The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-10
A VISIT TO HEIDELBERG.
ExPER1ExcEs OF ARIcHx0SD NAN
IrTHArFxMOUS UNivERslTx.

=
Mr.. r. l.. Davidson Tells what He Saw At
tho "Kneipe "-Interssting Details
About Costumes Of Corps-studsnts'
Mr.. F. L. Davidson, = taienteo Souns
Enslishman who practices law IN tnis
city. took an extended TIP throusn Iu
rope last summer. ana WINE ,rtVenins IA
Germany, visited among otner FAMOUS
places, the University OF Heidelberg. He
describes his experience In that city OF
learning in the following manner in an
article written for The Times;
Having some acquaintance with Ameri-
can and English universities, L was de-
termined rot 10 leave Germany without
awaiting myself OF the opportunity OF
seeing something OF the University or
Heidelberg. and especially as the induce
ment was offered me by friend, III
/ remained over for the night. Of seeing
one of the famous "corps-duels.' lie
rad obtained admission for himself and
another 10 witness duel between two
well-known corps, which was 90 take
place the following morning.
We put up for the night at quaint
little German hostclry in the town.
say German because 1t was so very Ger
walters, and everything else. The larger
hotels all over the continent have enc or
more people about the house who speak
English French, etc, as occasion re-
ouires but not so ours. Not a WORD or
English to be had for love or money one
might have starved there, or be poisoned,
as a result OF his efforts TO be understood.
IL English was his own language. Luckl-
" my companion spoke German i'uentiy'
at least he said so, and l could not con-
tradct him; so possibly we escaped I'M
known terror
AIR on cYREMoNIous roLr1rSfss'
Strangers are struck with the air OF
ccrcm. NOUS politen IS that seems TO per-
wade Ueidelberg-even the porters At the
station have it-but that might have been
IN exnectation of Z. mark" 1t is more
exagge rated among the students, but you
find IL among all classes. Go into
shop there with your hat or. and the
chances are. YOU won't be served until
ven take II off. Everybody seems to
know every one else, ard to he chiefly
occupied i'm raising their hats and DOW
ing in the stiff German way to thelr
1eghbors: tho town people nave prooa-
bly, caught the habits OF the stuueh's III
this regard. , -.
That night we went T. a "Kneipe.' TO
this Is a festive occasion, when corps
meets for a flow OF soul tand spirits)'
and TO stow away As much good German
beer in a given time as possible, anu
their possibilities are large ! ne
"Kneipe" was being held in one or the
numerous old inns that abound in Hell
delberg. When we got there, not "oru
of Information about the expected meet
ing could be had; the stolid iahdloIu
showed blank ignorance, also the al
tendants. The first was afraid OF losing
patronage the servants or losing employ
ment by showing anything else. How
ever two students, evidently members Oh
the corps we were looking for, and whom
we recognized by their uniform OF red
and white. put in an appearance at the
proper momert. My companion explained
the situation evidently TO their sdtlsiac-
ton. as we accompanied them up stairs
10 a. large hall whore there were about
thirty men grouped round long tables
arranged 20 form a II, the head nan or
the CORPS or Herr Presidium.' sitting
az the centr,. Of the top table facing
the longer one.
SINGING BOOKS AND "srEINs.'
Every man had a large book I'm front or
him, that reminded me In appearance OF
nothing so much as a hymn-book ana
| saw held about a pint. AS We entered
| they were Just finishing some evidently
| very popular song that ended In "hocn,
"hoch." and something about Fatherland
after each verse. The "Presidium,' VINO
! Tor his proxy) always acts as toast-mas-
/ ter and master OF ceremonies on these
| occasions, would name a song and desig-
nate some man 10 sing each verse, all
| Joining in the chorus. Every song or
| toast. and they followed each other rap
! idly. meant another "stein" and no "heel-
/ taps" at the conclusion Of II.
The ceremony of Introduction IS very
| formal Before visitors take their seats
| the "Presidium" comes 10 where you are
| standing. introduces himself and makes
| an elaborate bow by drawing himself mp
| as IL at attention" and stiiily bowling
| at an angle of about ninety degrees. you
| doing likewise best way you can. Then
| the man en- his right goes through the
! same performance with you, and so on
| until the last, that meant about thirty
| Of those impossible bows that eyening.
| This sort Of thing is catching, and before
one leaves Heidelberg he finds himself
| coming 10 attention and making, or
trying to make, these right-angular bows
| tc everybody that he happens TO accost.
The sentiments expressed were distinct
1 ~ Ndllcls pdlilOAlSHi VI 'DD'iAsf N'-if -
| sity. and Corps love dittiss in which the
! fair "Fraeulein" always signs for gay
end dashng student (of that corps for
preference and drinking songs predomi-
| mating. There was no rowdyism. the
strict corps etiquette beirg maintained
| throughout; but this did not in any way
| throw a damper on the proceedings.
| Visitors are always supposed to join In
| chorus, or at any rate stand during
| song, and If you can't read German, at
| least pretend you can. The student keeps
an account Of his stems" by chalking
mark for each on the table In front of
| him. and when he leaves settles Sy the
| number of marks hI has made.
MANY CHALK MARKS.
We lef. about IL o'clock. before the
"Kneipe" was over. which wasn't 10 be
until about O'Clock in the morning. Be
fore leaving noticed that the men whose
| accounts | could see had not less tnan
! ten and some many more marks I'm front
| OF them. Luckily We did not have 10 go
through the same performance on leaving
| as when entering.
| These "Kneipen" are as much a part OF
| the university as are the corps. of which
| there are many: some of them are par
| excellence the fighting corps. each hav-
| ing its picket men who uphold its honor
end prestige against all corners. others
| are more social in their composition.
| Sometimes there is ill-feeling In these
| duels. but not often. Generally they are
TO settle some disputed point OF supre-
| macy as 10 standing or swordsmansnip: