New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-20
LEADING TOPICS AT BERLIN.

trRoM An oCCAsIoSAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE
BErIIx, July 4.-The supplementary Conference
has come to an end. marked by the same absence OF
nopplar interest here which attended its opening
session the middle of last month, and 1t now
remains 10 be seen how much effect its decisions
will have on Turkey. whether Greece will get her
new boundary line IN peaceful way. or whether
Europe will be plunged into new difficulties over the
transfer of allegiance of three or four thousand
square niles OF territory, tenanted by banditt and
rendered almost a waste through bad government.
Iattcnded a curious meeting of students of the
Berlin University a few days ago in large music
and beer hall at the nortn end of Leipzger-strasse.
About 600 young men, seated at seven or eight long
tables which stretched from one end of the hall to
the other, were drinking and smoking with great
hilarity. On the platform was the chairman Of the
gathering and committee OF ten which
had been appointed to draw up consti-
tuition for the government of the student body.
Though the students on the floor of the house
almost to a man guzzng beer, was somewhat sur
prised to observe that the chairman and committee
on the platform were slipping only Seltzer water.
II appeared that the Rector of the University had
requested the students to abstain from beer at this
meeting, and those on the platform were making
martyrs of themselves in the vain hope of setting
good example for their fellow students. To
deny a German the right to eat and
nature would be tantamount to de-
priying an American citizen of the freedom of
speech. As a friend wittlly and truthfuly re-
marked. the Germans seem to eat only between
meals But there was good excuse in this instance
for tie Indulgence OF this national weakness for |
the speeches tedious. the business dragged and
the meeting lasted five mortal hours.
The president brought the students to order by !
Changing large dinner bell. and then read the con-
stitutiOn offered by the committee. This dOcu- |
ment was taken up and discussed article |
by article with all the mnuteness and |
patience for which the German is famous |
The most trivial points considered at length |
which would have driven an American student to |
unparliamentary interruption at least. Speeches
worthy of Greenback member of Congress were
hurled at an audience which quietly listened to the
end without even the pardoDable protest of yawn
The same individual spoke half dozen times on
the same question, and parliamentary law seemed |
wholly disregarded. if even thought Of. When |
q student to speak, cries of Table! |
tablep came from all parts of the |
hall, and the orator got mp among |
the beer glasses and sausages. and addressed his
fellows When q vote was TO be taken the presi- |
dent designated three men for each table who also
planted themselves among the drinkables and eat |
ables at equal distances apart and each from this
ground counted the number of raised |
hands at his part of the table, and reported the re-
suit in stentoran tones to the presiding officer He |
IN turn repeated it to committee of three on the |
platform, who chalked it in large characters a |
big black board, so that the whole body witnessed
the count. IT, because of the ardor of |
the contest, or the clouds of tobacco
smoke there arose dispute over the vote of any
division of the tables. the Committee Oh the Black
board would 90 down into the hail. count the hands
and make a report, which was final. When left
the meeting nearly two hours after it began, only
the first article OF the constitution had been dis
posed Of and the second was under consideration.
But have not referred TO this student meeting
simply because it illustrates German character and
customs / see in 1t something more instructive
and important than its chronological features.
1t has also q political significance. 1t is sign of
the Democratic movement which has already made
much progress in Germany, and which is keeping
pace with the general European DRIFT IN this direc-
ton This meeting In part a rebellion of the
against the upper thousand OF the stu
dents no do not carry colors against the students
who do carry colors. OF the plebeian ,cilden wIld
animals" as the poorer students are called in uni
verslty sang against the aristOcratic corps
or, as we would say in America, the Greek letter
societies Heretofore, when the magistrates would
invite the students to participate in some public
fete they we're forced to apply to the corps the
only organized bodies Now. however, the four or
five thousand students of Berlin united under |
one constitution. and represented by perma-
committee. 1t matters not. therefore, whether,
as one authority informs me, none but members of
the corps are found on this committee or whether,
as another student assures me, three Vilden have
places there the fact remains that the lower orders
among the students at the German Capital are be-
ginning to demand their rights.
There was last night magnificent representation
Of the first part OF Faust" not Gounods opera. but
Goethes tragedy, which was gwen Just as 1t came
from the pea of the great poet himself Nowhere
but in Germany would playhouse situated as Is
the Victoria Theatre, far away from the ar1stocratc
quarter of the city. be filed at the early hour of
$50 BY an audience which listened with
tie most wrapt attention TO a tragedy never
meant for the stage. consisting Of nearly 200
pages Of rhymed verse. which it took over five
hours to enact. 1t is only at intervals that
Beriners have an opportunity TO applaud the master
piece Of this National dramatist, and to.
morrow night the second part of Faust"
to be played for the first time. j
believe. in this city. Many Of the per-
formers last evening were from GOethe's own Wei- |
mar Devrient, as Nephistopheles, sustained the
h'gh reputation which he enjoys In Germany as an
interpreter OF Goethe's idea OF the allen arch
angel. The Crown Prince and Princess.
iheir daughter and son-n-law, the Hereditary
ofand Duke of Saxe-Meininger, occupied a =
oo1 and applauded the players with great hearth ,
ness The royal party lett at the end of the fourth
act but the rest Of the audience kept their seats
ah"i the curtain fell at just IL o'clock. Though
must confess that went to the theatre with fore
oOu'nss OF passing a weary and monotonous
e'e. ee'esng came away with higher idea of the
Of OF ana ms work. and of the genius
stt.mn, ,ae German people. who have dared A
nbmW 10 give living form 10 Goethe's delicate +,
rsi", While tile pedantic commentators are
ns,,ny nny striving TO discover the full meaning of o