Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-19
THE GERMAN STUDENT.
Fitted for tho University by Years Of
Arduous Discipline.

From the London Globe. -,
The German student, we venture to think.
receives somewhat harsh treatment from
the majority Of Englishmen. He is pictured
vaguely as q beer-swilling animal, who,
padded and armored like Tweedledum and
Tweed edee, fights absurd duels in which he
childishly endeavors to scratch his op-
ponent's face with a blunt pointed sword
That picture contains the half truth which
is the sting Of libel.
When the young German realizes the
dream of his boyhood and enters the uni
versty he pays the matriculation fee and
listens to rectorial address warning him
against political and secret societies and
bidding him do his duty like a good citizen.
That ordeal over, he receives his "Legiti-
mattions-Karte," or students passport and
at once becomes a man OF privilege and re-
sponsibility. a brother in the freemasonry
OF students which has existed in his father
land for centuries. It ts great day for
him The university is his reward for long
years Of work under the iron discipline of
the gymnasium, and his new life Is as free
as youth could wish. No prOctors dog his
evening walks; no chapel claims his en-
forced attendance; no etiquette Of cap and
gown troubles his soul and robs his pocket.
He may lodge where he likes, eat where he
likes, do what he likes. The German can
not understand the freedom Of our public
schools and the-to him-grandmotherly
restrictions of our older universities. So
the fuchs" or freshman" determines to
make the most Of his good fortune, and
proceeds to enjoy the good things the gods
engraved in bold letters on the brass-stud
ded cover Of his "Commersbuch." the Stu
dents Song Book - "Gaudeamus igitur
juvenes dunn sumus!'-and he acts up to it.
In the first place, he takes a bed room,
which costs him, with his breakfast of cof-
fee and rolls, some 20 marks-a sovereign
a month. Then he chooses restaurant,
where in time he will become a ''Stamm-
eats the chief meal of the day, at noon,
drinks his afternoon coffee and plays bill
lizards, "Skat" or chess with his friends.
He is addressed as Herr Doktor' by all
ing he attends lectures. If he is studying
medicine he walks the hospital daily. The
teaching Is of the best; the professors of
worldwide reputation. Every opportunity
Is given him for marginal research The
police treat him with respect and leniency,
especially on New Year eve or other occa-
sions Of festivity,, He. is entitled to seats
at reduced price in the theater. He is a
the 'Tingi-Tangl," or little music hall. On
Saturday night he goes to his "Kneipe;"
here he divides hik time between beer and
song. He drinks beer. and plenty Of it; but
etiquette is strict#beer> laws number over
three hundred-and every liter is drunk ac-
cording to rule. The brew Is light, and its
purity the especial care of paternal gov
eminent The German student is no
waster. Your Fa1sthff1an friend who
drinks till am. and has a bottle of sweet
champagne for breakfast, will write an Of
fetal application Ia Latin to the rector, or
cap Greek quotation with enviable ease
and accuracy. Greatest privilege of ALL he
serves only twelve months with the coiors
as a "one-year volunteer" instead of three
years as a common soldier: which means
that, after six weeks or SO Of barrack life,
and. II he can afford 1t, to employ a soldier
servant to do the mental work This con-
cession to his superior education however,
rank and file, and excites the contempt and
spite of that dread parsonage, the drill SER
geant. as the "Einjahrige Freiwillige'
learns to his cost.