect. There is one entrance Tor
persons on foot. and another for carriages
Each entrance has two large. old fashioned
whose single quality is their
to the general dingIness of the
structure. And here lives in very simple
way the most successful. the most earnest,
and, if the position of united Germany to-
day is any test, the most Christian, states
man of Europe. pass by it several times
d week on my way to Vlrchow, who Is a
source OF terror. even to Bismarck, and
who once refused u meet the Prince in a
duel.
STATE CONTROL OF RAILWAYS.
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