Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-26
German Universities.


 s.ance of the lecture was as follows: Two
 methods of teaching are employed in the
 German universities, i. G., lectures and sem- marian. The former are similar to those in
 American colleges, except for the surround ings which are much more disagreoable. In the seminary student is selected and given subject, which he studies in all It's bearings l a1d in as many books as are at his disposal. | writes paper upon it and delivers this from the professors desk, the latter joining the other students in criticism of the effort. | Thus the methods of work and the knowl- edge of a man are subjected to | severe fire of questions and remarks. All his | faults are shown and ways of improvement | recommended. This is of course of incalcu- l fable advantage to one who is forming his | habits of study. The average age of stu
 dent entering university is nineteen and his qualifications are graduation from a gymna- l sium or academy or real schule or poly technic school. There are in Germany and Switzerland twenty eight universities and l the choice of any man is determined largely by the locality of his home. Those in North Germany, for instance, attend that of Berlin, those in the southern section that at Bonne. Climate also influences many. Berlin being situated on a low ground is not as crowded in summer as in winter and on the other hand
 Bonne gains in summer thirty per cent
 The fame of the instructors forms another attraction, and each insti- tuition has it's celebrities. But the choice which a man makes at first does not bind him for the course; he may migrate from one in ctit fn al ester if he pleases. The buildings are very poor in comparison with those at Harvard, Yale and Princeton. They are mostly old palaces given by the emperor, or some prince
 ly patron of learning. There are of course
 laboratories, libraries, and buildings for
 medical clinics, but no dormitories- What
 buildings there are are usually dilapidated.
 There are two terms of unequal
 length, one running from October
 to March and the other from
 April to September These are, however,
 usually shortened by three or four weeks
 each by the dilatoriness of the professors.
 foreign student seeking admission is ex
 amined orally by the tutor and faculty of
 university as to his age, place of birth and
 attainments, and is provided with certlh-
 cate and police ticket, which latter saves
 him from arrest in case of intoxicatlon. This the student must carry on all occasions. After the student has decided what course of lectures he will take he pays his bill to the treasurer, receives 8 receipt and is matricuIated. The lectures of any
 course usually take from three to
 five hours 8 week and the fees are
 ordinarily from three to five dollars, beside the price of seat in the auditorium, which is six cents. The rooms are poorly lighted,
 poorly ventilated, poorly heated and gen
 erally disagreeable Each student carries
 his own writing apparatus and a portable inkstand which he places on rough bench
 in front of him. These desks are placed close together, and in try ing to get to his
 own seat one is obliged to crawl over several others, often with disastrous consequences to their ink. These benches are usually covered with carved names not of classes, es in America, but of girls names. If the pro lessor does not appear on time the students wait for him, an hour if necessary, thus diff
 fer1ng much from those in this country. If
 one enters a lecture room late or goes out
 early tue disapproTal of the others is shown
 by hissing, shuffiing of feet, etc. The
 students all take full notes and shorthand is
 almost universal. The number of semesters in course varies from five to nine, though Americans often go through in shorter
 time. At the end of the courss
 an examination must be passed in at least
 two related branches and thesis delivered,
 after which the degree is conferred. The
 chief stress is laid on the thesis, The exsm- ination is oral and lasts usually two hours. The student submitting to 1t must appear in
 full dress suit, beaver hat and white gloves. An examination may be passed and a degree taken at any university, whether the student has pursued a course of study there or not. Thus many will study at Berlin and take their degrees from Heidelberg or some other institution, at which the examination is less difficult. The daily life of the students is ex- tremeIy simple. The wealthier classes of Germans are usually noble and send their sons to the army. Those at the universities
 are generally poor, economical and without show. They room mostly alone in cramped quarters. They seldom visit one another's rooms unless for studying, leaving socialities for the evening in the beer garden. The student rises half an hour before his first
 lecture which often comes at seven o'clock,
 eats his breakfast of coffee and rolls and
 spends the morning in the lecture rooms
 The afternoon he spends in work, and the
 evening in the same way or in some
 amusement He is studious and msthodical,
 and always when reading, on no matter what
 topic, he has notebook and jots down what
 ever thought strikes him. These he files away and indexes for future use He relies
 much less on his memory than an American. They have no class ties as we do, unless those faint ones which bind together men in the same speciality. They have no athletic sports except free gymnasium, games and fencing, though the latter is almost universal But they have many societies. Some like the corps are distinguished by a coloreQ r1oDon over the snoulQer and have for their chief aim getting drunk three, four or five times a week as the case may be. DuellipR is much practiced by the members of this society, and is usually by arrangement, the members of one corps putting up man against one from another member cannot refuse to fight without dis l grace. These dueIs are not usually very fe- 1 rocious. Other societies are literary in their l character, though sooiality Is always joined l with the higher enjoyment. The student | songs are of much higher character than | those in this country. A large proportion l are patriotic and those celebrating love or | drinking are taken from the best Ger man poets and composers. These are | sung by the students not in harmony, but in | unison, the effect being often fine. The | practice of duelIing is quite common apart 1 from the societies and is often fatal in it's | results. The penalty for killing man in 8 | duel is only three years on a fortress and | puts little restraint in the practice. | Yet in spite of their fighting, drink ing, slovenly dress, and apparently bad manners, there IS not on the earth a more warm hearted, Rffable and truly polite class fhoY1 fhaG