Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-15
EUROPEAN LETTER,
CONTINUED From Page Ski

young looking chaps, whose faces were
criss-crossed with strips of court
plaster, and others with well-developed
sears mere or less disfguring their
countenances. There were middle
aged men who joined the groups, also
with scars. One got to look for such
"landmarks,' and Il man whose face
showed a whole skin looked rather odd
and made you a trifie suspicious of
him. 1t is ali from the point of view.
doubtless. but one couldn't help Won
dering what some. New England moth
erS and sisters would say to see their
college boys coming home with slashcd
faces The four years spent at a.
University seem a good deal like life
in general There are many experi-
ences to be encountered which some-
times leave scars Of one kind or anoth-
er. Somehow. 10 the uninitiated. it
doesn't seem necessary to gu out Of the
way TO get anything of this kind.
However, III a German family, il is
doubtless looked upon as an honor to
be greatly sought. Not all the STU
dents are given to duels and the ones
we saw We're probably the most spec
tacular. Bismarck, when in atten-
dance here. is said to have fought
tEirty-two duels during summer
term.
III lie gardens, there We're whole
families OF Germans. the father moth
er and little ones, sitting at a table
drinking beer and eating pretzels 1t
is as natural to them as the regular
meals of the DAY. OF course, it looks
tribe odd, but everything is quiet and
peaceful. There is no suggestion of
anything else. In calling for a lemon
ade, one gets "lemon squash" the
lemons and ingredients being brought
by the waiter, ana the refreshing drink
is prepared 10 suit the taste. AS eve
nine, comes on, the band steps playing
and the people trudge down the hill to
their homes. There are usually band
concerts in the squares in the evening,
which ara largely attended. The OUT
Of-dcor life of the continental cities is
enc Of their greatest charms.
The "Universitat' itself is not Spec
tally imposing. Both the old and new
buildings are very plain, with only the
city squares surrounding them. There
are clubs and living quarters for the
students in various parts Of the city
friends attending the University. 1t
is said TO be noted particularly for it's
courses in the sciences. There are
about one thousand students in winter
and more in summer.
The prison" is one of the show
places-a room with broken down
furniture and walls decorated with
most surprising drawings in all kinds
of funny figures and grotesque forms,
with inscriptions in German and in
English, to immortaliZa the tacr that
certain men were incarcerated here. 1t
is considered quite a privilege to oc-
cupy the room. The chairs, table and
Other available places are cut and
carved with various college boy
phrases.
Several years ago, the great actor.
Richard Mansfield, was touring in n
play entitled "Old Heidelberg" found
ed on incidents supposed to have hap
pencd here. 1t was most artistic
production as was everything given by
this man, for whom the earthly curtain
has 60 recently been rung down for the
last time He introduced much of the
student life. and among other things.
many Of the German songs, given with
all the melody and swing of college
music. In leaving the University
town, one likes to think that some
whore these are being sung to the glory
Of ALI Heidelberg" 1t is a much
more pleasant memory than the
thought Of the duels. and the sight Of
the young Scared faces.
EVA L. SHOREY.