Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-05-17
THE HERR PROFESSOR.
He Il an Available Gentleman, Modest.
Sensitive and Abominably Dressed.

The qualntness OF his appearance, MS
absent mindedness, his mannerisms in
the lecture room, and a hundred other
personal ~peculiarities are famous
throughout tho fatherland.
The first thing about the German
professor TO impress itself upon Ameri-
cans is his clothes. They don't fit
him. The tails of his frock coat al
ways cross, and the collar is always
a couple of inches or more from his
neck. The front Of the coat is gener-
ally big enough for two German pro-
fessors. The legs of his boots, which
he wears summer and winter, are too
large 10 let his rousers get in com
m~unication with his feet. In winter
the professor carries a pudgy black
umbrella, and in summer "A pudgy
white or blue one TO protect him from
the sun. This umbrella is the German
professors trade mark. The coat OF
the professors dress suit is usually so
big for him that il could be buttoned
around him twice.
Nevertheless the professor is not al
together careless in matters of dress.
He would sooner walk the streets in
his shirt sleeves than enter a drawing
room without having both hands COW
cred with gloves of just the proper
shade. and he suspects of disrespect
the student who calls upon him in a
light coat or without gloves. To call
upon a professor in a light colored
bobtail coat is little short of an insult.
no matter at what time of day the call
is made.
Although nearly every real German
professor is a specialist of note and an
author of reputation, he is, in a way,
tremendously modest. He scurries
into the lecture room through the
smallest possible crack between the
doors, hurries 10 the desk without APP
parently noticing the stamping of feet
with which the students greet him,
draws some old yellow leaves from a
little black leather sack, and with an
embarrassed duck of the head and
'Meine Herren," begins his lecture.
Anything unexpected confuses him.
If the students applaud one of the yell
low jokes from the yellow lecture
leaves harder than their fathers did,
the professor bushes, shutters, aud
catches tight hold of the desk with
both hangs. j in the private semin-
AIRY astudent asks an unexpected ques.
ton, the professor gets into a bad way
at once and passes through all sorts Of
colors, temperatures, and contortions
before he can rally himself TO give the
adequate answer. In discussions he
is lamb like and tolerant till you press
him hard; then he loses his modesty,
temper and tolerance, and roars dis
approval of everything that his re-
searches don't prove TO be true.
The German professor is polite and
sensitive. He never forgives any neg
lect of courtesy toward him on the
part Of a student, and many a student
who has been plucked in examination
knows this only too well. The pro
fessor is 50 absent minded in the
street that he forgets TO bow TO any
one of hundreds of students who have
called upon him. He recognizes
young Freshman Schmidt always,
and is hurt when Freshman Schmidt
does not recognize him. Freshman
Schmidt gets hurt later when he is
trying 10 become Herr DIR. Schmidt,
and the professor blocks his way with
questions that the great Bismarck him
Self couldn't answer. II, however,
yoang Freshman Schmidt always lifts
his hat politely and ducks deep to him,
the professor lifts his old fashioned
hat With old fashioned ceremony and
makes q mental note TO the fact hat
young Schmidt deserves a warm place
in his heart. This bowling on the
street, laughing at the time worn jokes
in the lecture room, wearing proper
German coats and gloves Of the right
shade while calling, helps a student
more toward getting a high degree in
examipati9ps thaIa good many gal
Ions OF midnight oil.
The German professor is not 80 ex.
! clusively a bookworm as is usually
supposed. He is well informed ~
current events throughout the world.
he can surprise Americans with his
knowledge of Cleveland's part in
American politics and of the condition
of the American navy. He can talk
more correctly and brilliantly Of che
influence Of Hamilton, jefferson, Cal.
houn, Clay and Webster upon their
times than two-thirds Of the well read
American men. He is equally at home
when English, French or Italian poll
tics is in question.
He is also, oftener than not a jolly
good fellow. anxious as any n fol
his share Of wine, beer and cigars a
a dinner. and rarely averse 10 a hant
or two at skat. He does not think les!
Of Herr Bummler, who comes to lect
ures smelling of beer and canister
tobacco, than Of Herr Schulze, whC
smells only of his unwashed self.
In short, the average German pro
fessor isa punctilious, sensitive. liber
al minded gentleman with IA ratheI
quaint exterior. de is warm hearted
and thoughtful, as all Americans wh'
have studied at German unlversitiei
know. He is simple and unaffected
Notwithstanding his reputation fol
learning. be is kind 10 every SUDDEN
who is kind TO him, and never mlssei
an opportunity TO get back at "A stu
dent who has offended him. Ills low
able and unique personality attracts
TO him a large following Of students
who buy all his books while he live
and mourn deeply when he dies. :
New York Sun.
uxs. su.xl. nu..U