The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-06
THE MIDDLE iGES.
4 Description of the Universities Of
Those Times,

4 Description Of the Universities Of
Those Times.
Rev. Father Meyer delivered the
last of his three lectures on the Mid
die Ages" at the st. Louis University
library hall last night, IN which he
gave a general account OF the great
universities of those times. While
the present century was noted for
material progress. neither it nor any
preceding one could compare with the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries for
intellectual activity. Men sought
learning for its own sake with an az
dor which would shame the student
Of modern days.
The course of study for The degree
of bachelor Of arts originally en-
braced twenty years. Ten years were
to philosOpy, The university course
then included all the sciences. The
students were privileged class. freed
from many restrictions 70 which 9TH
er5 were subjected, AMI held every
where in the highest steem. The
academic degrees were then some
thing more than empty ties. Grad
Gation was the entrance 20 the high
est hOnor5, while the comforting of Il
doctors degree was an event which
rank in Importance with that on
which knight received his spurs.
While the h0nOrS OF the UNIVERSE
ties were so highly esteemed they
were most jealousy guarded. The
university of France had refused
degree to candidate who was rec
commended by the kings of France
and Spain. There were several of
these great universities with an at
tendance of thousands, embracing all
classes OF students, but all animated
by the same eager desire for knoWl
edge. The most important OF these
were at Paris, Oxford and Bologna.
The attendance az the Paris universe
ty at one time reached $1,000, while
that at the other two was in the vi
cinity of %, 0C0 There were scores OF
lesser universities throughout Europe.
The university of Paris was in a
measure like separate municipality,
having portion OF the city allotted
to it over which It held almost unin-
terrupted sway. Here the students
came in troops and thrODgs, journey
ing from the forests of Germany and the
fields OF France, from England, Spain,
| and even from the half civilized ma
GIOuO O1 Il CO1lluSS Vi
Here at first they were a wild, dis
orderly mass Of adventurous men and
boys thronging in and out Of the halls
of the university and filling the streets
with their bOistrouS clamOr. Eager
ambition, idle curiosity and
hopes of pecuniary gain
| brought students and teachers
Their lodgings were often the scenes
of disordeIly revelry. They were
ever ready to engage in braWls and
riots. Their quarrels and wranglingS
kept the courts busy. In the midsts
Of all this disorderly community the
young religious of the monastic
houses we've models of diligence and
orderly conduct, showing by their
lives most commendable examples to
their comrades. They rose before
daylight, heard mass, studied and re-
cited until 10 o'clock, when the first
frugal meal OF the day was served, af-
ter which the exercises of the school
room were continued to five in the
evening, when, after a short recrea-
ton, they continued their studies until
nine or ten at night. BY degrees the
turbulent elements of the scholastic
community were brought under bet
ter discipline and better order pre-,
vailed, but not before the outraged
citizens had reyolted against their ex.
cesses. From that time on order had
I Prevented a. and the great school had be.
come an institution. where men lis
tinguiShed in Letters and science were
glad to become students and esteemed
It a high honor to be numbered among
those who sought learning in its halls
In conclusion was given the idea of q
college as taking the place of homo
in providing for all the wants of er.
rant youth in the first wanderings
among strangers.