The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-16
VENERABLE HEIDELBERG.
The Earliest Days Of d Seat Of Leafaine
Established In 1886.

NENEhRoEE nei0GeoGnSs
The Earliest Days Of ssat Of Leafains
Established In 1886.
Although no stately buildings, even
in ruin, exist to speak to us from those
early years of Heidelberg's rising glory
there happily remains ole monument
stu enjoying full vigor; and celebrat-
ing this present summer of 1886. the
five hundredth anniversary of its foun-
dation by Conrad's descendant. the
Count Palatine Ruprecht I. This is
the university, hoary, but gifted with
eternal youth. Hardly black enough
could be painted the picture TT the
moral and mental needs of the time, in
all western Europe, preceding the
birth of the first universities, OF which
that of Heidelberg was among the ear
liest. Ruprecht's long life
had been filled with futile wars and
conflicts, but the old warrior easily
foresaw the advantages his land would
derive from this more enduring work,
and although he wrote with marked
humility: II understand only my
mother tongue; am untaught and ig-
norant Of all learning" still he did his
utmost to make prosperous his infant
university. He gave strict command
that no violence should be done the
students in travelling to and from Hei-
delberg, a great boon in those lawless
days. Besides, he made the institu-
ton absolutely free to pass judg-
ment upon and punish its own mem-
bers, and declared it to be in no way
subject to civil authority, right
which German universities have, to a
great extent, preserved to the present
day. A rich dowry in lands and other
sources of income was given to the
University. The university had four
faculties, which conferred the different
degrees of bachelor, master and licen-
tiate, and on October Is. 1886, it was
solemnly opened with mass attended
by all the students. The first rector
was Marsilius Won Inghen from Par,s,
where Ruprecht had found the pattern
for all that had concerned his new
institution, even to the fashion of dress
| to be worn by the professors. The
very hours were fixed when the learned
men called from afar should hold forth,
but they were forbidden to fill up the
whole time with Simplifying dictation.
some chance being thus wisely afforded
| for the breath of free academic life.
| While inheriting developed organ
ization like that of the church. as well
as its affection for ranks and degrees,
far greater simplicity and limitations
ruled in the university In all that con-
cerned material needs. The professors
were satisfied with from one to eight
groschen (about 2A-20 cents) for each
course of lectures, according to its
length, and the disputations paid three
gulden ($l.50) annually, . sufficiently
large sum for those days. Fifty gui
den year ($25.00) was fins
salary, but for travelling three months
in Italy on university business profes
sor received only an additional thirty
nine gulden ($l9.50). modest sum in
deed, according to our modern ideas
even on the basis that money ha'
twenty times its present value. Fo
the prosperity of the institution
library was most essential But while
in our day, private man may have h
thousands of books, u priceless store
house of knowledge, in Ruprecht's s tim
alibrary of sixty volumes was considere
very large, in fact, well-nigh inexhaust
ible. As, before the invention 0
printing, the store of learning wa
confined to rare and perishable manu-
scripts, on each of which small fol
tune was expended. Ruprecht felt tn
Importance of protecting dealers |
manuscripts, paper and parchment
and SO he granted them the same priv
leges that he had given to the universit
itself. How strange q contrast to h
course in these matters, and how vivi
a picture of those wild days. was til
position taken by this Prince with r
, gard to the robberies then prevalent
the highway! In these he share
openly, for he kept active two fortifie
robbers nests. not far from Speier, {
on the great road to Worms, and, ,
the merchants passing to and from Il
far East, with costly wares, neared I'll
forest, they were fallen upon and the
7 goods seized to replenish the Prince
; treasury.-C Century Magazine.