New-York tribune., 1905-08-20
CALLED HIMSELF AN OLD MAID.

7,brea or four months Of this struggle gives the
beginner some confidence in himself. ana ne essays
10 enter university. An incident in my experience
shows that this confidence should not be overween-
ing Ny new landlady complimented, of course my
slilful use of the language and gave me a chance
TO display by asking all sorts of questions as TO
me and mine. During the conversation informed
her that was Jungfer ] noticed a smile MT over
her face and then quickly vanish. AS soon as
she left me I sought my dictionary found that
Jungfer meant old maid. Junggesell was the word
wanted. The dear soul repressed smile for fear
/ might feel hurt. have loved her from that houf-
The foreigner follows the university bulletin and
presents himself for the winter semester on Octo-
her Is. At this date there are no signs OF hfe
about the buildings. Later he learns that every
thing in Germany goes by law and announcement
except universities After haunting the registration
Office several days he finally gets some definite
information. At the appointed hour he is on hand
and writes a brief autobiography. In this account
OF ones self il is necessary 70 follow the directions
closely One item is, What relgion?' I knew
japanese student who wrote in answer to this
question, No religion" Now the German official
is careful with his statistics He had no column
with the caption NO religion" so he hunted up
the Jap and informed him that he must have a
religion. The obliging Oriental thought a moment
and wrote Buddhism"
After he has written account of his antece
dents and mis- ambitions. he follows his guide into
the presence Of seven eight wise looking officials
His pronunciation reveals Al once that he is an
AUslsnder, so his credentials called for. The
great seal of the United States satisfies the first
that he is not anarchist. Number two
accepts his college diploma sufficient tes-
tnonisl OF his academic aspirations. He then
passes down the line. being recorded and re
corded. The last man conceives the idea of
having aim write his name on a card to he
kept constantly with him that. il he should
irdulge too freely in midnight potations. he may
present this card TO the police and. the ground
that he is university student. escape the rizors
Of the law until the morrow at least. In another
room he is again recorded with the additional
touch Of having his name turned into Latin Then
the august rector of the university gives him per
functory hsndshske, bids him be good and dis
misses him to fresh air and meditation. He Is in
The lack of campus and trees and dormtories
makes German universities seem most matter of
fact. They usually i'm the heart of the CITY
Our poetic young American wonders how these
wise men cen mediate the Infinite in an al
mosphere so unacademc. Yet he need not he as
tonished He knows that German poet can sit
down by mug Of beer and write inimitable lyrics:
that the devotees Of Beethoven retire in the inter
ludes Of ''Fideio'' To eat sausage The proverhial
observation-disclosures Of German professors stands
them in good stead amid such distracting sur
roundings.
This is well illustrated by the story told of Mean
der, the great historian. One DAY after delivering
an exhaustive lecture . disputed point in Ro-
man history he left the university still revolving
the pros and in his mind. While walking
along Inter den Linden he met q friend. who with
e ouizzioa smile. asked him how he was Very
we'll. replied the professor: only strange to sav.
became quite lame a few moments ago" His
friend. pointing to his feet revealed the cause He
had been walking for a block with one foot on the
curhstone and the other in the gutter