Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-02
The Ways OF German Professors.

! The fact that the professors as Il rule
| 40 not pay much attention to their per-
sonal appearance, however. does not by
1 any means indicate that they are inSen-
| Stble to their high social position, says
! Roanoke Collegian. Indeed one of their
marked characteristics. which they share
with their countrymen of all grades is
their Keen sense of rank and station. APP
polntments to university positions are
eagerly sought, and to obtain them often
| involves a hard struggle and years of
tedious waiting. When Il man has worked
his way up gradually through the various
grades of doctor. lehrer, o9erlehrer.
privat decent. Observation-Disclosures pro-
| fessor, orientlcher professor, geheim-
rat and eXcellenz, his conception of his
own Importance is not likely TO decrease,
especially in q country where great defer
ence is paid to rank. He is likely to re-
sent anything. therefore. that shows APP
| parent Indifference or contempt for his
social importance. An Illustration of this
| was an experience of an American lady
of my acquaintance. She went to call on
professor in order to get his signature
to her university book. Either from
| thouGhtlesSnesS or ignorance she made no
! special toilette for the occasion. and
worst of all, appeared with not only her
gloves but also small package in her
| hand. The learned man was not only ex-
ceedingly cool, but positively rude in his
manner. vet the next day. on meeting her
under other circumstances, he was almost
| oVerpoweringly gracious and polite.
| A call upon professor. whatever may
| be the occasion. is II very formal matter,
! and an examination is such a solemn
| ceremony that the prescribed rules for
! dress and conduct are almost as numer-
/ Gus and strict as those for presenta-
| ton at the court of St. James No stu
! dent would dare endanger his success by
| not driving around to the professor
| house in Il carriage of 4 certain class and
| arraycd in full evening dress with high
| hat and white gloves.
As an Illustration of the type of profess
sor who fully appreciates his own learn
! ing and Importance, take this instance;
A certain learned man whose name is ia
| miliar on both continents was recently
| lecturing on the history of philosophy.
| When he came to consider the state of
| philosophy at the present day. he con-
cuded his lecture with the remark: AT
present there are really only two philos-
| ophers of any note in Germany. The 9TH
| er one lives in Berlin" Now this same
distinguished scholar has received the III
! tie of EXcellenZ. which is very rarely
! conferred on a professor. He is connect
| ed with one of the smaller universities.
and once received nattering invitation
| to go to Berlin, but his own university
and townspeople maze such strenuous ei-
| forts to retain their celebrity that, IN his
own mind at least. the question OF his go
ing or staying had become one of national
| Importance. One day some woTkmen
We're repairing the street near his home.
and he was naturally much disturbed by
| the noise. Hastily throwing open the
| window. he called out angriy to the
workmen: eff you don't go away and
stop that noise. | shall go to Berlin after
| ALL Quite in contrast, however. is the
modesty of Professor Mommsen, who re-
Gently. on the celebration of his eightieth
| birthday, was offered the title Of Excel
| lenz. To the establishment of the German
| public, he refused the honor, and there
was much speculation as to his reasons
! for such an unhcard of step. In explain
| ing his action to "a friend. he said: Our
| ing my lifetime ! have had to read so
many long titles in old inscriptions that
! the simplest form always seems to me To
| be the best Professor Mommsen is
enough But think Of being able to sign
your name like this: Herr Geheimer
| Hofrat Professor Doctor b. Rector
! Magnificus.' or to see yourself referred
| to in print as Seine EXcelcnZ Herr
! Staats-und Sanitartsrat Professor Doc
/ tor CT"
| The fact that the German professor is
not merely pure intelligence. nor yet al
ways a schoene seele beautiful SouD as
his countrymen say might be illustrated
| in numerous other ways. Among his
! many human frailtes. none is usually
more pronounced than his frequent ten
dency to bcittle and diScredit the work
of other men in his own particular de-
partment. II is well known. for instance
| that of the specialists in a certain branch
Of theological learning in Germany, no
| two are on speaking terms. Mutual en-
| Wy. as we'll as the odium theOogicum
may serve TO explain this state of affairs