West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-03-20
a student. raner., a, 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 n formal cere-
mony, and clinked glasses with special
fondness TO the proud toast, "Auf Wieder
sehen on the Bouevaris of Paris" And
when, afterwards, while with the armies In
that brief and bloody campaign, saw ma
ny familiar students form lying neglected
IN the troddcn mud ON hill-tops and i'm the
beds and streams there was but little time
toreceremony, or room IN the mind for pa.
thos, as human carcassos We're thrown into
nameless pits, in spite Of the memories that
many OF the dead brought vividly up OF hfe
at Berlin, and of thai proud parting toast
at Heidelberg. But the ceremonies that at
tend the burial OF the student who dies
amid the peaceful strife Of science. aud il
laid beneath the classic firs that grow ON
the slopes of the Necl<ar, call the medieval
past TO their aid, and add To the sadness of
the occasion by the chivaric forms that
tradition commands 1t was i'm the middle
Of his summer semester that the student
had died far away from his home In Greece
No kindred were there TO care Tor his re-
mains. So, on his comrades fell the duty
of laying his dust tendcrly away according
TO the ancient student custom. Ii was at
midnight that hundreds of us gathered on
the Hauptgasse before the door of his
simple lodgings. The students of the diff
terent corps were in full uniform-gay ser
vice caps, black 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 schlaegcr
blade drawn and glIstcnng in the right
hand. Each Of the other students carried
a blazing torch. The coffin covered with n
broad pail was born on the shoulders of the
dead mans beet friends, and preceded by "a
band of music. Accompanied by the
mournful notes of requicms, this imposing
procession moved slowly out of the town,
and assembled the mountain on the slope of
which was 'thc acre of God" The grave
diggcrs with uncovered heads waited lean
ing on their spades. In great circle the
students formed about the grave, and with
the torches lightning up the dark depths of
the marrow celr' his comrades lowered the
body down. Then. with the yellow torch.
light playing fitfully on sombre faces, rich
regalia and glistening steel, the night wind
soughing through the frs, and the stars look
ing down solemnly 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 becs spoken,
each student silently stepped forward from
the circle 10 the edge of the grave. and
with torch or sword reversed, while dirge
sounded over the hills threw in a handful
| OF earth until the coffin was hidden from
sight. With fierce blllst Of trumpets. the
weird procession reformed among the trees,
and with swinging torches and flashing
swords, re-entcred the gates of the town,
and passed through curious crowds To a
large court In front of some university build
lngs Here the long line halted, and formed
In a hollow square Tie band struck up a
wild and dashing air The corps students
posed themselves as i'm combat. touched
\ schlaegcrs, aud then cashed the blades 10
the time Of the music. AT length, a shout
was raised, the ringing of the steel ceased,
and ON given signal all the torches were
hurled high In air 10 fall In blazing pile
in the middle of the court Around this
fire, as of an auto-da-fe, the students then
gathered and chatted as only students cari,
of life, az well as of death, until the embers
all died out. With the 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