Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-14
STUDENT LIFE ABROAD.
The Cost Of Living In German Cities
The Fees for Instruction, Etc.

A correspondent of the New Yorl
Nation, writing from Germany, says
THE number of Americans wht
come to Germany to finish theil
studies is not only large but inereas.
ing. They study here chiefly medi-
cine, philology and music. A few heal
lectures on law at the universities
but the origin, theory and practice Of
German law, as well as the highly alb.
stract and Anticipated method of teach.
ing it, are so foreign to our views o.
Jurisprudence that such students gen
orally themselves regard their Law
studies as a luxury and an accom-
plishment, rather than a practical
gain. Though our students are to be
found in nearly every university town
most of them gather at Leipsic and
Berlin. Last winter there were more
American students at Leipsic thar
there were natives of all other coun.
tries not European together. The
figures were Americans, 81; total
81. Austria excepted, no single Eu-
ropean nation sent so many students
to Leipsic as America. The chief
States were represented as follows
Austria, II Russia, 81; Switzerland.
40; Great Britain, 80; Greece, IA:
France, 4; the United States. 81. The
majority of our countrymen who study
in Germany are not wealthy. Most
OF them come supplied with a sum
which they think with economy will
last one, two or three years. Their
calculation is based, almost without
exception, upon the theory that the
expenses Of living in Germany are
much less than at home. | venture
to say that not one in fifty lives within
his theoretical estimate. Ny own ex-
perience is derived from a residence
in Leipsic and Strasburg of nearly
two years, with visits to Berlin, Ores
den, and other cities of North Ger
many. 1t is not a rare thing to meet
men who say that, had they known the
expense Of studying a year or two
here to be so great as it is, they would
not have come, or would have post
pOned their coming. | shall endeavor
here, if space be granted me, to state
the facts as they now are, hoping they
may thus reach a wider circle than
that of private intercourse.
AS a general statement, it is true
that there is scarcely a single article
in the range of human commodities
that does not cost less in this country
than with US yet the matter of per-
sonal expenses is so relative and sub
jectiye that the conclusions of differ
ent Americans are amusingly various.
Wealthy tourists say that life is dearer
here than in America because thew
succeed in easily disposing of large
sums. Others observe that they can
get good instruction for seventy-fve
cents a lesson, or a good dinner for
thirty cents, and they conclude that
living is less expensive here than at
home. One a relieve himself of as
much money as he likes and receive a
fair equivalent, or economic to al
most any extent. The Germans are.
as a whole, poor, and the tendency of
life outside the circles of the nobility
is toward economy. One of the first
characteristics noted by an American
is a surprising minuteness of detail in
bills, and a regard for sums so small
that it seems to him like penurious-
ness. There is no lavishness. and the
newcomer soon begins to fall into the
national habit of taking care of the
Pfeanig (abOut two Mills. Again. the
question is made complex by the fact
that prices vary in different provinces
and in different cities. Americans.
too, must usually pay from ten to
twenty per cent. more than natives
until they learn the customs and a
smattering Of the language. Every
American is thought to be rich. and
as a compliment to him, | suppose. II
is thought no sin to give him back too
little change, to mark up prices when
he enters a shop, and to demand high
fees.
Allowance cannot here be made
for exceptional cases. The following
list Of prices includes only rates for
those accommodations which would
disgust a man of some refinement. /
have known Americans to live here
with ten dollars per month, everything
included and thousands of needy
German students live with from ten
to fifteen dollars per month. But
they are unclean, their dress is not re-
spectacle, and their food and rooms
are becoming neither to a gentleman
nor a scholar, Anything less than a
German stomach, used to black bread.
sausage, fat, and beer, or a German
system, used to thick and smoky air
and little exercise, would finally give
way under the pressure Of these prices.
The necessaries Of life, within reason
able limits, costs about as follows
Board-breakfast of rolls and coffee.
ten TO twenty cents; dinner at table
d hote, twenty to seventy-fve cents
private table, twenty TO thirty cents.
Lodging-one room on first floor, good
location, with months notice, ten dol
lars per month; second and third
floors, seven TO nine dollars poor To-
cation, first floor, six dollars second
and third floors, four to six dollars.
If one goes to the luxury of study and
sleeping-rooms together, he must add
about twenty per cent. to these rates.
A good suit of clothing costs from
twenty TO thirty-fyr dollars. A good
pair of shoes costs FIVE dollars. Books
not imported are nearly one half
cheaper than with us. They are gen.
orally bought in paper and turned over
by the purchaser to the binder. Bind
ing costs from twenty to sixty cents
per volume in calf, according 10
the size Of the volume. The cost Of
instruction varies with the eninence
of tho inafructor ond NTH tba ,,atb