The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-03
"A Students Funeral at Heidelberg,

When, in the summer of 1870, the decla-
ration of war came from the French, and
academic lecture rooms were straightway
transformed into hospital wards, Heidelberg
students parted with many formal ccre-
mony, and clinked glasses with special
fondncss to the proud toast, "Auf Wiedcr-
sehen on the Bouleyards OF Parls!" And
when, afterwards, while with the armies in
that brief and bloody campaign, saw ma
ny familiar students formqyng neglected
III the trodden mud on hill-tops and in the
beds and streams, there was but little time
for ceremony, or room In the mind for pa
thos, as human carcassos were thrown into
namelcss pits, in spite of the memories that
many of the dead brought vividly up of life
at Berlin, and Of that proud parting toast
at Heidelberg. But the ceremonies that at
tend the burial Of the student who dies
amid the peaceful strife Of science, and is
laid beneath the classic frs that grow on
the slopes of the Ncclxar, call the medieval
past to their aid, and add to the sadness of
the occasion by the chivalric forms that
tradition commands. 1t was in the middle
OF his summer semester that the student
had died far away from his home in Greece.
No kindred were there to care for his re-
mains. So, on his comrades fell the duty
OF laying his dust telRlcrly away according
to the ancient student custom. 1t was at
midnight that hundreds of us gathered on
the Hauptgasse before the door of his
simple lodgings The students of the diff
ferent corps were in full unforln--guy SER
vice caps, back swallow tailed coats, white
trousers, and high top-boots, the broad re-
gala of their orders swung over right
shoulder and breast and the little schlacger
blade drawn and glistening in the right
hand. Each of the other students carried
u blazing torch. The coffin covered With
broad pail was born on the shoulders of the
dead mans best friends, and preceded by q
band of music. Accompanied by the
mournful notes of requeMs, this imposing
procession moved slowly out of the town,
and ascended the mountaifS on the slope of
which was "the acre of God" The grave
diggcrs with uncovered heads waited lcan-
ing on their spades. In great circle the
students formed about the grave and with
the torches lightning up thesdark depths of
the ''narrow ccll'' his comrades lowered the
body down. Then. with the yellow torch
light playing titfully on sombrc faces, rich
regalia and glistcning steel, the night-wind
soughing through the frs, and the stars look
ing down solcmnly the while from on high,
the prayers of the church were read by a
professor, and those who knew the dead
man best pronounced their brief sad eulo-
gies. When the last word had been spoken,
each student silently stepped forward from
the circle to the edge of the grave, and
with torch or sword reversed, while a dirgc
sounded over the hills, threw in handful
OF earth until the coffin was hidden from
sight. With fierce blast of trumpets, the
weird procession reformed among the trees,
and with swinging torches and flashing
swords, re.cntcred the gates of the town,
and passed Though curious crowds to a
large court In front Of some university build
lngs. Here the long line halted, and formed
in hollow square. The band struck ND a
wild and dashing air. The corps students
posed themselves as in combat, touched
schlaegers, and then clashed the blades to
the time of the music. At length, shout
was raised, the ringing Of the steel ceased,
and on a given signal all the torches were
hurled high in air 10 fall in blazing pile
In the middle of tue court. Around this
fire, as of an auto-da-fc, the students then
gathered and chatted as only students eau,
OF life, rs well as of death, until the cmbers
all died out. With tho flicker of the last
brand the funeral was over, and the beer
drinking began. Over foaming mugs the
traits and merits of the dead were freely
discussed, anecdotes ruled the hour, and
visions of Walhalla lighted many a student
to his short and narrow feather bed.